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Whether you’re an adult (over the age of 18 years) or a teenager, getting a license in Washington state is easier than you might think. Simply fill out the relevant application, bring your information to the Department of Licensing (DOL), and pass your road and knowledge tests and you should be good to go!

How to Get a Driver’s License in Washington

The process for obtaining your driver license in Washington state varies depending on your age. If you are an adult (a person older than 18 years of age), then you’ll have to go through the standard licensing process. Teens (people aged 16 or 17 years old), on the other hand, will have to go through the minor licensing process, which can be more in-depth.

Adults over 18

The first step for an adult to obtain a driver license in Washington state is to pre-apply online using the DOL’s pre-application portal. Although this is not actually a requirement, it can significantly reduce the difficulty of navigating the government’s complex web of bureaucracy.

The second step is to pass the knowledge test. The knowledge test is a requirement for all drivers who have never had a driver license and for some drivers who are looking to transfer a foreign or out-of-state license to Washington. In order to pass this knowledge test, you will need to score at least 80%, which means getting at least 20 out of 25 questions correct.

You might also be required to take a road test, depending on your personal circumstances.

Once you’ve passed your knowledge test (if applicable), then you will need to fill out the formal application and file it with the DOL. To do so, you will need to bring your original social security card (copies will not be accepted in most cases) and proof of ID (such as a non-driver ID or a passport).

You will then need to pass an eye exam and pay the necessary licensing fees associated with the class of driver license for which you are applying.

Teens

Teens aged 16 or 17 years in Washington can obtain what is called an intermediate driver license. This is not a full driver license and is subject to additional requirements and restrictions (which we’ll cover in the next section). To qualify for an intermediate driver license in Washington state, you will need to meet the following conditions:

• Be a Washington state resident.
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Hold your Washington instruction permit for at least six months.
• Not be convicted of a drug or alcohol offense while holding an instruction permit.

Once you’ve met all four of the above conditions, you can begin the process of obtaining an intermediate driver license in Washington state. Step one is to take an official driver education course. That course must include 50 hours of driving experience with somebody who has been licensed to drive for at least five years (10 of those hours must have been at night).

Next, you’ll be required to take a knowledge test. In order to pass this knowledge test, you will need to score at least 80%, which means getting at least 20 out of 25 questions correct.

All applicants looking to obtain an intermediate driver license must also successfully pass a road test.

The last step of the application process for teenagers looking to obtain intermediate driver licenses in Washington is to fill out the application and submit the following documents to the DOL:

• Proof of completion of a driver training course.
• Proof of identity and social security.
• Proof of parental supervision and approval (can be a notarized copy of a Parental Authorization Affidavit if they are not with you).

Washington Drivers License Restrictions

In Washington state, a full license does not carry any restrictions. That is, if you are a driver aged 18 years or older with a clean driving record, then you will most likely be able to drive following only the standard rules of the road.

However, if you are under the age of 18, you will be issued an intermediate license as part of Washington’s Graduated Driver License program. While in possession of an intermediate license, you are subject to a number of driving restrictions.

For the first six months of having your intermediate driver license, you are not permitted to drive any vehicle occupied by any passengers under the age of 20 years old. The only exception to this rule is when driving with immediate family members, such as your siblings.

For the next six months (months 7-12), you are permitted to drive with passengers aged under 20 years even if they are not your immediate family; however, you cannot drive with more than three such passengers in the vehicle at any one time.

Furthermore, during the entire first year (a full 12 months) that you have your intermediate driver license, you are not permitted to operate any motor vehicle between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless you are accompanied by a driver aged 25 years or older. The only exceptions to this rule are when driving for agricultural purposes or assisting with the transportation of farm products and supplies while under the supervision of a farmer.

While driving on an intermediate driver license, regardless of how long you’ve had it, you are legally prohibited from operating a cell phone in any way while driving. That includes a total ban on texting, taking pictures, using other apps, using your cell phone to play music through your car’s speaker system, using hands-free voice or talk-to-text, etc. Any use of your phone whatsoever is illegal while you own an intermediate Washington driver license.

Fortunately, all of these restrictions are lifted the day you turn 18, at which point your intermediate driver license will automatically roll over into a full, unrestricted Washington state driver license.