PermitoWashington permit test
The Washington knowledge test has 40 questions and you need 32 correct to pass (80%). Source: dol.wa.gov, checked October 17, 2026.
Test facts
| What | Number | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions on the test | 40 | dol.wa.gov | |
| Pass mark | 80% (32 of 40 correct) | dol.wa.gov |
Washington laws and handbook points
Points from Washington law and the Washington driver handbook, each taken from one of our Washington practice questions with its source. Practice material, not the state test.
Permits and graduated licensing
What is the minimum age for a Washington intermediate driver license?
Answer: 16. A teen must be at least 16 to hold an intermediate driver license. Younger learners can drive only on an instruction permit with a qualified supervisor.
Other choices: 18. Eighteen is when intermediate limits end, not when the license becomes available. 15. Fifteen is the age for a permit with a course, not for a license to drive alone.
Sources: RCW 46.20.075; Driver handbook, 1.8 Getting your personal driver license: ages 16 to 17.
Alcohol and drugs
What alcohol concentration puts a driver under 21 over the legal limit in Washington?
Answer: 0.02 or higher, the lower minor limit. A driver under 21 breaks the law at 0.02 or higher. That is far below the 0.08 adult limit. The state uses a near-zero line for young drivers.
Other choices: Any amount at all, even a trace. The line is 0.02, so a trace below that is not the offense. 0.05 or higher, halfway to the adult limit. The minor limit is lower than halfway, since it is set near zero.
Sources: RCW 46.61.503; Driver handbook, 1.15 Driving under the influence (DUI).
Insurance
How many reportable convictions or findings in five years can make a driver a habitual offender?
Answer: 20 or more. Twenty or more convictions in five years can make a driver a habitual offender. Three serious offenses can also qualify.
Other choices: 5 or more. Five offenses is well below the count in the statute. 10 or more. Ten is half the number the law counts for this definition.
Sources: RCW 46.65.020; Driver handbook, 1.15 Losing your driving privileges.
Speed and following distance
What is the speed limit when passing a marked school crosswalk posted with school speed limit signs?
Answer: 20 mph. The school zone limit is 20 mph when passing a marked school or playground crosswalk that is posted with school speed limit signs. Fines in the zone are doubled.
Other choices: 15 mph. No state rule sets 15 mph here, so this is lower than the school limit. 25 mph. That is the city street limit, which a school crosswalk lowers to protect children.
Sources: RCW 46.61.440; Driver handbook, 4.17 School zone.
Parking
You want to park partly in front of a neighbor's driveway for a few hours. What does the law say?
Answer: It is illegal to park in front of a driveway. A driver may not park in front of a public or private driveway or within five feet of the end of the curb radius leading to it.
Other choices: It is fine if the neighbor is not home. The rule applies even if the neighbor is away, as the space must be kept clear. It is fine if you leave 12 inches free. A small gap is not enough; the driveway must stay open to entering cars.
Sources: RCW 46.61.570; Driver handbook, 4.18 General parking rules.
Right of way
Which direction does traffic travel around a roundabout?
Answer: Counterclockwise. Cars go around a roundabout to the right, against the clock. Drivers give way to cars already in the circle before entering.
Other choices: Either way, by the exit. Traffic uses one direction so that all vehicles flow in the same way. Toward the nearest curb. No curb rule exists, since traffic circulates around the center island.
Sources: Driver handbook, 4.15 Roundabouts.
Sharing the road
On a road with one lane each way and no oncoming traffic, how should a driver pass a bicyclist?
Answer: Slowly, leaving at least 3 feet of space. When passing a bicyclist, slow down and leave at least 3 feet where practicable. With two lanes in the same direction, move completely into the lane to the left.
Other choices: Only after honking twice. A horn can startle a rider, and the law relies on distance and speed. On the right, using the shoulder. Overtaking is done on the left, and the shoulder is not a passing lane.
Sources: RCW 46.61.110; Driver handbook, 4.6 Passing a bicyclist.
Emergencies
What should a driver do when a power line falls on the car after a crash?
Answer: Stay inside and call 911, with others 35 feet back. If a power line falls on your car, stay inside and call 911. Others should stay at least 35 feet away because the ground around the vehicle can be energized.
