Driving Tests

Washington Drive Test: What to Bring, What Is Tested and the Passing Score

informational·how to guide·Published May 15, 2026

What do you bring to the Washington drive test, and what score do you need?

For the Washington drive test, bring proof of auto liability insurance for the test vehicle and a vehicle in good working condition with valid registration, tabs and plates. Without both, you cannot test. A rental car is allowed. The examiner checks the vehicle, then tests your driving and 5 maneuvers. You need at least 80 out of 100 to pass, and a pass is good for one year.

Where the Washington drive test rules come from

The rules come from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) pages Do I need to take a test? and What to expect on your drive test, and the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Washington State Department of Licensing (dol.wa.gov) before you drive.

What to bring to the Washington drive test

Proof of auto liability insurance for the vehicle you use to test. The document must show the name of the policy holder, a description of the vehicle, and the dates when the policy begins and ends.
A vehicle in good working condition with valid registration, tabs and plates.
A booked test time. DOL tells you to schedule the drive test at a training and testing location.

Insurance proof and test-day rules

Have the insurance document in your hand when you arrive. Any delay in showing current liability insurance can make DOL reschedule your appointment. If you test in a rental car or a borrowed car, the document must be for that vehicle. No weapons are allowed in the vehicle during the test.

Vehicle safety check before the Washington drive test

Vehicle safety check before the Washington drive test
Item	What the examiner checks
Brake lights	They work, including the center light
Turn signals	They work. Hand signals can be used before sunset
Seat belts	They lock and unlock properly
License plate and parking brake	The plate is valid and the parking brake works
Windshield	No items or cracks that impair safe vision
Passenger door	It opens and closes from the inside and the outside
Driver window	It rolls down far enough for hand signals
Mirrors	Outside left and inside rearview, or outside left and outside right
Wipers, headlights and defrosters	Checked if the weather requires their use

What happens if something does not work

If any vehicle equipment is not working, the examiner does not conduct your drive test. A dead brake light is enough to stop it, and the free practice question on which finding stops the exam from starting covers it. Check every light and signal the day before. If you test in a rental car, walk around it with a helper before the appointment.

What the Washington drive test covers

Starting your vehicle and leaving the curb. Signal and wait until it is safe to re-enter traffic.
Controlling the vehicle: gas pedal, brake, steering wheel and other controls. Change your speed for traffic, road and weather conditions, construction, light and how far you can see.
Driving in traffic: use the proper lane, signal and look back before you change lanes, and keep a safe following distance.
Obeying traffic signals and signs, and driving through blind or crowded intersections. Scan for signs, signals, pedestrians and other vehicles, and yield or take the right-of-way correctly.
Stopping smoothly at the right spot, and stopping quickly and safely in an emergency.
Backing up: look over your right shoulder, back in a straight line and keep complete control.
Judging distance: stay a safe distance from other cars and from people who walk or ride on the roadway. Respectful driving: be courteous and pay full attention. Then the specific maneuvers in the next section.

The specific maneuvers on the Washington drive test

1
Arm signals
You may use arm signals for a right turn, a left turn, and slow or stop.
2
Brake reaction test and emergency stop
You put your foot on the gas pedal and step on the brake as fast as possible when the examiner tells you to stop.
3
Hill parking
You park as if you were going to leave the car there unattended. Practice it with the question on parking downhill next to a curb.
4
Parallel parking
You parallel park without parking assist features on your vehicle.
5
Backing around a corner
You simulate backing out of a driveway or alley into traffic. The examiner directs you to back around the corner to the right, as close to the street as you can, and then back in a straight line until told to stop.

Do you need to take the drive test?

You have no license, or only a Washington instruction permit (learner permit)

You take the knowledge test and the drive test.

Your license from another state is expired

You take the knowledge test and the drive test.

You have a valid license from another U.S. state with a driving record dated within the last 30 days, and you are 18 or older

No tests are required.

Passing score, results and a retest

You must score at least 80 out of 100 to pass the drive test. The examiner discusses your result with you. If you do not pass, there may be a waiting period before you can retest, so ask your testing location how long it is. A knowledge test pass (32 of 40 correct answers) is good for 2 years.

New drivers 18 and older, and drivers under 25

Until the end of 2026, at 18 or older you can get a first license by passing the knowledge and drive test, with no driver training course or instruction permit.
From January 1, 2027, RCW 46.20.1191 adds a driver training course for first-time applicants who are 18 (under 19). The age limit grows by one year each January 1, up to under 22 from 2030. DOL may pause or delay this rule. The license guide for ages 18 and older gives the steps.
To practice on public roads before the test, you need an instruction permit and a licensed driver with at least 5 years of experience beside you.
From November 1, 2026, first-time applicants under 25 must also pass the free online work zone and first responder course.

Key takeaways

Bring proof of auto liability insurance for the test vehicle and a vehicle with valid registration, tabs and plates. Without them you cannot test.
A rental car is allowed, but every light, signal, belt and mirror must work, or the examiner does not conduct the test.
The test covers 11 areas, including arm signals, an emergency stop, hill parking, parallel parking without parking assist, and backing around a corner.
You must score at least 80 out of 100. A pass is good for one year.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Washington personal driver practice test. It is in English only.

Washington drive test: common questions

Can I take the Washington drive test in a car I do not own?

Yes. DOL allows a rental car. You can also use a borrowed car if you bring proof of auto liability insurance for that car and it has valid registration, tabs and plates. Before test day, check each item of the vehicle safety check, because the examiner does not conduct the test when any equipment does not work.

Can I use parking assist on the parallel parking part?

No. DOL says you parallel park without parking assist features on your vehicle. Turn the feature off before you start, and practice the maneuver with your own eyes and mirrors so you are ready on test day.

Can I use hand signals on the Washington drive test?

Yes. You may use arm signals for a right turn, a left turn, and slow or stop. Hand signals can be used for turn signals before sunset. Your driver window must roll down far enough to allow them.

Can my parent ride along on the drive test?

No. Only you, the examiner, a service animal and an interpreter for the deaf or hard of hearing may be in the vehicle. A DOL supervisor or a staff member in training may ride along as an observer. If you object to an observer, tell the examiner at the start of the test.

Where do I take the Washington drive test?

DOL tells you to schedule the drive test at a training and testing location. These are approved driver training schools and driver license testing locations, and DOL lists them on its website. The fee varies by location, so ask the location for the exact amount before you book.