Washington DOL Permit/Cheat sheet
Washington DMV cheat sheet: every number on the permit test
40 questions; 80% (32 correct) to pass, per the Washington DOL. A passing score is good for 2 years; offered in 12 languages.
- 27 numbers
- 5 sections
- 5 rules people get wrong
Memorise these first
- 20 mphSchool zone speed limit
- 100 feetSignal this far before a turn; brake lights must be visible from this distance
- 15 feetNo parking near a fire hydrant
Speed Limits
Essential- 20 mph
- School zone speed limit
- 10 mph below / 50 mph max
- Slow to at least 10 mph below the limit, never above 50, when you cannot move over for a roadside response vehicle
- 15 to 25 mph
- Speeds roundabouts are designed for
BAC & Alcohol
Zero Tolerance- 0.08% / 0.02%
- DUI blood alcohol level for drivers 21 and older / under 21
- 5 ng / 0 ng
- Active THC per milliliter of blood that counts as a DUI for drivers 21 and older / under 21
- 90 to 730 days
- Possible loss of driving privilege for refusing a test (or until age 21 if longer)
Fines & Penalties
Enforced- 100 feet
- Signal this far before a turn; brake lights must be visible from this distance
- 3 feet
- Minimum space when passing a bicyclist or agricultural vehicle
- 500 / 300 feet
- Switch from high beams when an oncoming vehicle is 500 feet away, or when you are within 300 feet behind a vehicle
Speeds and zones
- 20 mph
- School zone speed limit4.17 Zones (school zone)
- 10 mph below / 50 mph max
- Slow to at least 10 mph below the limit, never above 50, when you cannot move over for a roadside response vehicle4.17 Zones (emergency zone)
- 15 to 25 mph
- Speeds roundabouts are designed for4.15 Other intersections (roundabouts)
- 25 mph
- Speed limit on ocean beaches where driving is allowed (Grays Harbor and Pacific counties)4.20 Maritime (beaches)
Distances
- 100 feet
- Signal this far before a turn; brake lights must be visible from this distance4.14 Turning; 2.5 Vehicle maintenance
- 3 feet
- Minimum space when passing a bicyclist or agricultural vehicle4.6 Sharing with bicyclists; 4.8
- 500 / 300 feet
- Switch from high beams when an oncoming vehicle is 500 feet away, or when you are within 300 feet behind a vehicle2.5 Vehicle maintenance (headlights)
- 15 to 50 feet
- Stop this far from the nearest rail at a railroad crossing when signals activate4.7 Sharing the road with trains
- 200 to 300 feet
- Place flares this far behind a disabled vehicle5.7 Vehicle failures
- 450 feet
- Distance a loaded truck needs to stop at 55 mph4.4 Sharing with large vehicles
- 300 feet
- Do not travel farther than this in a shared center turn lane4.16 Road markings (lanes)
Parking
- 15 feet
- No parking near a fire hydrant4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
- 30 feet
- No parking near a traffic signal, stop sign or yield sign4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
- 5 feet
- No parking near a driveway, alley or private road4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
- 20 feet
- No parking near a pedestrian safety zone4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
- 50 feet
- No parking near a railroad crossing4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
- 75 feet
- No parking near a fire station driveway on the opposite side of the street4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
- 12 inches
- Maximum distance from the curb4.18 Parking (general parking rules)
Alcohol and drugs
- 0.08% / 0.02%
- DUI blood alcohol level for drivers 21 and older / under 211.15 Maintaining your license (driving under the influence)
- 5 ng / 0 ng
- Active THC per milliliter of blood that counts as a DUI for drivers 21 and older / under 211.15 Maintaining your license (THC concentration)
- 90 to 730 days
- Possible loss of driving privilege for refusing a test (or until age 21 if longer)1.15 Maintaining your license (driving under the influence)
Permits and licenses
- 15 / 15½
- Earliest age to apply for a permit with a driver training course / to take the knowledge exam without a course1.8 Getting a personal driver license (instruction permit)
- 1 year
- Validity of an instruction permit (a knowledge exam score is valid 2 years)1.8 Getting a personal driver license (instruction permit)
- 6 months
- Minimum time with a permit before a first license at 16 to 171.8 Getting a personal driver license (ages 16 to 17)
- 40 day + 10 night hours
- Supervised driving a 16- to 17-year-old must log1.8 Getting a personal driver license (ages 16 to 17)
- 30 days
- Time for a licensed new resident to get a Washington license1.5 New residents
- 10 days
- Time to update your address in License Express1.16 Additional services
Second read
Rules people get wrong
- A flashing red light is a stop sign; a flashing yellow light has the same meaning as a yield sign.
- Instruction permit and intermediate license holders cannot use a phone at all while driving, even hands-free.
- A school bus with red lights flashing stops traffic in both directions on a two-lane road. Opposite-direction traffic may continue only if there are three or more lanes separated by a median or barrier.
- When a traffic signal is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop and yield to traffic on your right.
- Every intersection is legally a crosswalk, whether or not it is marked.
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