Other choices: Get out and push the line off the car. Never touch a line, since you cannot tell if it is energized. Drive away at once before the line moves. Dragging a line can spread danger, so stay put unless fire starts.
Turns and lanes
How far before a turn should a driver start signaling?
Answer: At least 100 feet. A signal for a turn or lane change must be given continuously for at least the last 100 feet before the move, so other drivers can react.
Other choices: Only when you reach the corner. A signal at the corner is too late, because the law requires the last 100 feet. At least 25 feet. Twenty-five feet gives other drivers too little warning.
Sources: RCW 46.61.305; Driver handbook, 2.5 Turn signals.
Pavement markings
A green bicycle box is painted in front of your lane at a red light. May you turn right on red?
Answer: No, wait behind the white line. Near a bicycle box, a driver stays behind the white line and waits for green. A right turn on red is barred there. Riders move first when the light changes.
Other choices: Yes, if no cyclist is in the box. The rule bars the turn near the box, whether or not a rider is present. Yes, by driving through the box. The box is a waiting space for riders, so cars stay out of it.
- Questions in this list were last updated .
What the Washington question bank covers
Questions in Permito’s Washington bank, by topic. The counts describe the bank, not the state test.
| Topic | Questions in the bank |
|---|---|
| Road signs | 359 |
| Right of way | 52 |
| Sharing the road | 51 |
| Speed and following distance | 50 |
| Alcohol and drugs | 49 |
| Permits and graduated licensing | 45 |
| Safe driving | 45 |
| Turns and lanes | 40 |
| Pavement markings | 36 |
| Traffic signals | 34 |
| Emergencies | 26 |
| Parking | 25 |
| Insurance | 20 |
Where these numbers come from
Each number was read on the agency page linked beside it. The count of correct answers is the agency’s percentage, rounded up.
Practice
- Try the Washington practice questions. Questions with the answer, the explanation and the source.
- Where the Washington handbook and the law differ. Places where the handbook and the current law say different things, and what to do about it on the test.
- Compare all states
Road signs
Sign questions are part of the Washington bank too. The road sign reference shows every sign Permito teaches, with its name and what it means. See all road signs.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Washington permit test?
The test has 40 questions. Source: dol.wa.gov, checked October 17, 2026.
What score do I need to pass the Washington permit test?
You need 32 correct answers out of 40, which is 80%. Source: dol.wa.gov, checked October 17, 2026.
Where do these numbers come from?
From the agency page at dol.wa.gov, which we checked on October 17, 2026. Permito is not part of any government agency.
Are the practice questions on Permito from the Washington test?
No. They are our own practice questions, written from the Washington driver handbook and vehicle code. Permito is not affiliated with any DMV or government agency.
You are 15 and 8 months old, not in a driver training course. Can you get a permit by passing the exam?
Yes, you are past 15.5. A learner who is not in a driver training course may get a permit at 15 and a half after passing the knowledge exam. A course only lowers the starting age to 15. Sources: RCW 46.20.055; Driver handbook, 1.8 Instruction permit.
A 30-year-old's breath test an hour after driving shows 0.09. What is the legal result?
At 0.09 you are over the 0.08 limit. For a driver 21 or older, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher within two hours after driving is DUI. A 0.09 reading an hour after driving is over the limit. Sources: RCW 46.61.502; Driver handbook, 1.15 Driving under the influence (DUI).
You step into a store for a minute and leave your 10-year-old in the car with the motor running. Is that a problem?
Yes, a misdemeanor for a child under 16. It is a misdemeanor to leave a child under 16 alone in a vehicle on a public road or place while the motor is running. A second conviction means license revocation. Sources: RCW 46.61.685; Driver handbook, 4.18 General parking rules.
What is the maximum lawful speed on a city street with no speed limit sign posted?
25 mph. Unless a different limit is posted, the maximum is 25 mph on city and town streets, 50 mph on county roads, and 60 mph on state highways. Sources: RCW 46.61.400.
Is parking 12 feet from a marked crosswalk at an intersection legal?
No, parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk is barred. A driver may not stand or park within 20 feet of a crosswalk. Keeping this space clear helps pedestrians and drivers see each other. Sources: RCW 46.61.570; Driver handbook, 4.18 General parking rules.
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