Washington Learner's Permit Practice Test

Free Washington DMV practice test for your learner's permit — road signs, right-of-way and the rules of the road, with real Washington knowledge-exam questions.

What's on the Washington knowledge test

The Washington knowledge test is a single 40-question exam covering road signs and the rules of the road together. You need 32 correct (80%) to pass.

Questions and exam format researched against Washington's official driver handbook and state sources. Last verified 18 August 2026.

Topics covered

Sample Washington permit test questions

In the U.S. sign system, what shape is always used for a STOP sign?

Answer: Octagon

STOP signs are always the eight-sided octagon shape, so they are recognizable even from behind.

Road Signs

What is Washington's default speed limit on city and town streets, absent a posted sign?

Answer: 25 mph

Washington's statutory default for city and town streets is 25 mph unless a different limit is posted (RCW 46.61.400).

Speed & Spacing

When are headlights required in Washington?

Answer: 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, or anytime rain, snow, fog, or smoke reduces visibility

Washington requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and any time rain, snow, fog, or smoke is present.

WA Laws

At what minimum age can you apply for a Washington learner's permit?

Answer: 15 years

The minimum age is 15 (or 15 years, 6 months if you have not enrolled in an approved driver-training course before turning 18).

Teen & Permit Rules

You want to pass a bicyclist and there are 2 or more lanes in your direction of travel. What should you do?

Answer: Move over a full lane if you can

With 2 or more lanes your direction, move over a full lane to pass a bicyclist.

Sharing the Road

A pentagon-shaped sign (like home plate) on the road is used for what type of sign?

Answer: School zone or school crossing

The pentagon shape is reserved for school-zone and school-crossing signs.

Road Signs

What is Washington's default speed limit on county roads, absent a posted sign?

Answer: 50 mph

County roads default to 50 mph absent a posted sign.

Speed & Spacing

You want to pass a slower vehicle. The centerline is a dashed yellow line on your side. Can you pass?

Answer: Yes, if it is safe to do so

A dashed yellow centerline on your side permits passing when it is safe.

WA Laws

Ways to practise

Other states

Sources

Questions and exam format researched against Washington's official driver handbook and state sources. Last verified 18 August 2026.

Full research notes, including what could not be confirmed

Official Washington Driver Guide (dol.wa.gov, full PDF text-extracted), and Revised Code of Washington sections RCW 46.61.400 (speed defaults), 46.61.212 (Move Over/emergency zone), 46.61.500 (reckless driving), 46.61.688 (seat belts), 46.61.672 (personal electronic device use), 46.61.687 (child restraint), 46.20.308 (Implied Consent), and 46.65.020/46.65.070 (Habitual Traffic Offender designation and revocation) — researched and verified 2026-08-18. Exam format (40 questions, 80%/32 correct, unified pool with no separate sign section) officially confirmed on dol.wa.gov. The `points` category deliberately centers on the well-sourced Habitual Traffic Offender mechanism rather than a demerit-point table, because Washington does not use points against driving privileges. It also deliberately avoids asserting a specific numeric threshold for a separate, lower-tier "too many tickets" suspension under RCW 46.20.291(3): two official DOL pages gave conflicting numbers (one said 6 violations/12 months or 7/24 months, another said 3/12 or 4/24) and the statute itself is discretionary with no numeric threshold in its text, so that figure could not be resolved from official sources and was excluded rather than guessed. Known gaps deliberately NOT invented: exact dollar fine amounts for seat belt, handheld-phone, and child-restraint violations (set by court fee schedule, page inaccessible); the meaning of blue and green parking curb colors (only white, yellow, and red are confirmed for Washington); funeral procession right-of-way rules (not addressed anywhere in the Driver Guide); specific truck/bus no-zone footage figures (described only qualitatively); a specific numeric following-distance figure behind a moving emergency vehicle (the Guide states vehicles must yield but gives no "X feet" rule, unlike some other states); and a standard passenger-car stopping-distance table (only a loaded-truck example and general headlight-glow guidance were found). Re-verify periodically, as the Driver Guide, fees, and thresholds change over time.

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