Travel vans

AN ACT Relating to clarifying that travel vans are not motor 1
homes for purposes associated with vehicle registration; amending RCW 2
46.04.305 and 82.44.125; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; 3
and creating a new section. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that campers, travel 6
trailers, and travel vans offer simplified amenities that are not the 7
same as motor homes. People who own travel vans typically have other 8
vehicles that have paid the motor vehicle excise tax to the regional 9
transportation authority. Travel van usage does not typically result 10
in more trips on the public transportation system. Therefore, the 11
legislature declares that travel vans, like campers and travel 12
trailers, are exempt from the motor vehicle excise tax.13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 14
RCW to read as follows: 15
"Travel van" means a vehicle with a body that fully encloses the 16
driver and offers aspects of a temporary living area. The distance 17
from the leading edge of the windshield to the foremost body section 18
of vans is typically shorter than that of pickup trucks and sport 19
H-2440.1
HOUSE BILL 2305
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Keaton, Jacobsen, Schmidt, Klicker, Graham, and
Manjarrez
Prefiled 01/07/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
p. 1 HB 2305
utility vehicles. These vehicles are described by the manufacturer as 1
a travel or camper van, not a motor home. 2
Sec. 3. RCW 46.04.305 and 1990 c 250 s 19 are each amended to 3
read as follows: 4
"Motor homes" means motor vehicles originally designed, 5
reconstructed, or permanently altered to provide facilities for human 6
habitation, which include lodging and cooking or sewage disposal, and 7
is enclosed within a solid body shell with the vehicle, but excludes 8
a camper or like unit constructed separately and affixed to a motor 9
vehicle or a travel van as defined in section 2 of this act.10
Sec. 4. RCW 82.44.125 and 2010 c 161 s 908 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
(1) The motor vehicle excise tax authorized under this chapter 13
applies to the following vehicles: 14
(a) Commercial trailers, as defined in RCW 46.04.136;15
(b) Farm trucks registered under RCW 46.16A.425;16
(c) Fixed load vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.04.186;17
(d) Motor homes, as defined in RCW 46.04.305; 18
(e) Motor trucks, as defined in RCW 46.04.310, with a scale 19
weight greater than ((six thousand)) 6,000 pounds;20
(f) Motor vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.04.320; and21
(g) Trailers, as defined in RCW 46.04.620. 22
(2) The motor vehicle excise tax authorized under this chapter 23
does not apply to the following vehicles: 24
(a) Campers, as defined in RCW 46.04.085; 25
(b) Dock and warehouse tractors and their cars or trailers;26
(c) Equipment not designed primarily for use on public highways;27
(d) Exempt registered vehicles; 28
(e) Lumber carriers of the type known as spiders;29
(f) Mobile homes, as defined in RCW 46.04.302;30
(g) Passenger motor vehicles, as described in RCW 82.44.015;31
(h) Travel trailers, as defined in RCW 46.04.623;32
(i) Travel vans, as defined in section 2 of this act;33
(j) Vehicles not used on the public highways; and34
(((j))) (k) Vehicles owned by nonresident military personnel of 35
the armed forces of the United States stationed in the state of 36
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Washington if the nonresident military member was a nonresident of 1
this state when enlisted into military service. 2
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