Washington Driver License: Licenses, Permits and Losing Your Privileges

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Licenses, Permits and Losing Your Privileges. Free, no account needed.

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1. A new driver wants to schedule the Driving Skills Exam without going to an office in person. What should they do?

  1. Wait for a scheduling letter from DOL
  2. Create a personal account on License Express
  3. Call the driver licensing office to schedule by phone
  4. Have a parent book it through their own account

Answer: B — Create a personal account on License Express

License Express lets a user book office appointments, pre-apply for a permit, and schedule the Driving Skills Exam, and new drivers must open their own account.

2. Someone just bought a car and needs to register it. Which type of office handles vehicle registration?

  1. A vehicle licensing office
  2. Only the DOL headquarters office
  3. Either office, since they provide the same services
  4. A driver licensing office

Answer: A — A vehicle licensing office

Driver licensing offices handle licenses and ID cards, while vehicle licensing offices handle registration.

3. Which of these establishes Washington residency for licensing purposes?

  1. Being registered to vote in Washington
  2. Visiting Washington for a two-week vacation
  3. Having a Washington-based employer while living in another state
  4. Owning a rental property in Washington leased to tenants

Answer: A — Being registered to vote in Washington

Voter registration in Washington is one of the listed criteria for residency; the other options are not.

4. A 25-year-old moves to Washington holding a valid license from another state. How long do they have to get a Washington license?

  1. 10 days
  2. 30 days
  3. 90 days
  4. 60 days

Answer: B — 30 days

New residents 18 and older who are licensed elsewhere have 30 days to get a Washington license.

5. A 16-year-old new resident has held an out-of-state instruction permit for four months and finished out-of-state driver education. What else is required before DOL approves an Intermediate Driver License?

  1. Waiting until they turn 18
  2. Holding the permit for at least six months total
  3. Nothing further once driver education is approved
  4. Retaking driver education in Washington regardless

Answer: B — Holding the permit for at least six months total

New residents aged 16 to 17 need DOL's approval of their out-of-state driver education plus confirmation they held a permit at least six months.

6. A traveler wants to board a domestic flight using only a state-issued license as ID, with no passport, and a standard license won't work for this. Which type of license would work instead?

  1. Any license, as long as it has a photo
  2. A temporary license printed at home
  3. An enhanced license
  4. An instruction permit

Answer: C — An enhanced license

An enhanced license meets REAL ID standards and works for domestic air travel, unlike a standard license.

7. A driver wants to cross into Canada by car using only their driving credential, without a passport. Which type of license allows this?

  1. Enhanced license
  2. Instruction permit
  3. Standard license
  4. Intermediate driver license

Answer: A — Enhanced license

Enhanced licenses meet REAL ID and work for land and sea border crossings.

8. Which of these is NOT covered by an enhanced license?

  1. Boarding a domestic flight
  2. Crossing into Canada by land
  3. Entering a federal building
  4. Boarding an international flight

Answer: D — Boarding an international flight

Enhanced licenses satisfy REAL ID for domestic travel and border crossings but not international air travel.

9. A 15-year-old wants an instruction permit but is not enrolled in a driver training course. At what age can they take the knowledge exam to get one?

  1. 15
  2. 15½
  3. 17
  4. 16

Answer: B — 15½

Without a course, the knowledge exam can be taken at 15½ to get the permit.

10. A 15½-year-old takes the knowledge exam without enrolling in a driver training course, passes, and gets an instruction permit. When can they take the skills exam and get a license?

  1. Not until they turn 18
  2. Immediately, once the permit is issued
  3. After six months with the permit
  4. After turning 16

Answer: A — Not until they turn 18

Without a training course, the skills exam and license must wait until age 18.

11. How long is an instruction permit valid before it needs to be renewed?

  1. Until age 18
  2. Six months
  3. One year
  4. Two years

Answer: C — One year

The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed for a fee.

12. A 16-year-old is logging supervised practice-driving hours before applying for an Intermediate Driver License. What is the minimum experience the supervising licensed driver must have?

  1. 10 or more years
  2. 1 year
  3. 5 or more years
  4. 3 or more years

Answer: D — 3 or more years

Teens must log their driving hours with a licensed driver who has 3 or more years of experience.

13. An 18-year-old passes the knowledge exam and gets a permit, planning to practice before taking the skills exam. What is the minimum experience their supervising licensed driver must have?

  1. 3 or more years
  2. 1 year
  3. 5 or more years
  4. No minimum experience is required

Answer: C — 5 or more years

For applicants 18 or older, the supervising licensed driver must have 5 or more years of experience.

14. A driver has held an intermediate license for one month and wants to drive a 17-year-old friend, who is not a relative, to school. Is this allowed?

  1. No, passengers under 20 outside immediate family aren't allowed in the first six months
  2. Yes, one friend is always allowed
  3. No, no passengers of any age are allowed for the first six months
  4. Yes, up to three friends are allowed at any time

Answer: A — No, passengers under 20 outside immediate family aren't allowed in the first six months

During the first six months, only immediate family may ride as passengers under 20.

15. A driver has held an intermediate license for seven months and wants to drive four unrelated friends, all under 20, to a movie together. Is this allowed?

  1. No, passengers are never allowed until age 18
  2. No, no more than three passengers under 20 are allowed, except family
  3. Yes, there is no passenger limit after six months
  4. No, only immediate family may ride for the entire first year

Answer: B — No, no more than three passengers under 20 are allowed, except family

From six months until 18 or one year, no more than three passengers under 20 are allowed except family, so four friends under 20 exceeds the limit.

