Vehicle Purchasing
Purchase Vehicles
- Contract Automobile Request System (CARS)
- Instructions for CARS
- Vehicle Purchasing Frequently Asked Questions
- Executive and small cabinet agencies requesting a non-Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) must obtain approval from the State Efficiency Environmental Performance (SEEP) office prior to purchase. A copy of this approval from SEEP must be turned in alongside the Passenger Vehicle Request form to vehicleapproval@des.wa.gov. View the non-BEV purchase exemption criteria and process.
- Operating Budgets since 2012 and continued into the 2025-27 Operating Budget includes a proviso requiring written approval for vehicle purchases from the Director of Enterprise Services before any state agency as defined in RCW 43.19.560 can make a passenger vehicle purchase. See RCW 43.19.600 for more information including agency exemptions. Every state agency, unless exempt, needs to coordinate with their Agency Transportation Officer and complete a Passenger Vehicle Purchase Request Form, obtain their agency director's signature and email the completed and signed form to DES Fleet Operations at vehicleapproval@des.wa.gov.
- State agencies, as defined in RCW 43.19.560 are to ensure compliance with the Washington State Transportation Policy including but not limited to purchasing procedures and permanent vehicle assignment procedures for all agency owned and leased vehicles.