Washington DOL Teen Driver Frequently Asked Questions

The learner’s permit test consists of 25 multiple choice questions.  

To receive a passing grade on the examination you must correctly answer twenty-one out of twenty-five questions. 

In order to apply for your permit, the State of Washington requires that you provide the following documents:

• Proof of identity
• Social Security card
• Proof of residence
• Proof of citizenship or legal presence
• Necessary fees (a $20 application fee, as of this writing)
• A parent or guardian’s signature

When you apply for your learner’s permit, your $20 application fee includes two attempts to pass the written knowledge test. If you fail the written test, you will have to wait until the next business day to take it again. After your second failed attempted, you will have to pay a $20 testing fee for each subsequent attempt you make.In general, obtaining a learner’s permit is not a difficult process. Students who have studied the Washington Driver’s Handbook in its entirety rarely have any problem passing the test, and for extra assurance an excellent idea is take one or more of the free practice tests that are available online. 

All of the questions that appear on the learner’s permit test are found in the Washington Driver’s Handbook, which is also available for free download from the Washington DOL website. The answers to these questions are also found in the handbook, so reading this book cover to cover is your best bet to ensure you achieve a passing score.There are two categories of questions found on the test. The first essentially deals with the “rules of the road”, and covers a wide range of information to include:

• Driving laws (liability insurance laws, alcohol-related laws, pedestrian laws, implied-consent laws)
• The penalties for violating these laws
• Various kinds of maneuvering (turning, signaling, lane changing, and parking)
• Differences between highway driving and city driving, including speed limits
• Procedures to be used in accidents or emergencies

  The second category deals specifically with the different types of road signs. Questions from this category may include:

• The four basic uses for signs (indicating hazard, providing guidance, providing information, and regulating traffic) and which color is used for each
• Distinguishing various signs and their meaning based on color and shape
• The uses for pavement markings on both highways and streets, and the ways in which they restrict the actions of drivers

The written examination can be taken at any of your local driver’s license offices. The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) is in charge of issuing driver’s licenses and a list of all DL offices statewide can be found on their website. Once you’ve found a suitable office, completed an application and paid your fees, the test will be administered electronically on the computer and the results will be processed immediately upon completion.