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View All PlansFree Washington DMV Permit Practice Test
| 90-100 | => | 15% |
| 80-89 | => | 24% |
| 70-79 | => | 26% |
| 60-69 | => | 20% |
| <60% | => | 15% |
To obtain your Washington learner’s permit, you must pass a vision screening and a written permit knowledge test. The test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions covering traffic laws, road signs, safe driving practices, driving under the influence, and what to do in case of an accident, as outlined in the state’s Washington DOL 2026 Driver’s Manual. To pass, you must score at least 80% (32 out of 40 questions). Testing must take place in person at the DOL.
Our free online Washington DOL permit practice test is current for May 2026 and provides questions and answers based on the state manual with instant feedback.
Go to the DOL with your Social Security number, proof of Washington residency, and proof of identity. If you’re under 18, your parent or guardian must provide these documents, proof of relationship to you, and a parental authorization affidavit. Submit the documents, pass a vision screening, pay the fee, and take the official written test.
If you fail the knowledge test, you can retake it only after paying a retest fee.
Washington’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program applies to persons under 18. The process begins with the learner’s permit granted to teens at least 15½ years of age (or 15 when enrolled in a driver training course). During this phase, drivers must be accompanied by a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old and has held a driver’s license for at least five years. You cannot use mobile devices (even hands-free ones) during this phase. Once you reach age 16, having held the learner’s permit for at least six months and graduated from a driver education program (with no tickets or violations), you can take the road test. If you pass, you graduate to the intermediate driver’s license, where some restrictions are lifted.
Once you reach the age of 18, and assuming all requirements have been met, you become fully licensed with all restrictions lifted.
Washington permit test: quick facts
What to expect at the DOL
Where Washington test-takers struggle most
Based on 8,504 Washington learners who practiced on our site in the last 30 days. 51% pass our practice tests, with an average first-try score of 74%.
When your vehicle goes into a skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go - do not brake sharply or overcorrect. On wet roads, reduce speed significantly before curves, not during them.
You must signal at least 100 feet before changing lanes and check mirrors plus blind spots before moving. Passing on the right is only permitted when the vehicle ahead is making or about to make a left turn, or on a one-way street with multiple lanes.
When passing a cyclist, you must give at least 3 feet of clearance. Under Washington's Vulnerable Road Users Law (effective January 1, 2025), negligent driving that injures or kills a pedestrian or cyclist is a gross misdemeanor.
A solid white line between lanes means lane changes are discouraged - not prohibited, but you should stay in your lane. A double solid yellow line prohibits passing in either direction; you may only cross it to turn into a driveway or private road.
Green signs give directional and distance information; blue signs indicate services like gas, food, and lodging. Orange signs mark construction and maintenance zones where fines are typically doubled.
Data updated daily from our practice test results
First-try score distribution
How Washington learners score on their first practice test attempt
Washington-specific rules you must know
Rules that are unique to Washington or differ from most other states
Washington's 2017 DUIE law bans all handheld device use even when stopped at a red light or sitting in traffic. A first offense costs $136; a second offense costs $234. This is one of the strictest phone-while-driving laws in the country.
Negligent driving that injures or kills a pedestrian, cyclist, or other vulnerable road user is a gross misdemeanor under a law that took effect January 1, 2025. This applies even in situations that would otherwise be treated as a minor traffic infraction.
Washington is unusual in that you must complete a driver education course before you can get your license - not just to obtain the learner's permit. Most states require driver ed only for the permit stage or not at all.
During the first 6 months of holding a provisional license, no passengers under 20 are allowed (except immediate family). From months 7 through 12, a maximum of 3 passengers under 20 are permitted.
Reviewed for legal and handbook accuracy
M.S. (MIT, Columbia), Chief Educational Researcher. ACES member (Society for Editing). Verifies all 50 state tests against official handbooks weekly.
How to study for the Washington permit test
- Start here. One of 4 free online Washington tests. ~6 min. Read explanations as you go.
- Cover more ground. All tests have different questions - no repeats.
- Finish strong. Try the Exam Simulator for a full-length run.
Why this works
- Exam-like questions from the current handbook + questions most people get wrong. Explanations cite the manual.
- AI Assistant explains like a friend.
- Performance Insights shows where you need work.
- Challenge Bank™ saves your mistakes for targeted practice.
Sample Washington permit test questions
6 questions written and verified by our content team against the current Washington Driver Handbook
- Question 1 of 6
How many hours of supervised driving practice must a Washington teen complete before getting their first driver license?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - 40 hours of day driving and 10 hours of night driving
Before applying for their first license, teens ages 16 to 17 must meet a number of requirements. One of these is to complete at least 40 hours of day driving and 10 hours of night driving with a licensed driver who has 3 or more years of experience. Parents, guardians, or responsible adults must attest to this.
- Question 2 of 6
What is the legal THC limit for drivers age 21 and older in Washington?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - 5 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood
For drivers 21 and older, having 5 nanograms or more of active THC per milliliter of blood is considered a DUI. Drivers under 21 face consequences for anything more than zero nanograms. Recreational cannabis is legal for those 21+, but impairment behind the wheel is still a DUI offense.
- Question 3 of 6
On which Washington beaches is driving allowed?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - Only beaches in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties
Driving on ocean beaches is allowed only in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. The beach is considered a state highway there, so all driving laws apply. The speed limit is 25 mph, and pedestrians and bicyclists always have the right-of-way. You may only enter through marked beach approaches and must drive on hard-packed sand.
- Question 4 of 6
It is against the law to drive while wearing earbuds, earphones, or headsets in Washington. What is the one exception?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - You may use a hands-free device in one ear
Driving while wearing earbuds, earphones, headphones, or headsets that broadcast sound or cancel noise is illegal. The sole exception is a hands-free device in one ear, which must comply with Washington Administrative Code statute 204-10-045. Permit and intermediate license holders cannot use any electronic device while driving, even hands-free.
- Question 5 of 6
When passing a bicyclist on a road with only one lane in each direction, how much space must you leave in Washington?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - At least 3 feet
Leave at least 3 feet between the widest part of your vehicle and the bicyclist. If there is only one lane in each direction, move into the other lane when there is no oncoming traffic. Do not attempt to pass if oncoming traffic is present - wait until the lane is clear. Pass slowly on the bicyclist's left side and make sure you are clear of the bicyclist before returning to the lane.
- Question 6 of 6
During the first 6 months with an intermediate driver license, a Washington teen is restricted from driving between what hours (except in a few special situations)?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
During the first 6 months, intermediate license holders cannot normally drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule, such as if the driver is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or licensed driver at least 25 years old. Furthermore, intermediate license holders may not carry passengers under age 20 except for immediate family members. After the first 6 months, these restrictions start to change. Nighttime restrictions expire after driving safely for one year (starting from the date of license issurance) or at age 18, whichever comes first. And after the first 6 months, the passenger limit loosens to no more than 3 passengers under age 20 who are not immediate family members.
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S. (MIT), Chief Educational Researcher, on .
Real Washington drivers who passed first try
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A smarter way to study for the permit test
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Interactive handbook
Go beyond the boring black-and-white manual. Our interactive handbook lets you read, listen with an MP3 audio version, or even chat with it to find the information you need, faster.
We build our practice questions from the current 2026 WA Driver Handbook and refine them using patterns recent test‑takers report.
Driver handbook • Knowledge‑test/permit overview • Fees & ID requirements • Office/appointment info
We mirror recurring themes (e.g., right‑of‑way traps, sign look‑alikes) and use similar distractors and wording styles.
We don’t collect or publish actual test items and we’re not affiliated with DOL.
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