The State Department of Licenses has replaced vehicle and boat renewal notice postcards with new, letter-size vehicle and boat renewal notices. The new notices are more readable, more understandable and contain expanded information about renewal fees.

Licenses began sending the new style renewal notices to vehicle owners with tabs that expired in January.

Over the past few years, the size of the type on the postcard notices was reduced as more required information was added. This made the postcards increasingly difficult to read. The size of the type on the new notices is larger and easier to read. The messages on the renewal notice also have been rewritten to be easier to understand.

The additional space available using the letter-size notice allows Licenses to provide more detailed information about the taxes and fees being collected. Now, all state and local fees included will be detailed on the notice.

The notices also contain more information about renewal service options, including the option to renew tabs over the Internet at www.dol.wa.gov.

To make renewing faster and easier for vehicle owners that typically renew by mail, the new renewal notices will include return envelopes for the submission of payments. About 26 percent of vehicle renewals statewide are submitted by mail.

The new renewal notices will come with a new opportunity to support our state park system. The owners of most types of vehicles will have the option to make a donation to help fund the operation and maintenance of our beautiful Washington state parks.