Rivian Can Now Sell Directly to Customers in Washington State

Washington state just gave Rivian and Lucid the green light to sell directly to customers. Senate Bill 6354 passed with strong bipartisan support this week and Governor Bob Ferguson is expected to sign it. That means within a few months, Washington shoppers can walk into a Rivian showroom, test drive, talk financing, and leave with keys in hand. No more buying out of state or doing everything online.

If you followed the workaround era, Rivian launched “educational drives” in Seattle back in January 2025 because they legally couldn’t offer real test drives. That’s officially over.

What finally broke the logjam? Rivian launched a ballot initiative threatening to take the issue straight to voters with a $20 million campaign behind it. Dealers decided a compromise was better than a fight, and the result is a narrowly written bill that only covers Rivian and Lucid. Smaller EV startups don’t get the same path. Legacy automakers like Honda, Ford, and GM opposed it, but dealerships actually testified in favor this time around.

The bill also raises vehicle title fees from $15 to $40 through 2036, with the extra funds going toward EV assistance for low-income buyers and transit projects.

Good timing for Rivian as they gear up for R2 deliveries. Every state that opens direct sales removes one more layer of friction between Rivian and its customers, and that matters.