16. An intermediate license holder wants to use a hands-free Bluetooth headset to make a non-emergency phone call while driving. Is this permitted?

  1. Yes, hands-free devices are always exempt
  2. Yes, but only after the first six months
  3. No, but a passenger may hold the phone for them
  4. No, cell phones and wireless devices are banned even hands-free except to report an emergency

Answer: D — No, cell phones and wireless devices are banned even hands-free except to report an emergency

The ban on cell phones and wireless devices applies even when hands-free, with an emergency exception.

17. An intermediate license holder commits a second violation of the restrictions or is at fault in a second qualifying crash. What happens to their license?

  1. It is permanently revoked
  2. The restrictions simply continue until age 21
  3. They receive only a warning letter
  4. It is suspended for six months, or until they turn 18

Answer: D — It is suspended for six months, or until they turn 18

A second violation suspends the license for six months or until 18.

18. A driver whose license notes corrective lenses is about to get behind the wheel. What should they do?

  1. Only wear them for night driving
  2. Wear their corrective lenses
  3. Get a yearly DOL vision waiver instead
  4. Only wear them if pulled over

Answer: B — Wear their corrective lenses

Drivers with corrective lenses noted on their license should always wear them.

19. Which of these requires an endorsement added to a Washington license?

  1. Adding a medical alert designation
  2. Noting corrective lenses
  3. Registering as an organ donor
  4. Operating a motorcycle

Answer: D — Operating a motorcycle

Motorcycles (and commercial vehicles) require endorsements; the other items are separate license notations.

20. A first-time applicant hasn't taken any driving tests yet and wants to take the Driving Skills Exam. What must happen first?

  1. They must pass a vision screening only
  2. They must pass the Driving Knowledge Exam
  3. They must complete a defensive driving course
  4. They must hold a permit for one year

Answer: B — They must pass the Driving Knowledge Exam

The knowledge exam must be passed before the skills exam.

21. A driver passes the Driving Knowledge Exam. Within what time frame must they complete the Driving Skills Exam?

  1. One year
  2. Six months
  3. Five years
  4. Two years

Answer: D — Two years

The skills exam must be completed within two years of passing the knowledge exam.

22. During a Driving Skills Exam, who besides the applicant and examiner is allowed to ride along?

  1. A driving instructor
  2. A parent or guardian
  3. Service animals and sign language interpreters
  4. Another applicant waiting their turn

Answer: C — Service animals and sign language interpreters

Only the applicant and examiner ride during the exam, plus service animals and sign language interpreters.

23. How far in advance of its expiration date can a license be renewed?

  1. One year
  2. 30 days
  3. Six months
  4. 90 days

Answer: A — One year

Renewal is allowed up to one year before expiry.

24. A license has been expired for nine years. What must the holder do to get a new one?

  1. Nothing extra, since renewal has no time limit
  2. Retake only the knowledge exam
  3. Retake both the knowledge and skills exams
  4. Pay a late fee and renew as usual

Answer: C — Retake both the knowledge and skills exams

A license expired 8 or more years requires retaking both exams.

25. Which of these can cause a driver to lose their driving privileges?

  1. Letting vehicle tabs expire
  2. Receiving a DOL early warning letter after a first moving violation
  3. A minor equipment issue like a broken taillight
  4. Accumulating moving violations

Answer: D — Accumulating moving violations

Accumulating moving violations is listed as a cause for losing driving privileges; a first moving violation only brings an early warning letter for drivers 18 to 21.

26. A 22-year-old driver is tested with a BAC of .09 percent. Does this meet the threshold for DUI?

  1. No, the adult threshold is .10 percent
  2. Yes, but only if the vehicle was moving at the time
  3. Yes, .08 percent or more is DUI for drivers 21 and older
  4. No, only THC is measured for drivers over 21

Answer: C — Yes, .08 percent or more is DUI for drivers 21 and older

For drivers 21 and older, .08 percent BAC or more is DUI, and physical control counts even when parked.

27. A 19-year-old driver is tested with a BAC of .03 percent. Does this meet the threshold for DUI?

  1. Yes, since any detectable alcohol is a DUI for adults
  2. Yes, since .02 percent or more is the threshold for drivers under 21
  3. No, drivers under 21 are exempt from BAC testing
  4. No, because .08 percent is the threshold for everyone

Answer: B — Yes, since .02 percent or more is the threshold for drivers under 21

For drivers under 21, a BAC of .02 percent or more counts as DUI.

28. A driver refuses a test requested under the Implied Consent Law. What can happen to their license?

  1. No license action unless later convicted of DUI
  2. A flat 30-day suspension
  3. Suspension for 90 to 730 days, or until 21, whichever is longer
  4. Immediate permanent revocation

Answer: C — Suspension for 90 to 730 days, or until 21, whichever is longer

Refusing a test can cost the license for 90 to 730 days or until 21, whichever is longer.

29. Passengers in a moving car have an already-opened bottle of wine. Where must it legally be kept?

  1. In a cooler in the back seat
  2. Anywhere in the passenger compartment out of the driver's reach
  3. In the trunk or truck bed
  4. In a locked glove compartment

Answer: C — In the trunk or truck bed

Open alcohol containers may only ride in the trunk or truck bed, never in a compartment the driver can reach.

30. A resident moves to a new address. Within how many days must they update it in License Express?

  1. 30 days
  2. Only when they next renew their license
  3. 60 days
  4. 10 days

Answer: D — 10 days

Address updates must be made within 10 days.

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