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Washington · Trip & Fuel

Washington Trip & Fuel Permits filed for you, 24/7

A truck not registered in Washington, or registered for less weight than it carries, runs on a 3-day trip permit. Without an IFTA license it also needs a 3-day special fuel trip permit when it enters the state. Washington State Patrol checks permits at the border and puts trucks without them out of service. Send us the truck and dates: we quote the price and file both for you.

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Washington rules

Washington trip and fuel permit rules

What each permit replaces, how long it runs, who needs the fuel permit and what happens at the port of entry without one.

3-day trip permit

Permit of
Washington Department of Licensing
Duration
3 consecutive days from first use
Instead of
Washington registration
Also for
A truck licensed for less weight than its load
Limit
3 per vehicle in any 30 days
Before use
Filled in and signed; any correction voids it

Special fuel trip permit

Duration
3 consecutive days
Instead of
Special fuel tax and a mileage report
When
On entering Washington
Not issued
With unpaid fuel tax owed to the state
Transfer or refund
Neither, for trip or fuel permits

Who needs a fuel trip permit

Two axles
Over 26,000 lbs gross
Three or more axles
Any weight
Combination
Over 26,000 lbs gross
Fuel
Diesel or propane
With an IFTA license
Not needed

At the port of entry

Permits
Required at the border
No permit
The truck is placed out of service
Carrier out of service
Trip permits cannot be used

Source: Washington Department of Licensing commercial vehicle temporary permits, WSDOT permit types, Washington State Patrol ports of entry, RCW 46.16A.320 and 82.38.100.

Which permit you need

Washington trip and fuel permits

  1. No Washington plates

    3-day trip permit

    Registration for three days at the maximum legal weight, instead of Washington plates.

  2. No IFTA license

    Special fuel trip permit

    Three days of special fuel tax paid up front, with no mileage report afterwards.

  3. Plates, but not enough weight

    Temporary additional tonnage

    Raises the licensed weight of a Washington-plated truck for at least 5 days.

  4. Neither in place

    Trip + Fuel permits

    No Washington registration and no IFTA license: you need both. We file them as one order.

Through Washington

Main truck corridors across Washington

Where out-of-state trucks run on a Washington trip permit, and what three days means on each route.

  1. I-5: Vancouver to the Canadian border

    About 280 miles from the Columbia River through Tacoma and Seattle to Blaine, the main north-south freight route of the West Coast.

    Usually:A straight transit fits in three days; Seattle-area deliveries and pickups may need a second permit.

  2. I-90: Spokane to Seattle

    About 300 miles from the Idaho line over Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle, the main east-west route into the Puget Sound ports.

    Watch:Winter pass closures can stretch a three-day window.

  3. I-82: from Oregon to the Tri-Cities and Yakima

    The inland route from I-84 in Oregon to the Tri-Cities, Yakima and on to I-90 at Ellensburg.

    Usually:Farm-season loads with several stops: plan for back-to-back permits.

  4. SR 9 and US 97 from British Columbia

    Washington issues Canadian weights permits on these two crossings, by year on SR 9 and by month or year on US 97.

    Still needed:The trip and fuel permits, if the truck has no Washington registration or IFTA license.

Where trucks enter

Washington ports of entry

Washington State Patrol checks permits at its ports of entry. These are the ones on the main ways into the state.

  1. From Oregon on I-5

    Ridgefield

    Northbound I-5 at Ridgefield, north of Vancouver and the Columbia River.

  2. From Oregon on I-82

    Plymouth

    Westbound I-82 at milepost 131, near the Oregon line.

  3. From Idaho on I-90

    Spokane

    Westbound I-90 at milepost 299, Liberty Lake, near the Idaho line.

  4. From Canada on I-5

    Bow Hill

    Southbound I-5 at Bow, the port nearest the Canadian border.

How it works

Your Washington permit in three steps

  1. Send the truck and dates

    Truck, USDOT number, plate and the days you will run in the state. Your fleet details are saved for next time.

  2. We check and file

    Our permit desk checks which Washington permits your trip needs and files with WA DOL.

  3. Get your permits

    You get the trip and fuel permits as PDFs, ready for the driver before the truck crosses the state line.

Hauling an oversize load through Washington?

Trip and fuel permits cover a legal-size truck. For a load over the legal limits, enter the pickup and delivery locations and compare estimated oversize and overweight permit costs across route options.

  1. Oversize and overweight permits across the lower 48 and DC
  2. State-by-state fee breakdown for each route option
  3. Order your permit or talk to a specialist
Calculate permit cost

From our permit desk

What we check before filing in Washington

  1. Three trip permits in 30 days, then plates

    One truck can use only three trip permits in any 30 days. A truck that runs Washington every week needs Washington registration instead, and we flag that before the fourth permit.

  2. No corrections on a trip permit

    Any change to a filled-in trip permit makes it invalid. We enter the plate, VIN and dates straight from your documents, so the driver never has to fix one.

  3. Both permits before the border

    Trucks reaching a port of entry without permits are placed out of service. We file the trip and fuel permits before the truck leaves for Washington.

FAQ

Washington trip and fuel permit questions

How long is a Washington trip permit good for?

Three consecutive days, counted from the day of first use. The special fuel trip permit also runs three days. For a longer stay we file permits back to back, within the limit of three trip permits per truck in 30 days.

How many trip permits can one truck use in Washington?

No more than three in any 30 consecutive days. A truck that runs in Washington more often needs Washington registration instead of trip permits.

Who needs a special fuel trip permit in Washington?

A diesel or propane truck without an IFTA license that has two axles and over 26,000 lbs, three or more axles at any weight, or a combination over 26,000 lbs. The permit replaces the fuel tax and mileage report for three days.

What happens at a Washington port of entry without permits?

Washington State Patrol requires permits at the border, and a commercial truck that arrives at a port of entry without the proper permit is placed out of service until it has one.

Can a trip permit cover a heavier load than my truck is licensed for?

Yes. A Washington trip permit covers the truck at the maximum legal weight for three days, including a truck whose licensed weight is too low for the load. For a longer period, temporary additional tonnage raises the licensed weight for at least five days.

How does Route One GO get my Washington trip and fuel permits?

Send us the truck, USDOT number, plate, VIN and the days you will run in Washington. Our permit desk files the trip and fuel permits and sends them back before the truck reaches the state. Requests are taken 24/7.

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More on truck permits

24/7 permit desk

Need Washington trip and fuel permits?

Send the details once. We file with WA DOL, plus every other state on your route.

Request a permit