Washington Driver's License FAQs

You can begin at 15 if you enroll in an approved driver training course. Without driver-training enrollment, you must wait until 15½ to take the knowledge test and obtain the permit.

Yes. For 16- and 17-year-olds, Washington requires an approved driver-training course to receive an Intermediate License. If you do not complete approved training, you must wait until 18 to get a license.

Washington DOL states that online and parent-taught driver and traffic safety education courses are not approved courses. Approved teen training is delivered through certified driver-training schools and qualifying school programs.

No. Teendrivingcourse.com is supplemental study material and does not replace the DOL-approved driver-training course required for an Intermediate License.

The knowledge test is a 40-question multiple-choice exam, and you need at least 32 correct answers to pass. The test covers Washington's rules of the road and related material from the Driver Guide.

Yes. Students enrolled in approved driver training take the knowledge test through the training process, so they do not need to take it separately at a driver licensing office.

You must hold your Washington instruction permit for at least six months.

You need at least 50 hours of supervised driving: 40 hours during the day and 10 hours at night. A parent, guardian, or responsible adult must attest to the completed experience.

Washington's minimum course standards include 30 classroom hours, six hours of behind-the-wheel training, and one hour of behind-the-wheel observation.

For the first six months, you cannot carry passengers under 20 unless they are immediate family. During the next six months, you may carry no more than three passengers under 20 who are not immediate family.

Generally, no. During the first year, you cannot drive during those hours unless a licensed driver age 25 or older is with you. Washington also has an agricultural-work exception.

No. Intermediate License holders cannot use wireless devices while driving, including hands-free devices, except to report an emergency. Learner-permit holders are also prohibited from using phones or mobile devices while driving except to call 911.

You can still get an instruction permit at 15½ by passing the knowledge test, but you must wait until age 18 to take the skills exam and obtain a license.

Starting November 1, 2026, first-time Washington license applicants under age 25 must complete a free online Work Zone and First Responder Safety course before getting their first license.

Teendrivingcourse.com provides supplemental online study and defensive-driving preparation. It can help you prepare for the knowledge test and supervised practice, but it does not replace Washington's approved driver training or other licensing requirements.