Washington Driver's License at 16 or 17: Driver's Ed, 50 Hours, Steps
How do you get a driver's license at 16 or 17 in Washington?
You must be at least 16 and hold an instruction permit for at least 6 months. Finish an approved driver training course and log 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night. Pass the knowledge test (32 of 40 correct) and the drive test (80 of 100 points). From November 1, 2026, you also need a free work zone course. Your first license is an intermediate license.
Where these Washington rules come from
The steps come from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) page for ages 16 and 17 and two parts of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW): RCW 46.20.075 (the intermediate license) and RCW 46.20.100 (driver training and who signs for a person under 18). Permit, test, fee and work zone course details come from other DOL pages, RCW 46.20.055 and RCW 46.20.1191. Fees are in U.S. dollars. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Washington State Department of Licensing (dol.wa.gov) before you drive.
The steps to a Washington license at 16 or 17
- 1Get an instruction permit
The instruction permit is also called the learner permit. If you are enrolled in a driver training course, you can apply as soon as you turn 15. The fee is $35 (U.S. dollars) as of 2026.
- 2Hold the permit for at least 6 months
You must also be at least 16 when you apply for the license.
- 3Finish an approved driver training course
Take it at a school district, an approved private school or a driver training school that DOL licenses. The school charges its own fees.
- 4Log 50 hours of supervised driving
At least 10 of the 50 hours must be at night.
- 5Keep a clean record
You must have no traffic violation in the 6 months before you apply, and no alcohol or drug offense while you hold the permit.
- 6Pass the knowledge test and the drive test
You take both at a testing location. Fees vary by location.
- 7Finish the work zone course if it applies to you
You need it if you are under 25 and your first license comes on or after November 1, 2026.
- 8Apply for the license
Apply online or at a driver licensing office. At the office, bring a parent or a notarized Parental Authorization Affidavit. The first license fee is $111 for 6 years or $131 for 8 years (U.S. dollars, as of 2026).
Do you really need 6 months with a permit?
Yes. Washington law requires a valid instruction permit for at least six months before you get an intermediate license. Time on a learner permit from another state can count. The permit is valid for one year. DOL may issue one more one-year permit, and a third only after it finds that you are working to improve your driving. While you hold the permit, you may not use a phone or other mobile device while you drive, unless you call 911.
The instruction permit guide covers the permit itself. The question on the shortest time to hold a Washington permit tests the 6-month rule.
Is driver's ed required, and is online driver's ed approved?
Yes, if you want your license before you turn 18. Without a course, you must wait until 18 for the license, and until 15 and a half for the permit.
An online, self-paced course is not approved driver training. An approved driver training school may include a self-paced online part in its classroom lessons when DOL authorizes it, but the school gives the course.
How many supervised hours do you need, and who can supervise?
| Question | Washington rule |
|---|---|
| How many hours? | At least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night. DOL writes this as 40 hours by day and 10 hours at night. |
| Who can sit beside a permit holder? | A licensed driver with at least 5 years of driving experience, or a driver training instructor. |
| Who can supervise the 50 hours? | A person at least 21 who has held a valid driver's license for at least 3 years. A supervisor who is 21 or older with 5 years of experience meets both rules. |
| Who certifies the hours? | A parent, guardian, employer or responsible adult (a person over 21 whom DOL authorizes). |
The knowledge test and the drive test at a glance
| Test | How it works | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test | Multiple choice. A pass is good for 2 years. | 32 of 40 correct |
| Drive test | Bring proof of auto liability insurance and a vehicle in good working condition with valid registration, tabs and plates. | At least 80 of 100 points |
Do you need the work zone and first responder course?
Yes, if you are under 25 and get your first license on or after November 1, 2026. The course is free and online, takes about an hour and ends with a test. You need your WDL number, the 12-digit number on your permit. The law lets DOL waive the course when it is not available at the time you apply. The work zone and first responder course guide has the steps.
Rules of the intermediate license until you turn 18
- First 6 months: no passengers under 20 who are not immediate family. Under the law, immediate family includes your spouse, children, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters (half-siblings too) and foster children who live with you. The question on passengers in the first 6 months tests this rule.
- After 6 months: no more than three passengers under 20 who are not immediate family.
- 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.: no driving, unless a licensed driver aged 25 or older is with you, or the trip is for school, religious or employment activities for you or your immediate family.
- Farm work: you may drive at any hour, with any number of passengers, when it is necessary for agricultural purposes.
- Phones: no wireless device while the vehicle moves, even hands-free, except to report illegal activity, get emergency help or prevent injury.
When do the limits end, and what if you break one?
The passenger and night limits end after 12 months if you have no traffic offense, no violation of the limits, no crash that you caused or got a ticket for, no crash with only your vehicle, and no crash where no one got a ticket or was found at fault.
After a first violation, DOL sends a warning letter to you and your parent or guardian, and the passenger and night limits stay until you turn 18. A second violation brings a suspension of 6 months or until 18, whichever comes first.
Key takeaways
- Be at least 16 and hold an instruction permit for at least 6 months. The permit fee is $35 (U.S. dollars).
- Driver's ed from an approved school is required for a license before 18. Online, self-paced courses and parent-taught courses are not approved.
- Log 50 hours of supervised driving, at least 10 at night. A parent, guardian, employer or responsible adult certifies the hours.
- Pass the knowledge test (32 of 40) and the drive test (80 of 100). If your first license comes on or after November 1, 2026, finish the free work zone course too.
- Next step: practice for the knowledge test on the free Washington personal driver practice test.
Washington license at 16 or 17: common questions
Can my parents teach me driver's ed instead of a school?
No. Washington does not approve parent-taught courses, so a course from your parents does not count toward a license before 18. Your parents can still supervise your practice and certify your 50 hours, if they meet the supervisor rules in the table above.
We moved to Washington. Does my driver's ed or license from another state count?
A driver's ed course from another state counts if it meets the Washington standard of 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours behind the wheel. Email proof to tse@dol.wa.gov for approval. If you are under 18 and already have a license from another state, you must get a Washington intermediate license. Bring proof of that license and proof that you had a learner permit for at least 6 months.
Who signs for me if I don't live with my parents?
Washington law (RCW 46.20.100) lets a parent, guardian, employer or responsible adult sign the license application of a person under 18. A responsible adult is a person over 21 whom DOL authorizes, such as a relative, caregiver, teacher or social worker. The DOL page differs: it says this adult can sign only for the learner permit and may not help you prove your identity. Confirm your case with DOL at 360-902-3900 before you go.
Can I apply for my Washington license online?
Yes, if you have a Washington photo learner permit. Your parent or guardian must be with you to give permission online. Print the receipt: it is your temporary license, but it is not valid as ID because it has no photo. If you need an updated vision screening, you must apply in person.
Do I need a new license when I turn 18?
No. Your intermediate license converts to a regular driver's license by itself when you turn 18, so you do not apply again. From your 18th birthday, the intermediate license limits on passengers and night driving no longer apply to you, even if a violation kept them in place.
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