Sara Rice (left), her mom, Tammy Williams-Reinstra, and her grandmother, Beverly Ren, stand behind one of three order windows at Beverly’s Auto Licensing in Everett. All three have spent many hours behind the counter. Ren started the agency in 1975 and Rice recently took over ownership. Williams-Reinstra worked there for 30 years. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sara Rice (left), her mom, Tammy Williams-Reinstra, and her grandmother, Beverly Ren, stand behind one of three order windows at Beverly’s Auto Licensing in Everett. All three have spent many hours behind the counter. Ren started the agency in 1975 and Rice recently took over ownership. Williams-Reinstra worked there for 30 years. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Bev’s auto tabs: 45 years, 400 square feet, 3 windows, no a/c

Bev’s granddaughter is moving into the 21st century and a bigger space. But it’ll always be Bev’s place.

EVERETT — Beverly has left the building, but her name lives on.

And now it’s on a new office.

What’s up with that?

For nearly 45 years, Beverly’s Auto Licensing has been the go-to place in south Everett for vehicle tabs and titles. The past quarter-century, the office with three customer windows and five workers has operated out of 400 square feet crammed in the back of a narrow space shared by an insurance agency in front.

Sara Rice, 36, recently took over ownership from her grandmother, founder Beverly Ren. Sara is moving operations to another space in Anderson’s Shopping Center that’s four times larger. It’s sleek and roomy, with high ceilings, expanded counter service, an express line and climate control.

The move is expected by the end of the month, as soon as the computers are all systems go.

Typewriters did the trick when Beverly, 88, opened the office in 1975 in the Fred Meyer complex on Evergreen Way. In 1995, she moved a half-mile south to Anderson’s, that brick strip plaza that also houses Moby’s Barber Shop, Giorgio’s Pizza and Quintila’s Tax.

Car transactions can be a pain. The state requires this and that and then some. The line that forms down the hall at Beverly’s often spills into the parking lot.

People don’t seem to mind waiting, for the most part. It helps that the insurance agency in front has bulletin boards plastered with cat memes and cartoons to keep them amused, plus a colossal collection of feline figurines and a 20-pound rubber band ball.

A package is carried in by Sara Rice’s grandfather, Ted Ren, at Beverly’s Auto Licensing in Everett. He built the large wooden custom counter with three service windows for his wife, Beverly. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A package is carried in by Sara Rice’s grandfather, Ted Ren, at Beverly’s Auto Licensing in Everett. He built the large wooden custom counter with three service windows for his wife, Beverly. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

“Even with a tight hallway and no air-conditioning our customers keep coming back,” Sara said. “People ask me about my grandma and how she is doing.”

Sara said one woman comes in every year to renew her tabs and share a story from the ’80s. “She tells me, ‘I was crying and I didn’t have the money and your grandma didn’t know me and she brought out her own checkbook and wrote a check for my tabs without knowing me.’ ”

Sara was 20 when she started at the office. Her mom, Tammy Williams-Reinstra, Beverly’s former daughter-in-law, worked there for 30 years and retired as manager in 2009.

In many states you have to go to a state office for car tasks. In Washington, subagents can contract with the county auditor and the Department of Licensing to perform vehicle and vessel title services.

In Snohomish County, the 17 subagents include Julie’s Auto Licensing on Broadway in north Everett and Barb’s in Snohomish.

“In 2018, we renewed 60,143 tabs and we did 15,430 title transfers,” Sara said. These include online and in person.

O’Neill’s Wheels has relied on Beverly’s for title transfers for years.

“At first it was convenience, because we used to be right next to them. Then we moved down the road,” said Gale Heckard, office manager of the used car lot at 9407 Evergreen Way. “They are easy to work with. They go over and beyond. Just nice people. I’ve never had a complaint about them. They’re hard workers. Those girls are always there.”

Sara Rice works at her desk at Beverly’s Auto Licensing in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sara Rice works at her desk at Beverly’s Auto Licensing in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Beverly didn’t set out to be a license legacy. In the 1960s she worked in the county auditor’s office and at a Lynnwood auto license office before starting her own agency.

“I knew all the dealers up and down Evergreen Way,” Beverly said. “And the truckers liked us, too.”

Her husband, Ted, made the large wooden work station with three service windows.

“He did all the cabinets and did a lot of extra things,” Beverly said. “After work he’d come and help me.”

He didn’t man the windows. That was for women only.

No guys?

None ever applied, she said.

“I had a lot of nice girls work for me,” Beverly said. “I used to tell my girls when they’d come to work for me ‘If you don’t like people and you don’t like the job please tell me because you need to find something else.’ ”

Three generations of family members worked together.

“If they did something wrong they got reprimanded as if they were just another person,” Beverly said.

Sara cut her teeth on license plates.

“My mom did it my whole life. I remember being little and going out to the line of customers and handing them pens,” Sara said.

“I’d be sick and stay home from school. I’d come to the office and sleep on a bed of license plates.”

The new location of Beverly’s Auto Licensing is across the parking lot in a space four times the size. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The new location of Beverly’s Auto Licensing is across the parking lot in a space four times the size. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Sara didn’t plan to make it her career.

“Eventually I started doing it all and running it,” Sara said.

“I decided she was the one,” Beverly said.

Sara initiated the move into the new larger space that was formerly a bakery and later a gaming shop. She and her husband, Chris, have two daughters, Lyra, 2, and Clara, 6. The gals sometimes hand out pens.

“My husband is just like my grandpa,” Sara said. “He has built the new office and done everything. He goes to his job during the day and then comes to the office and works until midnight.”

That wooden counter fixture built by Grandpa Ted won’t be making the trip across the parking lot, but the rolling plate boxes and the tab holders he made will be used.

“It is sad, but exciting at the same time,” Sara said.

She wanted to stay in the same shopping center.

“It’s where we belong,” she said. The new site is next to Everett Office Furniture.

The insurance agency with all the cat stuff is staying put. Sara said she might have a token cat display in its honor.

Not only that, there will be two new faces at the counter in the expanded office that will break the gender barrier.

She hired a man.

“We’ll have our first male,” Sara said.

The name won’t change, though. It will always be Beverly’s.

Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter: @reporterbrown.

Tab tips

1. Renew tabs online. The office you choose to process your tabs gets the service fee. The tabs can be mailed. You don’t have to come in.

2. When buying a vehicle from a private party, have the seller come to an office with you to do the transfer. That way the office can tell you if everything looks correct, if anything else is needed and can usually handle it there. If that’s not possible, have a clear way to contact the seller after you pay them.

3. When selling a vehicle private party, remove your license plates. This will avoid toll tickets, towing bills and a major headache later. You or the buyer can purchase a 3-day permit for the buyer to drive the vehicle home.

4. File a report of sale to protect yourself after selling a vehicle. Make sure you get the buyer’s name, address and driver’s license number and this will protect you from anything they do while driving the vehicle in your name.

5. There are fake websites posing as the official Washington Department of Licensing. Make sure you use www.dol.wa.gov.

Source: Sara Rice, owner of Beverly’s Auto Licensing

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.