FOLLOWUP: Half a year after West Seattle Licenses suddenly shut down, how close is a replacement?

(WSB photo from January, former West Seattle Licenses office post-closure)

It’s been six months since the sudden closure of the vehicle-licensing subagent West Seattle Licenses. Though in-person services like this largely remain closed anyway, we wondered recently if West Seattle was close to getting a new one, since the previous estimate was “as soon as June.” So we checked with King County, which leads the process for finding and managing subagents like these. Here’s what spokesperson Cameron Satterfield told us this week:

The RFP is closed, and our Records and Licensing Division is in the process of evaluating the responsive applicants. Six applicants were chosen for interviews, which should (have been) complete by the end of this week. Next step is to rank those applicants in order and send the list to state DOL for their review and final selection. That process takes a minimum of four weeks, but it could be longer considering the pandemic situation. Once we get the final selection back from state DOL, we’ll work with that applicant to get a contract signed and complete the work needed before opening. Since we don’t yet know who the final choice will be, I don’t have a timeline for opening. Some of the factors that go into that include the applicant securing a lease or purchase for their physical location, getting DOL equipment installed and tested, and making sure the applicant and their employees have the necessary training.

As of a few days ago, the location used by the former sub-agent still had a “For Lease” sign in the window (that wouldn’t necessarily be where the new subagent sets up, though). Meantime, no update on the results of a state “administrative review (of) irregularities” involving the previous subagent.

18 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Half a year after West Seattle Licenses suddenly shut down, how close is a replacement?"

  • KT June 20, 2020 (1:08 pm)

    What no Task Force?

  • Sf June 20, 2020 (3:01 pm)

    Perhaps we should start a group to demand ‘West Seattle Licenses Now’. We can stomp our feet and yell and tell those elected officials that obviously are just dragging their feet that this is more important to other stuff that they are “handling”.Or, you know, we could go to Georgetown.  

    • Pelicans June 20, 2020 (3:53 pm)

      Does anyone know the status of state car tab renewals? My form always comes in the mail in early June, and is due by the end of July, but so far I’ve received nothing…

      • LG June 20, 2020 (6:21 pm)

        Mine are due in July, I received an email a few weeks ago to renew. 

      • Dawn June 21, 2020 (4:57 pm)

        I don’t believe we’re getting a break on renewing tabs like we are for DLs. I just had to fork out the $300 to renew mine in May 😞

    • Carole June 20, 2020 (4:52 pm)

      Or Burien

    • Tim_Mai2 June 20, 2020 (6:01 pm)

      There is a Burien licensing agent on SW 151st.

  • Rick June 20, 2020 (4:08 pm)

    Appoint a committee to appoint a panel to study the committee that might even look at the issue. Hey, ya gotta keep people working,right? The infamous “Seattle Process”.

  • Michael June 20, 2020 (5:09 pm)

    It’s a shame, the old license office was always a treat to visit.  …as long as you renewed online.

  • Mr. Joe June 20, 2020 (5:29 pm)

    This is a non-issue. Everyone who leaves West Seattle drives by the subagent in Georgetown.

    • hj June 20, 2020 (8:23 pm)

      I try not to leave West Seattle though, I like it here

    • 22blades June 20, 2020 (9:00 pm)

      G’town DOL agent is minus 5 stars.

  • Flivver June 20, 2020 (5:31 pm)

    The couple of times I’ve not received my renewal I’ve just gone in, given them my license plate # which they looked up and was good to go. All your info is on their computer.

  • Graciano June 20, 2020 (5:33 pm)

    If you’re just getting some New tab’s, you can mail them into the county… , just another way of staying safe. Or you can do it online, but who wants to give the state more money…

    • Pelicans June 20, 2020 (7:13 pm)

      Thank you. I’ll do it online.

    • John W June 21, 2020 (8:48 am)

      ” Or you can do it online, but who wants to give the state more money…”I do mine online for the incredible convenience of skipping the infamous  waiting line at the West Seattle  location before COVID19.  At the Georgetown  office,  I was relieved because of the line outside along the mini mall’s sidewalk., which I skipped as clerk brought my license to me outside  the door.  I took a minute.  The fees, by the way, that the state charges for card payments, is set by our state  for all such transactions and  help pay for some of the additional costs charged by the credit/debit card industry.  The state derives no income from this convenience and is not getting any more money through this.  Mailing in, by Graciano’s charges, gives the feds more money…as the costs and  inefficiency  of postal services on both sides of the transaction.  Graciano’s mail-in only practice  costs  the state additional  resources in handling, addressing, packaging and postage.  Plus the rare occasion of  incorrect addresses, mislalbled  and lost mail.

  • Dave Newman June 21, 2020 (8:53 am)

    Siler license agency in burien does a great job. The location of the former west Seattle license is evidently not under further consideration due to lack of parking. 

  • Sillygoose June 22, 2020 (9:57 am)

    Is there any governing group to do criminal back ground checks on the interested parties?  Will they please put into place if you dont show proof of legal and valid car insurance no tab renewal!!!  

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