Washington Drivers License Instructions

DMV got you confused? Check out our easy instructions for getting your Washington drivers license.

1. Take Washington drivers education

2. Study for the Washington learners permit / instruction permit test

3. Apply for the Washington learners permit / instruction permit

4. Practice driving under supervision

5. Take the driving test for the Washington drivers license

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

1. Take Washington drivers education

Under 18:
In Washington, if you are under 18 you must take a DOL approved drivers education course in order to be eligible for the drivers license. Approved courses consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours behind-the-wheel training and 1 hour of in-car observation. Online drivers education courses do not satisfy this requirement.

18 or Older:
If you are 18 or older, drivers education is not mandatory in Washington. However, it’s always a good idea for new drivers to take a Washington drivers education course. With quality drivers education, you can:

Learn the rules of the road and essential safe driving skills
Have a better chance of passing your learners permit test
Qualify for an auto insurance discount (where applicable)

Take the DriversEd.com Washington drivers education course online at your own pace and on your own schedule.

Note: This course does not satisfy the Washington drivers ed requirement for new drivers under 18.

2. Study for the WA learners permit / instruction permit test

In order to get the instruction permit and eventually the Washington drivers license, almost everyone (see Step 3 below) must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. Most people fail this test on their first try.

Pass the first time when you learn the rules of the road with DriversEd.com and prepare for the instruction permit test with our Washington DOL practice permit tests. Our online practice tests can be purchased separately or are free when you purchase our online Washington drivers education course.

3. Apply for the WA learners permit / instruction permit

Apply for the instruction permit at a Drivers Licensing Office near you.

In order to be eligible for the instruction permit, you must:

Be at least 15½ years old (15 if you are enrolled in drivers education course).
Have your driving instructor sign your application if you enrolled in a drivers education course.
Bring proof of identity, residency and Social Security number. View acceptable documents.
Pay the applicable fee.
Submit a completed Parental Authorization Affidavit if you are under 18. The parent/guardian must show proof of identity and proof of relationship to the applicant.
Pass a vision test
Pass a written knowledge test. You will not be required to take the knowledge test prior to issuance of the permit if you present traffic safety education certification on the Instruction Permit Application form as proof that you are enrolled in an approved course.

Once you pass the written test you will be issued an instruction permit which allows you to operate a motor vehicle within Washington when supervised by a licensed driver with at least five years of driving experience. The licensed driver must sit in the right front seat. A Washington instruction permit may or may not be valid in another state. The permit is valid for one year and one renewal is allowed.

4. Practice driving under supervision

Practice driving under supervision in accordance with the restrictions of your instruction permit. If you are under 18 years old, you must hold your instruction permit for at least 6 months and you must log at least 50 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving practice in the Intermediate License Logbook.
DriversEd.com can help make the supervised driving period less stressful. Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide teaches important concepts and guides parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive. It also comes with a FREE Passenger Side Rear-View Mirror which allows you to see exactly what your teen sees when behind the wheel.

4. Take the driving test for the WA drivers license

Schedule an appointment to take the driving test at your local Drivers Licensing Office.

In order to be eligible for the Washington drivers license, you must:

Be at least 16 years old.
Have held your instruction permit for at least 6 months if you are under 18.
Present proof of identity, residency and Social Security number. View acceptable documents.
Have passed an approved drivers education course if you are under 18.
Submit a completed Parental Authorization Affidavit which certifies that you have had at least 50 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving practice, if you are under 18.
Not have any of the following apply:

You were issued a notice of traffic infraction or cited for a traffic violation that is pending at time of application
You have been convicted of or found to have committed a traffic violation within the last six months before the application for the intermediate license,
You have been convicted of or found to have committed an offense involving the use of alcohol or drugs during the period you had an instruction permit.

Pay the applicable fee.
Pass a driving test.

Once you pass the driving test, if you are 18 or older, you will be issued a Washington drivers license.

Intermediate Drivers License

If you are under 18, you will be issued an intermediate drivers license with the following restrictions:

For the first 12 months, you may not drive between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a licensed driver who is at least 25 years of age. The only exception to this rule is if you drive for agricultural purposes, meaning you transport farm products or supplies under the direction of a farmer.
For the first six months, you may not carry any passenger under 20 years old who is not a member of your immediate family, and
For the remaining time you may not carry more than three passengers who are under 20 years old who are not members of your immediate family.

Restrictions are automatically lifted when you've had an intermediate license for one year and:

You have not been involved in an automobile collision, and
You have not been convicted or found to have committed a rules-of-the-road traffic offense or violated any of the intermediate license restrictions.

On your 18th birthday, your license automatically becomes a regular license without the intermediate license restrictions. You do not have to visit a driver licensing office to change your license.

DriversEd.com is a privately held company and is in no way associated with the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other government agency. DriversEd.com does not claim any responsibility for the accuracy of the drivers license information posted within or for the business practices associated with any other schools listed on the DriversEd.com site. For up-to-date information, please consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles or vehicle registration agency. Also, DriversEd.com is not liable for any information or claims posted within third party links.

‡ Discount does not apply to in-car lessons, traffic school courses, and Utah and Indiana drivers ed courses.