Oh this one pisses me off the most. Switch and bait. But I have a loophole for anyone with a vehicle weighing over 6,000lb.
Per state law, if your vehicle is over 6,000lb it is considered an agricultural vehicle. exempt from RTA tax.
I have a 2017 Ram 1/2ton. Got it weighed at Randall sand and gravel on canyon rd in Puyallup. It weighed 6,200lb. Got my certified weight certificate for $20, marched my happy butt to DOL and renewed my tabs for $105!!!! It was supposed to be $575. I walked out of there with a $470 savings and a feeling like I won the lottery.
Do it! You will save a lot of $$. Find a certified scale in your area and save $.
You just need a heavier truck, my ‘05 Duramax weighs 6800# empty with half a tank of fuel and just me in the driver’s seat.

The easy way is to just register them at an address outside if the taxing district. My folks live in Pierce county and have their van (a wheelchair accessible vehicle) registered at my house in Thurston county. Otherwise it would have cost $675 to renew the tabs on their relatively new van which I consider necessary medical equipment.