Washington permit test
Test requirements, handbook sources, and practice for Washington.
Test and permit facts
Read the scope and exceptions alongside each fact. Requirements still awaiting review are omitted; their absence does not mean the agency has no rule.
| Fact | Washington | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | Washington State Department of Licensing | Official source · PDF page 15 |
| Test name | written knowledge test | |
| Questions | 40 | |
| Correct answers to pass | 32 | |
| Online testing | The published permit instructions require the knowledge test in person at an approved testing location; the online permit application is a separate step. | |
| Minimum permit age | 15 when enrolling in driver training; 15½ after passing the knowledge exam without enrollment. | |
| Permit fee | The first instruction permit costs $35 and lasts one year. Knowledge-test provider charges are separate and vary by testing location. | |
| Driver’s education | An approved driver training course is required for a license before age 18. Without the course, wait until 15½ for a permit and 18 for a license. | |
| Retest rules | A waiting period may apply after failure; ask the testing location for its rule. | |
| Language availability and conditions | The agency lists 12 knowledge-test languages, but applicants should confirm their language is offered by their chosen driver-training school. | |
| Test languages | English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog, Ukrainian | |
| Handbook | Washington State Driver Guide | Official source · PDF page 15 |
| Requirements for applicants under 18 | Create or use a WDL number and obtain parental or guardian permission. At 15, enroll in an approved course and apply no more than 10 days before it starts; without enrollment, take the in-person knowledge test from age 15½. | |
| Future training rule (not current) | Starting November1,2026, first-time license applicants under25 must pass the free online work-zone/first-responder-safety course. Recheck before launch. |
Start with the handbook
Official source · PDF page 1
Study the federal road-sign catalog.
Free permit practice
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