The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Washington has created a limited route for some electric-vehicle makers to sell their own cars directly, but it has not ended the state’s dealer-franchise system. A manufacturer must meet strict eligibility tests and obtain a vehicle-dealer license before operating a dealership. Senator Marko Liias’s March 24, 2026 announcement named Rivian and Lucid as examples the law allows to seek dealer licenses; it did not confirm that either company had begun direct sales in Washington.
Can Rivian or Lucid sell cars directly in Washington now?
The law makes direct sales possible for manufacturers that qualify and become licensed. It does not, by itself, establish that a particular company has completed licensing or started selling vehicles under the new route. Liias’s announcement says the measure was signed into law and identifies Rivian and Lucid as intended beneficiaries, but provides no confirmed launch date or evidence of sales under the law. Read the sponsor’s announcement.
For buyers, the distinction is practical: a statutory path is not the same thing as an operating dealership. Before relying on a direct-sale option, check whether the manufacturer has obtained and maintains the required Washington dealer license and whether it is actually offering the vehicle in the state.
What changed in Washington’s dealer rules?
Washington’s prior framework generally treated a vehicle manufacturer competing with dealers by acting as a dealer, or owning, operating, or controlling a dealership, as an unfair practice, subject to statutory exceptions. The new law adds a narrow exception for certain manufacturers that exclusively produce battery electric vehicles. It leaves the broader franchise framework in place for manufacturers that do not meet the exception’s conditions. See current RCW 46.96.185.
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- Flex Level 1 EV Charger - The EVDANCE Level 1 electric car charger is compatible with J1772 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles (North American Standard). *Tesla requires a SAE J1772 adapter.
- Convenient to Use - This charger has both NEMA 6-20 plug for 16A 240V charging (3.68kW, 10-12 mi/h) and a NEMA 6-20 to 5-15 plug adapter for 12A 120V charging (1.44kW, 2-5 mi/h). The included bag makes it easier to carry on the go. It also has a 25ft cable length, you can use it flexibly from anywhere in the garage or driveway.
- Check Your Outlet Type -This charger works with standard 120V NEMA 5-15/5-20 outlets (2-5 mph charging speed) and 240V NEMA 6-20 outlets (10-12 mph) . It's not compatible with NEMA 6-15/10-30/14-30/14-50/6-50 outlets – you'll need a NEMA 14-50/14-30/10-30/6-50 to 6-20 adapter (sold separately) to connect.
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- Indication Displays - LED display that can tell you the status as well as indicate errors while charging your electric vehicle.
Which manufacturers qualify for the exception?
A manufacturer must satisfy all of the statutory conditions, not just produce electric vehicles:
- It is incorporated in the United States.
- It has never entered into a franchise agreement with a motor-vehicle dealer.
- It operated at least one service facility in Washington by January 1, 2026.
- It exclusively produces battery electric vehicles, and at least 300 of those vehicles were registered in Washington before January 1, 2026. The 300-vehicle figure is an eligibility threshold, not a sales forecast.
- Its dealership sells only its own makes or lines, and those vehicles are not sold new by a licensed independent franchise dealer.
The statute also limits what qualifying manufacturers may distribute and bars arrangements designed to let prohibited manufacturers evade the rules through ownership interests. Private parties may seek relief, including an injunction, over violations of this exception. These safeguards make the law a defined exception rather than a general permission for automakers to bypass dealers.
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What license and oversight are required?
A manufacturer that qualifies still must apply for and maintain a vehicle-dealer license to own, operate, or control a dealership. The Senate report says the application must include a sworn affidavit from an authorized agent attesting that the manufacturer meets the eligibility criteria; it also says the Department of Licensing must revoke the license within 30 days if the manufacturer stops qualifying. Legislative reports describe a $10,000 penalty for each retail sale or lease transaction consummated by a manufacturer prohibited from acting as a dealer, with enforcement by the Department of Licensing and the Attorney General. Senate bill report.
What do the fee and EV-incentive provisions mean?
Legislative summaries describe different versions of the fee provisions as the bill moved through the Legislature. The Senate-passed report described a $250 documentary service fee through December 31, 2036, with 35% of the first $25 directed to an EV incentive account and 65% to the Multimodal Transportation Account, followed by a reduction to $225. That was the Senate-passed version, not the final enacted text. Senate-passed report.
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- WORKS WITH EVERY NON-TESLA EV: Standard J1772 connector plugs straight into Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Rivian, Lucid and every other EV or plug-in hybrid sold with a J1772 port - no adapter needed. Tesla drivers can charge too, using the J1772 adapter that comes with the car.
- PLUG IN, NO HARDWIRING: Level 2 charger delivers up to 40A to fully charge most EVs overnight. Plugs into a 240V, 4-prong NEMA 14-50 outlet (the RV/range type - NOT a dryer outlet) on a dedicated 50A circuit. The extra-long 25 ft cable easily reaches across a garage or driveway. Before ordering, check your car's port type and that you have the right outlet.
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The House committee report on the amended bill instead describes a $225 documentary service fee through December 31, 2036. It says 35% of the first $25 collected would go to the Electric Vehicle Account for an incentive program and 65% to the Multimodal Transportation Account, with the fee falling to $200 on January 1, 2037. House committee report.
Separately, Liias’s announcement says the certificate-of-title application fee for dealer purchases and leases rises from $15 to $40 starting October 1, with 35% of the added $25 supporting instant rebates for lower-income residents. Because the summaries describe different stages and the announcement is not a complete guide to implementation, these figures are not sufficient to determine a buyer’s exact charge or eligibility for an incentive. Check current Washington agency guidance and the enacted text before using them for a transaction or budgeting around a rebate.
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- [BUILT FOR SAFE & RELIABLE EVERYDAY CHARGING] Designed for repeated home and on-the-road use, the charger features an IP66 water-resistant enclosure, fire-resistant materials, and multi-layer electrical protection. It is designed to operate in temperatures from −22°F to 122°F, supporting charging in garages, driveways, and changing outdoor conditions. Combining dual-voltage flexibility, a long cable, portable construction, and multiple safety protections, this EV portable charger works as a dependable everyday charger or a convenient backup charging solution.
Why did lawmakers support—and oppose—the change?
Supporters said direct sales could improve access to electric vehicles, give manufacturers a clearer regulatory framework, support emissions goals, and help fund incentives for lower-income buyers. Liias said, “Making it easier for people to choose an EV is essential for reducing emissions in our transportation sector.”
The House committee report cites an estimate that direct EV sales could increase adoption by as much as 13% by 2030, attributing it to “independent research” without identifying the original publisher in the passage. That figure should therefore be read as an estimate recorded in a committee report, not as a verified forecast from a named study. House committee report.
Opponents argued that the exception gives newer EV manufacturers a route around the franchise model used by legacy automakers and could create an uneven competitive field. Those are stakeholder concerns recorded in the committee report, not findings established by the law. In the sponsor’s announcement, Rivian policy manager Abigail Ramsden welcomed a clear regulatory framework and said the company was committed to consumer protection and transparency. Skagit County dealership owner and operator Mike Carroll described the measure as a cautious approach that preserves consumer protections and fair competition. Statements in the sponsor’s announcement.
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