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Get ready to hit the road! We offer testing options that help make earning your WA driver’s license a smooth and successful experience, including our highly recommended 60-minute Warm-Up Drive and DOL Skills Test—our most popular package for boosting confidence before your DOL Skills Test. Below the options we offer are steps that guide you on how to get your license, starting with obtaining a permit, if you don’t already have one.
Need lessons? Click on the Enrollment Advisor below to determine which driving package is best for you.
Step 1 - Obtain a Learner's Permit
(if you don't already have one or a Washington ID)
Eligibility
1. Must be at least 15 years old.
2. If a teen is 15, they must be enrolled in a Traffic Safety Education (TSE) course to get a learner’s permit.
3. Email the WDL# to Safety First Driving School to confirm registration in the class for the DOL. Once confirmed, they will let you pick up your license at a DOL office or print it at home 10 days before class begins.
4. They need to hold the permit for six months before taking the skills test.
Process
1. Use the License Express pre-apply process on the DOL website.
2. At the end of the process, you’ll receive your Washington Driver License (WDL#) number, which is essential for scheduling tests and for the Department of Licensing (DOL) system.
3. At the end of the process, you’ll receive your Washington Driver License (WDL#) number, which is essential for scheduling tests and for the Department of Licensing (DOL) system.
4.Bring required documents to Washington DOL, including proof of identity, parental authorization (if under 18), and a valid photo ID.
Step 2 - Prepare for the Washington DOL Permit Test
Study Materials
1. Driver’s Guide: The official DOL Driver’s Guide, available in PDF format, contains all the information you need for the permit test.
2. Practice Test: Take a DOL Practice Test online as many times as needed to prepare.
Taking the WA DOL Knowledge Test
1. Register for the Knowledge Test: Sign up via Safety First’s secure website.
2. Required documentation: Bring your WDL# and a valid photo ID.
3. The knowledge test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions; you must correctly answer at least 32 questions for a passing score.
4. The test will take less than an hour and you will know your score immediately.
5. Pick up your Learner’s Permit at the DOL once you pass your knowledge test.
Step 3 - Practice Your Driving Skills
Practice as much as possible! The more practice you get, the more comfortable and confident you'll feel, which can help reduce nerves during your driving test.
For teens under 18:
You must complete 50 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours at night).
The supervising driver must have a valid driver's license, and must be 21 years or older or have held a license for 5 years.
Step 4 - Pass the DOL Skills Test (Driving Test)
After you pass your permit test and have met your at-home practice requirements:
Register for the Washington State Skills Test:
Sign up via Safety First's secure website.
Bring your WDL# and a valid photo ID.
Skills Test Details:
The test takes about 30 minutes.
You must score at least 80 out of 100 to pass.
Your score will be sent to the DOL within 24 hours.
What’s Covered In the Test:
The skills test is a practical driving exam where you demonstrate your ability to operate a vehicle safely under a variety of conditions. It is designed to ensure that you can handle the vehicle confidently while adhering to traffic laws and safe driving practices. The test covers the following key areas:
1. Backing Around a Corner:
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Use proper steering techniques and the required 2-stop process to smoothly guide the vehicle around the corner while staying within 18 inches of the curb.
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Adjust your mirrors if necessary to continuously check your mirrors for blind spots to ensure there are no pedestrians, vehicles, or obstacles in your path.
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Maintain a controlled speed, ensuring the vehicle does not roll into the road or other areas.
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Do not hit the curb or any objects in the surrounding area.
2. Parallel Parking:
Parallel parking tests your ability to park the vehicle between two other cars while maintaining a safe distance from them and any obstacles while staying within 12 inches of the curb. This requires:
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Judging the available space to ensure your vehicle fits.
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Using your mirrors to guide you as you park.
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Moving the vehicle forward and backward in a controlled manner to straighten the car between the lines or vehicles.
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Demonstrating precision and spatial awareness by avoiding any contact with surrounding vehicles or objects and centering the car within the space.
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3. Lane Changing:
Lane changing is crucial for safe driving and requires you to:
- Signal well in advance, giving other drivers enough time to react.
- Check your mirrors and your blind spots, to confirm it is safe to change lanes.
- Execute the lane change smoothly, without cutting off other vehicles or making abrupt movements.
- Maintain proper speed and positioning as you enter the new lane.
4. Turning:
During the test, you will be evaluated on:
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Making left and right turns at intersections with appropriate signal usage and speed control.
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Turning at intersections, following road markings, and yielding to pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles when required.
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Navigating U-turns safely, ensuring you do not cross into other lanes or traffic.
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Maintaining control of your vehicle during the turn, without oversteering or understeering.
5. Stopping and Starting:
Key aspects include:
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Stopping properly behind another vehicle at a stop sign or red light, maintaining a safe distance.
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Properly stopping at stop signs, crosswalks, and traffic signals, following all required procedures.
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Smooth acceleration from a stop, ensuring that your vehicle does not lurch or jerk.
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Demonstrating good judgment for the appropriate time to start, ensuring it’s safe to proceed.
6. Merging and Yielding:
Merging and yielding are key skills for navigating highway ramps and busy streets. You’ll be tested on:
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Merging into traffic safely, accelerating to match the speed of vehicles already on the road.
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Yielding the right-of-way when entering a new lane or joining traffic, ensuring other drivers have enough time to adjust to your presence.
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Using mirrors and checking blind spots to avoid collisions when merging or changing lanes.
7. Hill Parking
When parking on a hill, you must position your wheels correctly to prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic if the brakes fail:
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Uphill with a curb – Turn wheels left (toward the road).
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Downhill with a curb – Turn wheels right (toward the curb).
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Uphill without a curb – Turn wheels right (toward the edge of the road).
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Downhill without a curb – Turn wheels right (toward the edge of the road)
8. General Vehicle Control:
This evaluates your overall ability to manage the vehicle in real-world driving conditions.
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Watch the below video links for a pre-test guide to get familiar with the real test’s structure.
Step 5 - Submit Documents to the DOL to Receive Your License
Required documents:
1. Proof of Identity.
2. Social Security Number.
3. Proof of Residency.
4. Application Fee.
Teens under 18: You’ll also need:
1.Proof of completing the Traffic Safety Education (TSE) course.
2. Parent/guardian consent.
License Issuance:
1. Once you’ve passed the Knowledge and Skills tests and submitted the necessary documentation, visit the DOL office or apply online to get your new Washington State Driver’s License.
2. Your temporary authorization will be provided until your physical license is processed.
Step 6 - Follow the Intermediate License Rules (For Teens)
For the first six months, there are restrictions:
1. No passengers under 20 (except immediate family).
2. No driving between 1 AM and 5 AM, unless with a licensed adult aged 25 or older.
3. No use of phones or wireless devices, even hands-free.
After six months, you may have up to three passengers under 20.
At age 18, your license automatically becomes unrestricted.
Step 7 - Enjoy Your New Driver’s License!
Once you’ve passed your tests and submitted all your documents, you’ll be ready to enjoy your new Washington State Driver’s License! Drive safely and responsibly.
For more information and resources, visit https://dol.wa.gov/