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CDL learner’s permit · Washington

Washington CDL permit test: fees, testing and the state manual

As of October 26, 2026, the Washington State Department of Licensing charges $40 for a commercial learner's permit.

A Washington CLP is valid for 180 days; renewing it within 30 days of expiration adds another 180 days, and only one renewal is allowed.

Washington CDL knowledge tests are taken by appointment at driver licensing offices that offer testing, and one fee covers one attempt at each test within 90 days of the receipt (per dol.wa.gov, checked on Oct 26, 2026).

Updated Oct 26, 2026Rules checked against dol.wa.govHow we check
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Washington CDL permit at a glance

CLP fee
$40source, Oct 26, 2026
CLP valid for
180 dayssource, Oct 26, 2026
General knowledge questions
50source, Oct 26, 2026
Air brakes questions
25source, Oct 26, 2026
Combination vehicles questions
20source, Oct 26, 2026

The official Washington CDL manual

Washington applicants study the Commercial Driver License (CDL) Guide together with a supplemental guide that replaces its sections 11 and 12 for the modernized vehicle inspection and basic control segments. Open it on dol.wa.gov source, Oct 26, 2026

Washington CDL questions people ask

How much does a CDL permit cost in Washington?

The commercial learner’s permit is $40, and the CDL knowledge test is $35. One knowledge-test payment covers one try at each test you take within 90 days.

The skills test is $175 for a truck or passenger vehicle and $100 for a school bus, with two attempts included. Turning your license into a CDL then adds $20 plus $17 for every year left on the card.

Sources: Commercial learner's permit (CLP) · Driver licensing fees · CDL knowledge test · CDL skills test

How long is a Washington CLP good for, and who can ride with you?

The permit lasts 180 days. Renew it within 30 days of the expiration date and you get 180 more, but only once; after that you retake the knowledge tests for a new permit.

Your supervisor needs a valid CDL with the right endorsements, two years in that type of vehicle and five years of driving overall, and must sit next to you. The skills test opens 14 calendar days after the permit is issued.

Sources: Commercial learner's permit (CLP) · CDL skills test

How many questions are on the Washington CDL knowledge test?

General knowledge has 50 questions and you need 40 correct. Combination, passenger, school bus, doubles/triples and tank tests have 20 questions each (16 to pass); air brakes has 25 (20 to pass) and hazardous materials has 30 (24 to pass).

You can test in English, Spanish, Russian or Serbian–Croatian, without an interpreter. The study guide itself is only in English.

Source: CDL knowledge test

How do you schedule the Washington CDL skills test?

Call the DOL skills scheduling line at 360-902-3785 first, even if you plan to use an independent third-party examiner. With a DOL examiner you pay the department; with a TPE you pay the examiner and book at least 3 days ahead.

Your training provider has to report your completed training before the test. The test runs about 2 hours, in English, in this order: vehicle inspection, basic controls and road test.

Sources: CDL skills test · Find an independent third-party examiner

Federal rules that apply here too

These come from the FMCSA and 49 CFR and are the same in every state. All federal CDL rules

Minimum age for a CLP
18source, Oct 26, 2026
Minimum age to drive interstate
21source, Oct 26, 2026
Days with a CLP before the skills test
14source, Oct 26, 2026
Passing score, each knowledge test
80%source, Oct 26, 2026

Every Washington CDL rule we checked

One line per rule, each from an official Washington page with the date we read it.

