Summary of Washington (WA) DOL Handbook 2026

Driving in Washington is a privilege. You must have a valid Washington driver license to drive legally on public roads. All licenses, permits, and ID cards have an assigned Washington number (WDL Number).

Types of Driver Licenses & Permits

• Instruction Permit: Required before you can practice driving on public roads. You can apply as early as age 15 if enrolled in an approved driver training course, or age 15½ if not. It is valid for 1 year.
• Intermediate Driver License (IDL): Issued to teens aged 16–17. You must have held a permit for at least 6 months and completed 50 hours of practice driving (10 hours at night).
• Standard Driver License: The basic license (Class C) allows you to drive passenger vehicles. Valid for up to 6 years.
• Enhanced Driver License (EDL): Meets federal REAL ID standards and allows you to travel domestically by air or cross U.S. borders by land/sea without a passport.

Intermediate Driver License (IDL) Restrictions

New Residents

If you move to Washington, you must obtain a WA driver license within 30 days of establishing residency. You must also register your vehicle within 30 days.

The Washington DOL requires all new applicants to pass a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a driving skills exam. Testing is typically conducted through approved driver training schools or testing locations.

Knowledge Test (Written Exam)

• Consists of 40 multiple-choice questions based on the Washington Driver Guide.
• You must answer at least 32 questions correctly (80%) to pass.
• Your knowledge exam score is valid for 2 years.
• Test covers traffic laws, signs, safe driving practices, and road rules.

Driving Skills Exam

• You must provide a safe vehicle with valid registration and insurance.
• Tested maneuvers include holding proper lane position, entering/leaving traffic, speed control, turning, backing up, and parking.
• Before the test, the examiner will check your vehicle's safety equipment (brakes, lights, signals, windshield, tires).

License Maintenance

• If you move, you must notify the DOL of your new address within 10 days.
• When applying for your license, you can choose to join the Organ Donor Registry.
• You can renew your standard license online or in person. Renewing before it expires prevents late fees.

Required Vehicle Equipment

To drive legally on Washington roads, your vehicle must be safe. You must ensure the following are in good working order:

Insurance Requirements

• You must have liability insurance to drive in Washington state.
• You are required to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times and present it to law enforcement when requested.
• Minimum limits: $25,000 for injuries/death to one person, $50,000 for two or more persons, and $10,000 for property damage.

Occupant Protection

• Washington law requires that every passenger and the driver be securely fastened with a seat belt.
• Children under 13 years old must ride in the back seat.
• Children must use a child safety seat until they are at least 4'9" tall, regardless of age.

The law does not give anyone the right-of-way. It only says who must yield it. When in doubt, yield the right-of-way to avoid a collision.

General Yielding Rules

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

• Pedestrians and bicyclists have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks (marked or unmarked).
• It is illegal to pass a vehicle that is stopped for a pedestrian or bicyclist.
• Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as people driving motor vehicles.

School Buses

Emergency Vehicles & Move Over Law

• You must pull over to the right edge of the road and stop for any emergency vehicle with sirens or flashing lights.
• Move Over Law: If you approach a stationary emergency vehicle, tow truck, or highway worker vehicle with flashing lights, you must move over at least one lane or slow down to 10 mph below the posted speed limit.

Traffic Signals

Sign Shapes and Colors

• Octagon (Red): Always a Stop Sign.
• Triangle (Red/White): Yield Sign.
• Diamond (Yellow/Orange): Warning conditions ahead (curves, hills, crosswalks, construction).
• Rectangle (White/Black): Regulatory signs (speed limits, do not pass, lane use).
• Pentagon (Yellow-Green): School zone or crossing. Slow down and watch for children.

Pavement Markings

• Solid Yellow Lines: Mark the left edge of one-way roads and separate traffic moving in opposite directions. Do not cross to pass.
• Broken Yellow Lines: You may pass if the broken line is on your side.
• Solid White Lines: Mark the right edge of the road or separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. Lane changes are discouraged over solid white lines.
• HOV (Carpool) Lanes: Marked by a diamond shape. Reserved for vehicles with the required number of occupants, buses, or motorcycles.

