Vehicle Lifts in Washington: plates, carriers and DVR help

Put a scooter or power chair on a hitch lift and the first thing a Washington driver tends to ask is simple: am I breaking the law by covering my license plate? Washington is unusual here, because its plate statute names wheelchair lifts and carriers directly.

The short version: if your vehicle carries two plates, the law allows a lift or carrier to temporarily block one of them, as long as the device is installed properly and the plate can still be read from at least one angle when you are parked. Here is the detail.

What RCW 46.16A.200 allows, and what it does not

Washington's plate statute, RCW 46.16A.200, says plates must be "kept clean and uncovered and be able to be plainly seen and read at all times," and must be "Attached in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground." It then makes an exception. Where a vehicle has two plates properly attached, "the display of a single license plate" may be "temporarily obstructed by one or more of the following devices or by the cargo the device is carrying," and the list includes "(B) A wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier." The same list covers trailer hitches, trailers and bike, ski and luggage racks.

The exception has two conditions in subsection (5)(b)(iii). First, "The device is installed according to manufacturer specifications or generally accepted installation practices." Second, the device or its cargo "does not prevent the license plate from being read from one or more accessible viewing angles when the vehicle is parked." Note what the exception covers: one of two plates. It does not, on its face, cover a vehicle that carries only a rear plate. The Washington State Patrol may also grant exceptions when a vehicle's body construction makes compliance impossible, under (5)(b)(i).

Lights still matter. RCW 46.37.050 requires tail lamps that "emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand feet to the rear," mounted between 15 and 72 inches high, and a white light that renders the rear plate "clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear." If a platform or a loaded scooter hides your lamps, a lift with its own lighting is worth the look.

For help paying, Washington's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has a written rule. WAC 388-891A-1177 says DVR "pays for vehicle modifications as a rehabilitation technology service" when you meet its general conditions and several more. Among them: proof that you or the driver legally owns and has registered the vehicle, an inspection from a certified or journey-level mechanic, and a statement from a vendor "certified through the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA)" that the vehicle can be modified. If you will drive, you complete a driving evaluation with a certified driver rehabilitation specialist. DVR services are tied to employment, so ask a DVR counselor whether your plan qualifies.

Lifts we would look at first

Your vehicle's hitch class and tongue weight rating narrow the list quickly. A few starting points:

• Bruno ASL-700 Chariot: it rolls on its own wheels behind the vehicle and carries up to 350 lb, and its lighting includes a license plate holder, brake and running lights and turn signals. That design speaks directly to the plate and lamp questions above.
• Harmar AL100-DE: a dual-entry platform for three- or four-wheel scooters, rated to lift 350 lb, on a Class II or higher hitch.
• Harmar AL500HD: built for power wheelchairs, 400 lb capacity, with four self-tensioning Q'Straint retractors. It needs a Class III or greater hitch.
• Harmar AL425: an inside hoist rated at 400 lb that brings the device into the cargo area, which keeps both plates clear and the device out of the rain.

Capacities and hitch classes come from the linked lift listings. Harmar asks that compatibility be confirmed before some lifts are ordered; we can help with that by email.

Rain, snow and summer smoke

The NOAA Washington summary says most of the state's precipitation falls in winter and that the Cascades "can receive upwards of 400 inches of snowfall annually." Mountain pass trips mean slush and road spray on anything riding outside the vehicle, so keep the plate and lamps wiped and check the lift's cover. The summary also flags dry summers and wildfire, noting that the 2015 season burned more than 1 million acres. For a device you plan to carry all year, an inside hoist trades cargo space for shelter.

Washington help beyond DVR

The AT3 Center lists the Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP) at the University of Washington, with device loan, device demonstration, device reutilization and a financial loan program. WATAP describes serving seniors and people with disabilities along with family members and caregivers, so a relative can make the first inquiry.

Shipping a lift to Washington

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. Hitch lifts and hoists both need correct mounting, and RCW 46.16A.200 ties the plate exception to installation that follows the maker's specifications. Orders ship to the lower 48 states and DC, free over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Details are on shipping to Washington, and the vehicle lift fit check asks the right questions about your car.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Washington

Is it legal in Washington for a scooter lift to cover my rear plate?

If your vehicle has two plates, RCW 46.16A.200 lets "A wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier" temporarily obstruct one of them. The device must be installed to the maker's specifications or accepted practice, and the plate must be readable from at least one accessible angle when the vehicle is parked. The exception is written for vehicles with two plates.

How high can my plate be mounted in Washington?

RCW 46.16A.200 requires plates "Attached in a horizontal position at a distance of not more than four feet from the ground." If a lift or riser would push a plate higher, talk with your installer first. The Washington State Patrol may grant exceptions only where a vehicle's body construction makes compliance impossible.

Will Washington DVR pay for a wheelchair lift on my car?

It can, under WAC 388-891A-1177, which covers vehicle modifications as a rehabilitation technology service. You must meet DVR's general conditions plus extra ones, including proof of ownership and registration, a mechanic's inspection and an NMEDA-certified vendor's statement. Drivers also complete an evaluation with a certified driver rehabilitation specialist.

Do my tail lights have to stay visible with a lift on?

Washington requires tail lamps visible from 1,000 feet to the rear and a white light making the rear plate legible from 50 feet, under RCW 46.37.050. A carrier that hides them is a problem. Some lifts, such as the Bruno ASL-700 Chariot, carry their own brake lights, turn signals and plate holder.

See the full vehicle lift collection, run the vehicle lift fit check, or take our full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• RCW 46.16A.200, license plates (Washington State Legislature)
• RCW 46.37.050, tail lamps
• WAC 388-891A-1177, DVR vehicle modifications
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Washington (2022)
• Bruno ASL-700 Chariot product page
• Harmar AL100-DE product page
• Harmar AL500HD product page
• Harmar AL425 product page
• Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP)
• AT3 Center: Washington