A legal owner or the legal owner's authorized representative may apply for a duplicate certificate of title if a certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, or becomes illegible. The application for a duplicate certificate of title must include information required by the department and be accompanied by the fee required in RCW 46.17.100. The duplicate certificate of title must contain the word, "duplicate." It must be provided to the first priority secured party named in it or, if none, to the legal owner.
A person recovering a certificate of title for which a duplicate has been issued shall promptly return the certificate of title that has been recovered to the department.