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
Test yourself: 20 free questions Questions with answers

Every line checked against the Washington Driver Guide (DOL, 2025) on September 24, 2026. Print it, or keep it open while you practice.

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.

Take it with you

Save it as one poster

Washington permit test cheat sheet: speed limits, distances, parking rules and the other numbers on the test, from the official handbook
The Washington cheat sheet as one printable poster, every number from the official handbook. Download the full-size image

Knowing the numbers is half of it. Can you apply them?

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