Washington practice tests
The Washington knowledge test is a written multiple-choice test of 40 questions on the state's rules of the road, and you need 32 correct to pass. You take it in person at an approved testing location, either a driver training school or a Department of Licensing office, and a passing score is good for two years. Teens in an approved driver training course can get an instruction permit from age 15; without a course you take the knowledge test from 15 and a half. Our free Washington practice sets follow the real format, 40 questions with 32 to pass, and every answer comes from the Washington Driver Guide, so you can check what you know before the real test.
- 40 questions
- 32 to pass
The test in Washington
Every figure links to the page it was read from, with the date it was checked. Formats change; the source wins over this table.
| What | Figure | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice questionsThe Department of Licensing describes the knowledge test as a written multiple-choice test and points you to the driver guide to study Washington's rules of the road. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Do I need to take a test?checked 2026-11-01 |
| To pass | 32 of 40 correctThat is 80%. A passing score is good for 2 years. The behind-the-wheel drive test is scored separately, and you need at least 80 out of 100 on it. Our practice sets use the knowledge test rule: 40 questions, 32 correct to pass. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Do I need to take a test?checked 2026-11-01 |
| Time limit | Not statedThe Department of Licensing does not publish a time limit for the knowledge test. Our sets have no time limit. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Do I need to take a test?checked 2026-11-01 |
| Road signs | Not stated as a separate partThe official pages do not describe a separate signs section. The Driver Guide says you are responsible for knowing all signs, including city and county signs, so each of our sets includes about eight sign questions with pictures. | Washington Driver Guide (English), PDFchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Languages | 12 languagesEnglish, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog and Ukrainian. The Department of Licensing advises checking that your driver training school offers the test in the language you need. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Do I need to take a test?checked 2026-11-01 |
| Where you take it | In person at an approved testing locationThe Department of Licensing says you take and pass the knowledge test in person at an approved testing location, and that testing fees can vary depending on where you take it. To study, it points you to the driver guide and its online practice test. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Get your learner permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Retakes | Not statedThe Department of Licensing says only that if you do not pass, there may be a waiting period before you can retest. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Do I need to take a test?checked 2026-11-01 |
| Minimum permit age | 15 with driver training; 15 and a half withoutIf you enroll in an approved driver training course you can apply for a permit as soon as you turn 15, no earlier than 10 days before the course starts. Without a course you must be 15 and a half and pass the knowledge test first, and you cannot get your license until 18. You need a Washington Driver License (WDL) number before you apply, and under 18 a parent or guardian must give permission. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Get your learner permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Instruction permit rules | Carry the permit; drive with a licensed driver who has at least 5 years of driving experience; no phone use except to call 911The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed twice. After that you must apply for a new one and retake the knowledge test, unless you are enrolled in a driver training course. You may have other passengers of any age. A Washington permit might not be valid in another state. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Get your learner permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| First license at 16 or 17 | Permit held 6 months, approved driver training, and 40 hours of day plus 10 hours of night practiceYou must be at least 16, pass the knowledge and drive tests, complete an approved driver training course (out-of-state courses need 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction), and have no traffic violations in the 6 months before you apply and no alcohol or drug offense while holding the permit. The 50 practice hours are with a driver who has been licensed at least 3 years. From November 1, 2026, first-time applicants under 25 must also pass a free online work zone and first responder safety course. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Driver license application, ages 16 to 17checked 2026-11-01 |
| Intermediate license restrictions | No driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless with a licensed driver aged 25 or older; passenger limits for the first year; no wireless devicesFirst 6 months: no passengers under 20 except immediate family. Next 6 months: no more than 3 passengers under 20 who are not immediate family. Passenger and night limits end after one year of safe driving, and all restrictions end at 18. Phones and other wireless devices may not be used even hands-free, except to report an emergency. A first violation brings a warning letter to you and your parent or guardian, a second a 6-month suspension (or until 18 if sooner), and a third a suspension until 18. The Driver Guide words the night rule as a parent, guardian, or licensed driver at least 25; we follow the newer web page. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Driver license application, ages 16 to 17checked 2026-11-01 |
