The Washington road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Washington Department of Licensing (WA DOL (third-party administered)): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Washington road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the WA DOL (third-party administered) gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Washington driving test at 16, after logging 50 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
Washington sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Drivers under 18 get an intermediate license that becomes a regular license at 18. Adults on a permit must be accompanied by a driver with at least 5 years of experience.
Below you'll find the full Washington road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Washington's written knowledge test ranks tied for 7th-hardest of 51.
OUR DRIVER'S ED PICK FOR WASHINGTON
Know the rules before you hit the road
4.8from 3 million+ drivers trained
Start your online driver's ed with DriversEd.com, teaching licensed drivers since 1997.
Opens driversed.com · we may earn a commission at no cost to you · it never changes the facts we report.
Supervised hours before the Washington road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Washington road test
Tap each item to check it off. Your progress is saved on this device.
Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. Not required. Only you and the examiner are in the car (except service animals and interpreters). No weapons are allowed.
If you fail the Washington road test
Washington doesn't set a fixed wait before you can try again, but you'll need to book another appointment.
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $111 for 6 years; $131 for 8 years.
How the Washington road test is scored
The examiner scores each maneuver; you pass with at least 80 out of 100. A passing result is valid for 1 year.
Washington doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Washington written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the WA DOL (third-party administered) (dol.wa.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (5 official WA DOL (third-party administered) pages)
- Eligibility: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/get-your-first-license-or-permit/driver-license-application-ages-16-17
- What to bring: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-training-and-testing/what-expect-your-drive-test
- Test format: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-training-and-testing/what-expect-your-drive-test
- Scoring: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-training-and-testing/do-i-need-take-test
- Retakes: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-training-and-testing/do-i-need-take-test
- Fees: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-licensing-fees
- Handbook (2025): https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-training-and-testing/driver-guides
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Washington sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.