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Washington State Department of Licensing

Washington permit test 15 with driver ed, 15½ without

In Washington, the age you can get a permit depends on whether you've enrolled in driver training. This page compares the two routes, then covers the intermediate license rules, impairment limits that include THC nanograms, and 25 practice questions from the DOL Driver Guide.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · Washington Driver Guide (current DOL edition; no edition date printed)

15

Enrolled in driver training

  • Apply 1–10 days before the course starts, online or in an office
  • You need a WDL number first (from your DOL License Express account)
  • The knowledge exam can be taken through the school
  • Leads to an intermediate license at 16

15½

No driver training

  • Pass the Driving Knowledge Exam first
  • The permit is valid 1 year and can be renewed for a fee
  • No skills exam until 18 without driver training
  • At 18+, your supervisor needs 5+ years licensed

Getting ready for test day

Get your WDL number, then book through License Express. Bring proof of identity, plus your parent or guardian with their ID and proof of your relationship. You'll have a vision screening. A passing knowledge score is valid for two years, so passing early won't hurt you.

If you need the test in another language, DOL has a Language Access team ([email protected]). We haven't verified which test languages are offered.

Not in the Driver Guide and unverified: question count, pass score, fees, retake waits and online testing.

Washington DOL practice test

25 questions from the Driver Guide, with an 80% target that's our benchmark, not DOL's.

Free quiz · no sign-up

Washington permit practice test

Questions
25
To pass
80%
About
17 min

Instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.

Preview the 25 free questions

  1. At what age can you get a permit if you're enrolling in driver training?

    • 14
    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16

  2. Without driver training, when can you take the knowledge exam for a permit?

    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16
    • 17

  3. How long is a passing knowledge exam score valid?

    • 6 months
    • 1 year
    • 2 years
    • 5 years

  4. How long is an instruction permit valid?

    • 6 months
    • 1 year
    • 2 years
    • 5 years

  5. How long must a teen hold the permit before an intermediate license?

    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 1 year

  6. How many daytime supervised hours are required?

    • 30
    • 40
    • 50
    • 60

  7. How many nighttime hours?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20

  8. How much driving experience must a teen's supervisor have?

    • 1 year
    • 2 years
    • 3+ years
    • 5+ years

  9. How much experience must a supervisor have for a learner 18 or older?

    • 1 year
    • 3 years
    • 5+ years
    • 10 years

  10. How many classroom hours are in the traffic safety course?

    • 20
    • 24
    • 30
    • 40

  11. How many behind-the-wheel hours?

    • 4
    • 6
    • 8
    • 10

  12. In the first 6 months, how many passengers under 20 may you carry (not counting family)?

    • None
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3

  13. How many passengers under 20 after that?

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • Unlimited

  14. What is the intermediate license curfew?

    • 11 p.m.–5 a.m.
    • Midnight–5 a.m.
    • 1–5 a.m.
    • 2–5 a.m.

  15. How old must a licensed adult be for the curfew exception?

    • 18
    • 21
    • 25
    • 30

  16. Can an intermediate driver use a hands-free phone?

    • Yes
    • No, except in an emergency
    • Only to call parents
    • Only for music

  17. What is the BAC limit under 21?

    • .00
    • .02
    • .05
    • .08

  18. What is the THC limit for drivers under 21?

    • Above 0.00 ng
    • 2 ng
    • 5 ng
    • 10 ng

  19. What is the THC limit for drivers 21+?

    • 2 ng
    • 3 ng
    • 5.00 ng
    • 10 ng

  20. How far before and after an emergency scene must you move over?

    • 100 ft
    • 200 ft
    • 300 ft
    • 500 ft

  21. How much should you slow down at an emergency scene?

    • 5 below the limit
    • 10 mph below the limit
    • To 25 mph
    • To half the limit

  22. What happens to fines for passing a stopped school bus?

    • They're the same
    • They're doubled
    • They're tripled
    • They're waived

  23. On a two-lane road, a bus flashes red. Who stops?

    • Only traffic behind
    • All vehicles in both directions
    • No one; oncoming may pass
    • No one; just slow down

  24. How far does a loaded truck at 55 mph need to stop?

    • 150 ft
    • 300 ft
    • 450 ft
    • 600 ft

  25. How soon must new residents get a Washington license?

    • 10 days
    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 90 days

The intermediate license timeline

  1. Before: age 16, permit held 6 months, the traffic safety course (30 classroom + 6 behind the wheel), knowledge and skills exams, and 40 day + 10 night hours with a supervisor licensed 3+ years.
  2. Months 0–6: no passengers under 20 except immediate family.
  3. After month 6: no more than 3 passengers under 20.
  4. The whole time: no driving 1–5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian or licensed driver 25+ is with you. No wireless devices, even hands-free, except emergencies.
  5. End: restrictions expire after a year of safe driving, or at 18.

During the skills exam, only you and the examiner may be in the vehicle, apart from service animals and sign language interpreters.

Impairment limits

Alcohol (BAC)THC (blood)
21 and older.085.00 ng or more
Under 21.02Anything above 0.00 ng

Other rules on the exam

  • Move Over / Slow Down: move over 200 feet before and after an emergency scene, and slow to 10 mph below the limit.
  • School buses: on a two-lane road, all traffic stops. Behind a bus, every same-direction driver stops. Fines for passing a stopped bus are doubled.
  • Zipper merging: the guide says it improves traffic flow by 60%. Use both lanes until the merge point, then take turns.
  • Trucks: a loaded truck at 55 mph needs about 450 feet to stop.
  • Insurance: minimums are $25,000/$50,000/$10,000.
  • New residents: get a Washington license within 30 days.

Neighbors

Oregon · Idaho

Washington permit test FAQ

Who gives the Washington permit test, the DMV or DOL?

The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). DOL also lets approved driver training schools give the Driving Knowledge Exam.

How old do you have to be for a permit in Washington?

15 if you're enrolling in driver training (apply 1–10 days before the course), or 15½ if you pass the knowledge exam without it.

How many questions are on the Washington knowledge test, and what's passing?

The Driver Guide doesn't say, and we couldn't verify either from an official source. Fees, retake rules and online testing are also unverified.

How long is my knowledge test score good for?

Two years.

How many hours do I need for an intermediate license?

50: 40 daytime and 10 nighttime, with a supervisor licensed at least 3 years. You also need 6 months with the permit and a traffic safety course (30 classroom and 6 behind-the-wheel hours).

Can I skip driver training in Washington?

Yes, but then you can't take the skills exam until 18. Learners 18 and older need a supervisor licensed 5+ years.

Keep studying

Sources: Washington Driver Guide; Washington State DOL. Not affiliated with Washington DOL.