| Adults 18 and over | Knowledge and drive tests; a permit is optionalAt 18 or older you can get your first license by passing the knowledge and drive tests without a permit or driver training. To practice on public roads you need a permit and a licensed driver with at least 5 years of experience in the front passenger seat. The Department of Licensing says that from January 1, 2027, first-time applicants who are 18 will need to complete driver education. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Driver license application, ages 18+checked 2026-11-01 |
| Fee: instruction permit | $35 for 1 yearRenewing a learner's permit costs $25 for one more year. Knowledge and drive test fees are separate and vary by testing location. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Driver licensing feeschecked 2026-11-01 |
| Fee: first driver license | $111 for 6 years or $131 for 8 yearsA $50 application fee, a $10 per year issuance fee and a $1 technology fee. If you take driver training you also pay the school's fees. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Driver licensing feeschecked 2026-11-01 |
| What to bring | Proof of identity, your WDL number and the fee; under 18, a parent or guardianFor a photo permit, make an appointment at a driver licensing office and bring identity documents. Under 18, bring your parent or guardian and documents that show the relationship, such as a birth certificate, adoption records or school records. | Washington State Department of Licensing: Get your learner permitchecked 2026-11-01 |
| Driver Guide edition | Washington Driver Guide, 520-400 (R/4/25)English PDF, copyright 2025, downloaded from the Department of Licensing driver guides page. Where the guide and a newer official web page differ, our pages follow the web page: the guide lets a parent, guardian or licensed driver aged 25 or older ride along during the intermediate night limit, while the web page names a licensed driver aged 25 or older; and the guide says alcohol, drug or firearm offenses can delay a minor's license until 17, while the web page says a minor convicted of an alcohol or drug offense while holding a permit must wait until 18. | Washington Driver Guide (English), PDFchecked 2026-11-01 |
Full tests
- Test 140 questions · untimed · pass 32difficulty 1 of 6
- Test 240 questions · untimed · pass 32difficulty 2 of 6
- Test 340 questions · untimed · pass 32difficulty 3 of 6
- Test 440 questions · untimed · pass 32difficulty 4 of 6
- Test 540 questions · untimed · pass 32difficulty 5 of 6
- Test 640 questions · untimed · pass 32difficulty 6 of 6
Handbook chapters
- Chapter 1: Getting your permit and licenseHow Washington's instruction permit, intermediate license and first adult license work: ages, the WDL number, driver training, practice hours, the two exams, the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. rule, passenger limits and the new work zone course.
- Chapter 2: Keeping your licenseHow Washington drivers renew, replace and lose a license: renewal timing, expired licenses, change of address, the reasons for suspension, minors with alcohol or drug offenses, and what to do when police pull you over or give you a ticket.
- Chapter 3: Your vehicleWashington vehicle rules and controls: registration, report of sale, plates, minimum insurance, tires, headlights and high beams, brake lights, turn and hand signals, seat position, seat belts, child seats, airbags, steering, braking, ABS, vehicle balance and blind zones.
- Chapter 4: You behind the wheelThe Washington Driver Guide on the driver: health, vision and night glare, hearing and earbuds, fatigue, emotions, aggressive driving, road rage, informed decisions, the OODA loop, distracted driving laws and how to search and scan.
- Chapter 5: Alcohol, cannabis and other drugsWashington impaired-driving law: BAC and THC limits for adults and under-21 drivers, physical control, implied consent and test refusal, DUI penalties, the open container law, cannabis, medicines, polydrug use and how alcohol affects driving.
- Chapter 6: Sharing the roadWashington rules for sharing the road: pedestrians and service animals, school buses on two-lane and multilane roads, transit buses, large trucks, snowplows, motorcycles, bicyclists and the 3-foot rule, trains and light rail, farm vehicles and emergency vehicles.
- Chapter 7: Traffic laws, signals, signs and road markingsWashington traffic laws and traffic control: keeping right, broken signals, every traffic light and arrow, ramp meters, sign colors, common signs, traffic cameras, lane lines, medians, center turn lanes, HOV, reversible and toll lanes, crosswalks, bike lanes, sharrows and bike boxes.
- Chapter 8: Intersections, turns and roundaboutsWashington intersection rules: what to do before entering, right-of-way at four-way and two-way stops, uncontrolled intersections, turning into the correct lane, U-turns, T and Y intersections, mid-block crossings, traffic calming circles, roundabouts and diverging diamond interchanges.
- Chapter 9: School, work and emergency zones, parking and transportingWashington zone and parking rules: the 20 mph school zone, work zones, the move over or slow down law, no-parking distances, curb colors, parking on hills, the Dutch Reach, children and animals in parked cars, disabled and EV parking, loads, animals, ferries and beach driving.
- Chapter 10: Risks, conditions and emergenciesWashington Driver Guide Chapter 5: fatal crash factors, hazard management, speed and conditions, space and following distance, merging and the zipper merge, timing turns, vision, night driving, curves, wet and icy roads, skids, hydroplaning, vehicle failures and what to do after a collision or near power lines.