Signaling

• You must signal at least 100 feet sebelum turning, changing lanes, or pulling to the side of the road.
• Use left/right turn indicators, or use arm signals in bright sunlight or if your vehicle’s lights fail.

Turning Rules

• Turn from the lane closest to the direction you want to go. For a right turn, use the far-right lane. For a left turn, use the far-left lane or center left-turn lane.
• Turn into the lane closest to the one you came from. Do not swing wide.
• Center Left-Turn Lanes: You cannot travel more than 300 feet in a center left-turn lane. It is only for making left turns.

Passing Rules

• Pass on the left. You may pass on the right if the vehicle you are passing is making a left turn (and there is a lane for you to do so).
• Never pass on the shoulder.
• When passing on a two-lane road, make sure you have enough space to complete the pass and return to your lane before an oncoming vehicle gets within 200 feet.
• It is illegal to pass on hills, curves, or within intersections/railroad crossings where your view is obstructed.

Washington Maximum Speed Limits

Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limits in Washington are:

• The speed limit is the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions. You must lower your speed if roads are wet, icy, or traffic is heavy.

Parking Rules

• Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
• Do not park within 20 feet of a pedestrian crosswalk.
• Do not park within 30 feet of a traffic signal, stop sign, or yield sign.
• Do not park within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
• Your wheels must be within 12 inches of the curb when parallel parking.

Parking on Hills

• Uphill with a curb: Turn your steering wheel AWAY from the curb.
• Downhill with a curb: Turn your steering wheel TOWARD the curb.
• Uphill or Downhill with NO curb: Turn your steering wheel TOWARD the edge of the road.
• Always set the emergency parking brake.

Scanning and Space

• Scan the road at least 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
• Check your mirrors every 5-8 seconds to see what is happening around you.
• Maintain a minimum following distance of 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. Increase this distance at high speeds or in bad weather.
• Check your blind spots by looking over your shoulder before changing lanes.

Distracted Driving Laws

Adverse Conditions

Alcohol and cannabis (THC) deeply impair your judgment, reaction time, and vision. In Washington, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws cover both alcohol and drugs (including legal marijuana and prescription meds).

Legal Limits (BAC & THC)

• Even if your levels are below the legal limit, you can still be arrested for a DUI if the officer determines your driving is impaired.

Implied Consent Law

• When you drive in Washington, you have agreed to take a breath or blood test to determine the alcohol/drug content of your blood if arrested on suspicion of DUI.
• If you refuse the test, your license will be revoked for at least 1 year (or until age 21 for minors). This goes into effect even if you are not convicted of a DUI.

Open Container Law

• It is illegal to drink alcohol or consume cannabis while driving or riding as a passenger.
• Any open container of alcohol or cannabis must be kept in the trunk. If the vehicle lacks a trunk, it must be kept in an area not normally occupied by passengers.

What to do in a Collision

• You must stop. Leaving the scene of a crash is a hit-and-run crime.
• Move your vehicle off the roadway if no one is injured and your vehicle is drivable.
• Call 911 if there are injuries, fatalities, or vehicles blocking traffic.
• Exchange: Name, address, vehicle license number, and insurance information with all drivers involved.
• If the collision results in injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more, and police do not investigate the scene, you must file a Collision Report within 4 days.
• If you hit an unattended car, try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a securely attached note with your contact info.

Vehicle Emergencies

• Brake Failure: Pump the brakes several times to rebuild pressure. If that fails, use the parking brake slowly. Shift into a lower gear.
• Tire Blowout: Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight. Take your foot off the gas and slow down gradually. Do not brake hard.
• Gas Pedal Sticks: Keep your eyes on the road and quickly shift to Neutral. Pull off the road when safe and turn off the engine.