Moving to Reno from Washington

Washington has a high Census median household income and median home value, which shapes the move. Washington and Nevada both skip the wage income tax, which keeps that part of the picture quiet. These are the rules, the numbers and the logistics.

Washington's 30 days for license and registration

The Washington Department of Licensing gives new residents 30 days after moving to get a Washington driver license and 30 days to register a vehicle, and a license is required before you register. These are rules for arrivals. If you are leaving, keep your Washington registration current until Nevada issues its own, and ask the Department of Licensing how to close out your Washington registration.

Spokane and eastern Washington households often travel through Oregon or Idaho on the way; Seattle and Tacoma households come south along I-5 and cross the Cascades or the Sierra. Routes change with the season, so your driver may adjust.

Taxes: no wage income tax, with some changes on the way

Washington has no individual income tax on wages, and its state sales tax is 6.5 percent with local additions, per the Washington Department of Revenue. The state also taxes long-term capital gains with a separate excise tax. The Department of Revenue's income tax page also describes a new 9.9 percent tax on income over 1 million dollars that is scheduled to start on January 1, 2028; a repeal initiative was certified for the ballot, so check that page for the current status. Nevada has no state personal income tax.

The Census puts Washington's median household income at 98,141 dollars, median home value at 564,600 dollars and median gross rent at 1,760 dollars. The Reno comparison lives on our cost of living page.

Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and the Tri-Cities

From the Sparks warehouse the road distance is about 705 miles to Seattle, 672 to Tacoma, 644 to Olympia, 645 to the Tri-Cities and 785 to Spokane. A household shipment is priced by weight as a long-distance move.

City pages cover Seattle and Spokane. The Pacific Northwest overview covers the region.

How a Washington to Reno move works with O'Brien's

You book the move with O'Brien's. We coordinate it from your Washington home through the Bekins Van Lines network, and our crews handle delivery, unpacking and storage in Sparks. Your written estimate sets the delivery window, and the free in-home estimate includes 10 free heavy-duty boxes.

If you are selling in Washington before buying in Nevada, storage while you sell a home keeps your belongings in the Sparks warehouse in the meantime.

Nevada in one short block

Nevada's statutes give new residents 30 days for a vehicle registration and 30 days for a license, and Nevada collects no state personal income tax. The moving to Reno guide and Nevada taxes page go further.