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DMV permit test · Washington

Washington DMV permit practice test

As of October 25, 2026, the Washington State Department of Licensing knowledge test is a written multiple-choice exam, and an applicant needs 32 correct answers out of 40 to pass.

Washington teens enrolled in an approved driver training course can apply for a learner permit at 15; teens who skip the course must be 15½ for the permit and cannot get a license until 18.

The Washington State Department of Licensing charges a $35 fee for a learner permit (per dol.wa.gov, checked on Oct 25, 2026).

Updated Oct 25, 2026Rules checked against dol.wa.govHow we check
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Washington permit test at a glance

Questions on the test
40source, Oct 25, 2026
Correct answers to pass
32source, Oct 25, 2026
Minimum permit age
15source, Oct 25, 2026
Permit or application fee
$35source, Oct 25, 2026
Permit held before the road test
6 monthssource, Oct 25, 2026
Supervised practice
50 hourssource, Oct 25, 2026

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Free Washington practice test: 10 questions

OneTryPass wrote these questions from the Washington State Driver Guide (text-only). Pick an answer to see if you got it; each explanation names the part of the handbook it comes from.

  1. Getting your permit

    Question 1. During the first 6 months with a Washington intermediate license, which passengers under 20 may ride with you?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. Only immediate family members

    For the first 6 months, an intermediate license allows no passengers under 20 except immediate family. After that, up to 3 non-family passengers under 20 may ride along until age 18 or the 1-year mark.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 1.8: Getting a personal driver license

  2. Alcohol and drugs

    Question 2. A driver under 21 in Washington faces DUI consequences starting at what blood alcohol concentration?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. 0.02%

    Washington applies DUI consequences to drivers under 21 at a BAC of 0.02%, compared with 0.08% for drivers 21 and older. For cannabis, any active THC above 0 nanograms counts for drivers under 21.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 1.15: Maintaining your license

  3. Speed and following distance

    Question 3. What is the speed limit in a Washington school zone?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. 20 mph

    Washington sets school zone limits at 20 mph because higher speeds raise the risk of a fatal crash. Signs may show the hours when the 20 mph limit applies, but students can be around after school too.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.17: Zones

  4. Sharing the road

    Question 4. A tow truck with flashing lights is stopped on the shoulder of a 60 mph highway, and you cannot move into a farther lane. What does Washington require?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. Slow to at least 10 mph under the limit, and no faster than 50 mph

    In an emergency zone you must move over to a farther lane or slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit, and never drive faster than 50 mph. Tow trucks, garbage trucks, utility crews, police, fire and ambulances all count.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.17: Zones

  5. Turns and lanes

    Question 5. What is the farthest you should drive in a shared center left-turn lane in Washington?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. 300 feet

    Shared center lanes are reserved for left turns, and U-turns where allowed, from either direction. Washington drivers should not travel more than 300 feet in them, and they are never passing lanes.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.16: Road markings

  6. Parking

    Question 6. In Washington, how close may you park to a fire station driveway on the opposite side of the street?

    Show answer

    Answer: D. No closer than 75 feet

    Washington bans parking within 75 feet of a fire station driveway across the street. Other limits include 15 feet from a fire hydrant, 30 feet from a stop sign or traffic signal and 5 feet from a driveway or alley.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.18: Parking

  7. Right of way

    Question 7. A pedestrian is crossing the street in front of you. When may you continue?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. After the pedestrian has cleared your lane and one more lane

    The Washington guide says to wait until a pedestrian has cleared your lane plus one additional lane. If the person uses a wheelchair, cane, guide dog or other service animal, wait until they have crossed the whole street.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.1: Sharing with people

  8. Railroad crossings

    Question 8. According to the Washington Driver Guide, how much distance can a train need to come to a full stop?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. Up to a mile

    Trains are heavy and cannot stop quickly even at low speeds; stopping can take up to a mile. Trains always have the right-of-way, so never try to beat one across the tracks.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.7: Sharing the road with trains

  9. Night driving

    Question 9. You are driving with high beams on and come up behind another vehicle. Within what distance should you switch back to regular headlights?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. 300 feet

    Switch from high beams to regular headlights within 300 feet when you are behind another vehicle and within 500 feet of an oncoming one. Washington law requires headlights from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 2.5: Vehicle maintenance

  10. Signs and signals

    Question 10. What does a flashing green traffic light mean in Washington?

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Washington does not use flashing green signals

    You won't see a flashing green light in Washington. Drivers may meet one across the border in British Columbia, where it warns that pedestrians are waiting to cross.

    From Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) · 4.11: Traffic light signals

Washington permit test questions people ask

How many questions are on the Washington knowledge test, and what score passes?

The Washington knowledge test is a written multiple-choice exam with 40 questions, and 32 correct answers are needed to pass. The result stays valid for 2 years, which matters for teens who test early and take the drive test later.

Most teens test at their driver training school. The exam exists in 12 languages, but each school picks the ones it gives, so ask before booking. Test fees vary from one testing location to another.

Source: Do I need to take a test?

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

Enrolling in an approved driver training course lets a teen apply at 15, no earlier than 10 days before the course starts. Without a course, the minimum is 15½, the knowledge test comes first, and the license itself waits until 18.

The permit fee is $35. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian to give permission online, and a permit with a photo means an office appointment with documents that prove the family connection.

Source: Get your learner permit

What are the rules for a Washington learner permit and intermediate license?

A permit holder drives only with a licensed driver who has at least 5 years of experience and stays off the phone except to call 911. Before the intermediate license, a teen needs 6 months with the permit and 40 daytime plus 10 nighttime hours of practice.

The intermediate license bans passengers under 20 outside the immediate family for 6 months, then allows up to 3. Driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. requires a licensed driver 25 or older until the teen completes a year of safe driving.

