What if the driver handbook and the law disagree?

By the Permito team · Facts checked against the Virginia Driver’s Manual, the Washington Driver Guide, the Code of Virginia, the Revised Code of Washington and a Virginia DMV notice · Updated November 9, 2026 · Sources checked November 9, 2026 · How we check facts

Why would a driver handbook be out of date?

The Virginia manual says it plainly: it should be used as a general guide to the motor vehicle laws, not as a substitute for the Code of Virginia (Virginia Driver’s Manual). When a law changes after a manual is printed, the two can say different things, as in the examples below.

We track the gaps we find state by state, with the handbook page and the law section, on our handbook-vs-law pages: Virginia handbook vs law, Washington handbook vs law, Alabama handbook vs law, Colorado handbook vs law and Missouri handbook vs law.

What does Virginia’s manual say that the law has changed?

Two examples, both about insurance. First, the minimums. Section 46.2-472 sets, for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, at least $50,000 for injury or death of one person, $100,000 for two or more people and $25,000 for property damage (Va. Code 46.2-472). The manual’s table stops at policies effective on or after January 1, 2022, with $30,000, $60,000 and $20,000 (Virginia Driver’s Manual).

Second, the uninsured motor vehicle fee. The manual says that to register a vehicle you must have liability insurance or pay the $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee, and that paying it lets you register and drive for one year (Virginia Driver’s Manual). Virginia DMV announced that, effective July 1, 2024, the option to pay a fee rather than keep insurance was eliminated and it would no longer collect the uninsured motor vehicle fee (Virginia DMV, July 1, 2024). Under section 46.2-707, an owner who operates an uninsured vehicle, or lets someone else operate it, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor (Va. Code 46.2-707). If a test question offers the $500 fee, you will know where it came from; on the road, insure the car. More on Virginia: Virginia permit test guide and Virginia practice test: ten questions with explanations.

What does Washington’s guide say differently?

On refusing to be tested, the Washington Driver Guide says you could lose your driving privilege for 90 to 730 days, or until age 21 if that is longer (Washington Driver Guide). The law sets the refusal periods differently: one year for a first refusal within seven years, and two years or until age twenty-one, whichever is longer, for a second refusal within seven years, or a first refusal after an earlier incident within seven years that led to administrative action (RCW 46.20.3101). Ninety days is the period for a first test result over the limit, not for a refusal (RCW 46.20.3101). The implied consent law also has the officer warn that a refusal means revocation or denial for at least one year (RCW 46.20.308).

The guide also says DUI applies to being in control of a vehicle, even if it is parked, and cites RCW 46.61.503 (Washington Driver Guide). The rule is real, but the section is RCW 46.61.504, physical control of a vehicle while under the influence (RCW 46.61.504). Section 46.61.503 is the separate offense for a driver under twenty-one who drives or is in physical control after consuming alcohol or cannabis (RCW 46.61.503). See the Washington permit test guide and Washington practice test: ten questions with explanations.

Which version will the permit test use?

We did not find a statement from either agency on which version its test follows when the handbook and the law differ. Virginia’s manual says exam questions are taken from information in the manual, which is why it is still the first thing to study (Virginia Driver’s Manual). The safe approach is to know both: the handbook’s number, so you recognize a question written from it, and the current law, so you can choose it when an answer offers it.

How can you check whether your handbook is current?

1. Look for an edition or copyright date in your handbook; the Washington guide, for example, carries a 2025 copyright line on its last page (Washington Driver Guide).
2. For any number (fines, limits, distances, suspension periods), open the statute on the legislature’s site and read the current text.
3. Look for a date inside the statute itself, as in Virginia’s insurance section, where the limits change for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 (Va. Code 46.2-472).
4. When the two disagree, learn both for the test and follow the law when you drive.

Our state guides show, for each number we print, the agency link and the day we checked it: start at Permit test by state or the Questions and pass mark by state, with sources.

The bottom line

Handbooks can lag the law. Virginia’s manual still shows $30,000, $60,000 and $20,000 (Virginia Driver’s Manual) where the law now requires $50,000, $100,000 and $25,000 (Va. Code 46.2-472), and Washington’s guide gives 90 to 730 days for a test refusal (Washington Driver Guide) where the law sets one year for a first refusal (RCW 46.20.3101). Study the handbook, check its numbers against the statute, and drive by the law.

Related guides

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• Can you take the Florida permit test in Spanish?

Keep going

• Virginia permit test guide: question count, pass mark and state rules
• Virginia practice test: ten questions with explanations
• Virginia handbook vs law
• Washington permit test guide: question count, pass mark and state rules
• Washington practice test: ten questions with explanations
• Permit test by state
• Questions and pass mark by state, with sources
• All permit test guides

Sources

Sources checked on November 9, 2026.

1. Virginia General Assembly: Code of Virginia 46.2-472, Coverage of owner’s policy (current Code of Virginia, read November 9, 2026).
2. Virginia General Assembly: Code of Virginia 46.2-707, Operation of uninsured vehicle; false evidence of insurance; penalty (current Code of Virginia, read November 9, 2026).
3. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles: New Laws Take Effect, Today, July 1, 2024 (news release, July 1, 2024).
4. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles: Virginia Driver’s Manual (DMV 39) (PDF read November 9, 2026).
5. Washington State Legislature: RCW 46.20.308, Implied consent; test refusal; procedures (current Revised Code of Washington, read November 9, 2026).
6. Washington State Legislature: RCW 46.20.3101, Implied consent; license sanctions, length of (current Revised Code of Washington, read November 9, 2026).
7. Washington State Legislature: RCW 46.61.504, Physical control of vehicle while under the influence (current Revised Code of Washington, read November 9, 2026).
8. Washington State Legislature: RCW 46.61.503, Driver under twenty-one consuming alcohol or cannabis (current Revised Code of Washington, read November 9, 2026).
9. Washington State Department of Licensing: Washington Driver Guide (2025 edition (© 2025), PDF read November 9, 2026).

Rules change. Check your state’s official handbook before your test. Permito is a private study app, not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. Found a mistake? Write to support@permito.app and we will check it against the source. How we check facts.