Washington Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)

The Washington rules and numbers to know for the DOL knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Washington driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.

The Washington test at a glance

Questions on the test
40
To pass
32 of 40 correct (80%)
Time limit
We found no published time limit for the Washington knowledge test.
Minimum permit age
15½ years old
Hold the permit for
6 months (may include out-of-state permit time)
Alcohol limit under 21
0.02% BAC

Washington rules and numbers

From the official Washington handbook (2025 (Copyright 2025, Washington State D); PDF page numbers in brackets.

Road signs

  • Reversible lane yellow X: lane is changing direction - move out safely. [p.135]
  • Flashing green lights are not used in Washington. [p.112]

Rules of the road

  • Intermediate license, first 6 months: no passengers under 20 except immediate family. [p.28]
  • Intermediate license: no driving 1-5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, or licensed driver 25+ rides along. [p.28]
  • Intermediate license after 6 months: max 3 passengers under 20 who are not family. [p.28]
  • Emergency zone: never drive faster than 50 mph. [p.143]
  • Can't move over for a roadside vehicle? Slow to at least 10 mph under the limit. [p.143]
  • School zone speed limit: 20 mph. [p.140]
  • Ocean beach driving: 25 mph; walkers and bicyclists always go first. [p.152]
  • Railroad crossing: stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. [p.105]
  • Fire hydrant: no parking within 15 feet. [p.144]
  • Stop sign, yield sign, or signal: no parking within 30 feet. [p.143]
  • Opposite a fire station driveway: no parking within 75 feet. [p.143]
  • Railroad crossing: no parking within 50 feet. [p.144]
  • Curb parking: no more than 12 inches from the curb. [p.144]
  • Driveway, alley, or private road: no parking within 5 feet. [p.143]
  • Headlights: required from 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise. [p.49]
  • Center turn lane: no passing, travel no more than 300 feet in it. [p.134]
  • HOV lanes: carpools, vanpools, buses, and motorcycles. [p.134]
  • School bus red lights: drivers in turn lanes must stop too. [p.95]
  • Pedestrian crossing: wait until they clear your lane plus one more. [p.93]
  • Entering a paved road from an unpaved one: you yield. [p.129]
  • Work zone with workers present: fines double. [p.117]
  • Left on red is allowed only onto a one-way street, after a full stop. [p.110]

Safe driving & emergencies

  • No driver may hold a phone or other electronic device while driving. [p.70]
  • High beams: dim within 500 ft of oncoming traffic, 300 ft when following. [p.50]
  • Passing a bicyclist: leave at least 3 feet. [p.103]
  • Loaded truck at 55 mph needs about 450 feet to stop. [p.98]
  • Breakdown: place flares 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle. [p.173]
  • Escaping a car touching power lines: jump clear, shuffle 35 feet away. [p.178]
  • Collision report: file within 4 days if police do not. [p.176]
  • Earbuds or headphones: illegal, except a hands-free device in one ear. [p.70]

Alcohol & drugs

  • Under 21: DUI consequences start at a BAC of 0.02. [p.38]
  • THC DUI limit: 5 ng/mL at 21+, above 0 under 21. [p.37]
  • Open alcohol or cannabis: only in the trunk or truck bed. [p.39]

Rules learners miss most

The rules behind the most-missed questions on our practice tests. Some details, such as parking distances, can differ by state - your handbook has the final word.

  • At 60 mph a car travels about 88 feet per second.
  • Measure following distance in seconds, counted from a fixed roadside object.
  • Most states: no parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
  • A yellow curb signals a stopping or parking limit - check signs and local rules.
  • Uncontrolled T-intersection: the terminating road yields to the through road.
  • Uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from the curb; downhill: toward it.
  • Most states: no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant (a few use 10 feet).
  • KEEP RIGHT: pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction.
  • Point of no return: past it you cannot stop safely on yellow, so proceed.
  • Zipper merge: use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate.
  • In heavy rain use low beams, slow down and increase following distance.
  • Parallel park close to and parallel with the curb, within your state's limit.
  • Yellow pennant on the left side of the road: a no-passing zone begins.
  • Car with skid marks: the road is slippery when wet.
  • Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs.
  • 4-way stop tie: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
  • ABS keeps wheels from locking in hard braking so you can still steer.
  • A round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
  • Merging onto a highway: yield to traffic already on the highway.
  • An upward-pointing pentagon marks a school zone or school crossing.
  • Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red - stop if you can do so safely.
  • Basic speed law: never drive faster than is safe for conditions, even under the limit.
  • Use high beams on open roads; dim them for oncoming or followed vehicles.
  • Arrows pointing up and down warn of two-way traffic ahead.
  • Orange diamond signs warn of construction and work zones.
  • Adult (21+) BAC limit is 0.08% in most states.
  • Implied consent: by driving you agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI.

Now test yourself

Reading rules is a start; answering questions is what makes them stick.

FlashcardsPractice test 1Washington mock test