Sources: Get your learner permit · Driver license application: ages 16 to 17

What documents prove your identity for a Washington permit?

For a standard permit or license, DOL accepts one stand-alone document such as a valid U.S. passport, two A-list documents, one A-list plus two B-list documents, or four B-list documents with your name and birth date on at least one.

Standard Washington cards say "Federal Limits Apply" and do not work for REAL ID. The enhanced driver license, which shows a U.S. flag rather than a star, is the version that meets REAL ID.

Sources: Documents for proof of identity · REAL ID

Every Washington rule we checked

Each line is one rule from an official Washington State Department of Licensing page, with the date we read it.

Knowledge test
The Washington State Department of Licensing knowledge test is a written multiple-choice exam, and an applicant needs 32 correct answers out of 40 to pass. source, Oct 25, 2026
Starting November 1, 2026, first-time Washington driver license applicants younger than 25 must also pass a free online work zone and first responder safety course, which ends with a test. source, Oct 25, 2026
Minimum age
Washington teens enrolled in an approved driver training course can apply for a learner permit at 15; teens who skip the course must be 15½ for the permit and cannot get a license until 18. source, Oct 25, 2026
Fees
The Washington State Department of Licensing charges a $35 fee for a learner permit. source, Oct 25, 2026
Washington law set the learner permit application fee at $35 starting January 1, 2026, up from $25 before that date. source, Oct 25, 2026
Washington knowledge test fees vary by testing location, so applicants confirm the exact amount with the location where they test. source, Oct 25, 2026
If you fail
The Washington State Department of Licensing says a failed knowledge test may come with a waiting period before a retest, and a passing score stays valid for 2 years. source, Oct 25, 2026
Permit rules
A Washington learner permit holder practices only with a licensed driver who has at least 5 years of driving experience and may not use a phone or other mobile device while driving, except to call 911. source, Oct 25, 2026
Washington teens must hold a learner permit for at least 6 months and complete 40 hours of daylight and 10 hours of night driving with someone licensed for at least 3 years before the intermediate license. source, Oct 25, 2026
In Washington, a parent or guardian signs a parental authorization form certifying that a teen applicant has at least 50 hours of driving experience and no traffic infractions in the last 6 months. source, Oct 25, 2026
During the first 6 months, a Washington intermediate license holder may carry no passengers under 20 except immediate family; for the next 6 months the limit is 3 such passengers. source, Oct 25, 2026
A Washington intermediate license holder may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. without a licensed driver 25 or older, and that limit ends after 1 year of safe driving. source, Oct 25, 2026
A Washington learner permit is valid for one year and can be renewed twice; after that, a new permit requires retaking the knowledge test unless the applicant is enrolled in driver training. source, Oct 25, 2026
What to bring
The Washington State Department of Licensing accepts several combinations of identity documents for a standard permit or license, such as one stand-alone document, two A-list documents, or one A-list document plus two B-list documents. source, Oct 25, 2026
A standard Washington driver license is marked "Federal Limits Apply" and does not meet REAL ID; the enhanced driver license, marked with a U.S. flag instead of a star, is the REAL ID-compliant option. source, Oct 25, 2026
Washington applicants under 18 who want a photo on the learner permit apply at a driver licensing office with a parent or guardian and documents showing the relationship, such as a birth certificate, adoption records or school records. source, Oct 25, 2026
Test appointments
Washington applicants take the knowledge and drive tests at an approved driver training school location or book them at a driver licensing office through License Express. source, Oct 25, 2026
The Washington knowledge test is offered in 12 languages, including Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Punjabi and Ukrainian, but applicants should check that their driver training school gives it in the language they need. source, Oct 25, 2026
Official handbook
The Washington Driver Guide is available as a PDF in 17 languages and as a text-only English page, and the Department of Licensing gives out printed copies free of charge. source, Oct 25, 2026

The full Washington pack

The free questions above are a sample. The pack is the whole question bank, practiced the way the app below shows.

Inside the Washington pack: study sessions that bring missed questions back, timed full practice tests and a readiness score.

One-time payment

Full Washington practice pack

$14.951 year of access · no subscription

  • Every practice question in the Washington bank, not just these 10
  • Study sessions that bring missed questions back
  • Timed full practice tests with a readiness score
  • Mistake review by topic, on any device, 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. The official Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) is free at dol.wa.gov.

Washington permit test FAQ

How much is a learner permit in Washington?

A Washington learner permit costs $35. Under state law the $35 fee applies from January 1, 2026; before then, the permit application cost $25. Source: official pages "Get your learner permit" and "RCW 46.20.055: Instruction permit", checked on Oct 25, 2026.

Do new Washington drivers have to take a work zone safety course?

Yes, if they are younger than 25. Starting November 1, 2026, first-time license applicants under 25 must pass a free online work zone and first responder safety course that ends with a test. Source: official page "Do I need to take a test?", checked on Oct 25, 2026.

Are these the real Washington DMV test questions?

No. OneTryPass writes its own practice questions from the rules in the Washington State Driver Guide (text-only), and each question names the part of the handbook it comes from so you can check the rule.

Is OneTryPass affiliated with the Washington State Department of Licensing?

No. OneTryPass is an independent practice site and is not part of the Washington State Department of Licensing. The Washington State Driver Guide (text-only) is free at dol.wa.gov.

Where this information comes from

Every rule on this page comes from the Washington State Department of Licensing's own website or handbook. OneTryPass reads the page, writes the 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: knowledge test, 120 days; minimum age, 365 days; fees, 90 days; if you fail, 180 days; permit rules, 365 days; what to bring, 180 days; test appointments, 60 days; official handbook, 180 days.

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