Fees
The Washington State Department of Licensing charges $40 for a commercial learner's permit. source, Oct 26, 2026
Washington’s fee list sets the CDL knowledge test at $35. source, Oct 26, 2026
A Washington truck or passenger skills test costs $175 with either a DOL examiner or an independent third-party examiner, a school bus test costs $100, and the fee buys two attempts. source, Oct 26, 2026
In Washington a CDL is added to the driver license for a $20 license fee plus $17 for each year left on the license, between $37 and $156 in total. source, Oct 26, 2026
Where to take the tests
Washington CDL knowledge tests are taken by appointment at driver licensing offices that offer testing, and one fee covers one attempt at each test within 90 days of the receipt. source, Oct 26, 2026
The Washington State Department of Licensing gives CDL skills tests at three sites: Everett, Parkland and Pasco. source, Oct 26, 2026
State CDL manual
Washington applicants study the Commercial Driver License (CDL) Guide together with a supplemental guide that replaces its sections 11 and 12 for the modernized vehicle inspection and basic control segments. source, Oct 26, 2026
CLP rules in the state
A Washington CLP is valid for 180 days; renewing it within 30 days of expiration adds another 180 days, and only one renewal is allowed. source, Oct 26, 2026
Washington makes drivers wait 14 calendar days after an original or upgraded CLP is issued before they can take the skills test. source, Oct 26, 2026
The CDL holder riding with a Washington CLP driver must have 2 years of experience in that type of commercial vehicle and at least 5 years of total driving experience, and must sit in the seat beside the learner. source, Oct 26, 2026
Knowledge test in the state
The Washington CDL general knowledge test has 50 questions with a passing score of 40, the Class A combination test has 20 questions (16 to pass), and the air brakes test has 25 questions (20 to pass). source, Oct 26, 2026
Washington offers the CDL knowledge test in English, Spanish, Russian and Serbian–Croatian, and language interpreters are not allowed. source, Oct 26, 2026
Skills test
Washington skills test candidates contact the DOL scheduling line first, even when testing with an independent third-party examiner, and the department must authorize a candidate before that examiner can book the test. source, Oct 26, 2026
After a failed Washington skills test the driver waits 3 days to retest, unless the vehicle had an equipment failure, in which case there is no wait and no new fee. source, Oct 26, 2026
Who can apply
Washington accepts CDL applications from drivers 18 or older with a valid Washington driver license, while operating commercial vehicles across state lines requires age 21. source, Oct 26, 2026
The Washington State Department of Licensing has stopped all non-domicile CLP and CDL transactions and all knowledge and skills testing for non-domiciled drivers. source, Oct 26, 2026
Washington’s own training rules call for at least 160 hours for a Class A license and 80 hours for Class B, certified only by a registered Washington training provider. source, Oct 26, 2026

Practice for the CDL knowledge tests

The knowledge tests follow the same federal standards in Washington and every other state, so the pack is the same everywhere. Try 30 questions free first.

One-time payment

CDL practice pack

$24.951 year of access · no subscription

  • Every question for the general knowledge, air brakes and combination tests
  • The hazmat, tank, doubles and triples, passenger and school bus endorsement tests
  • Practice tests scored at 80%, one part at a time, for a year

Refunds: Full refund within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked.

OneTryPass is not affiliated with the Washington State Department of Licensing. Washington's CDL rules are free at dol.wa.gov.

Washington CDL FAQ

Where are the Washington CDL skills test sites?

The DOL tests at three sites, in Everett, Parkland (Tacoma) and Pasco, generally from 7:30 a.m., with the last test at 2 p.m. Everett also opens on Saturdays. Independent third-party examiners test on their own routes around the state. Source: official pages "CDL skills test locations" and "Find an independent third-party examiner", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Can I get a printed copy of the Washington CDL guide?

Yes. Driver licensing offices hand out printed copies of the CDL guide and its supplement, and the DOL mails them free of charge if you live out of state or can’t get to an office. Source: official page "Commercial driver guides", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

How much training does Washington require before the CDL skills test?

At least 160 hours for Class A and 80 hours for Class B or Class C, from a registered Washington training provider. Upgrades and endorsements have their own minimums, such as 30 hours for a school bus endorsement and 16 for hazmat. Source: official page "CDL training requirements", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Is there a separate CDL practice test for Washington?

No. Every state builds its CDL knowledge tests for each vehicle group and endorsement from the same FMCSA pre-approved pool of test questions (49 CFR 383.133). One OneTryPass CDL pack covers Washington and every other state; what changes in Washington is on this page: fees, where you test and the state manual. Source: official page "49 CFR 383.133, Test methods (eCFR)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Is OneTryPass affiliated with the Washington State Department of Licensing?

No. OneTryPass is an independent practice site. Washington's CDL rules and manual are free on the Washington State Department of Licensing website, linked on this page.

Where this information comes from

Every Washington rule on this page comes from the Washington State Department of Licensing or Washington law, read on the official site. OneTryPass writes each rule in plain English and records the date. A rule that passes its re-check date leaves this page on its own until it is read again.

How often each kind of rule is read again: fees, 90 days; where to take the tests, 120 days; state CDL manual, 180 days; CLP rules in the state, 180 days; knowledge test in the state, 120 days; skills test, 180 days; who can apply, 180 days.

Something wrong on this page? Tell us at [email protected] and include the link to the official page that changed. See how we check.