How Much Does a Washington Permit and Driver's License Cost? DOL Fees 2026
How much does a Washington permit and driver's license cost?
The Washington instruction permit costs $35 for one year. A first standard driver license costs $111 for 6 years or $131 for 8 years. A first enhanced driver license (EDL) costs $153 for 6 years or $187 for 8 years. These are the 2026 Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) fees, in U.S. dollars. Knowledge and drive test fees are extra and vary by testing location.
Where the Washington fee numbers come from
The fees come from the DOL driver licensing fees page, the DOL enhanced driver license page and the DOL learner permit page. The permit and application fees match Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.20.055 and 46.20.120, and the 2027 driver training rule is RCW 46.20.1191. Test, REAL ID and work zone course details come from other DOL pages. The DOL fee list gives a general idea of cost; for an exact amount, call DOL at 360-902-3900. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Washington State Department of Licensing (dol.wa.gov) before you drive.
Washington DOL fees for 2026 at a glance
| What you get | Fee |
|---|---|
| Instruction permit (first one) | $35 for 1 year |
| Permit renewal | $25 for 1 year |
| First standard driver license | $111 for 6 years or $131 for 8 years |
| First license with an EDL | $153 for 6 years or $187 for 8 years |
| Upgrade a current license to an EDL | $7 per year left on your license ($7 to $56) |
| Standard license renewal | $61 for 6 years or $81 for 8 years |
| Replace a lost or stolen permit, license or EDL | $20 |
| Knowledge test and drive test | Varies by testing location |
How much does the Washington instruction permit cost?
The permit costs $35 and is valid for one year. If you need more time to practice, DOL can renew it for $25 for one more year. A third permit needs DOL approval, and DOL first checks that you are working to improve your driving. For the age rules and the steps to apply, read our guide to the Washington instruction permit.
How much is a first Washington driver's license in 2026?
A first standard license has three parts: a $50 application fee, a $10 issuance fee for each year the license is valid, and a $1 technology fee. That gives $111 for a 6-year license ($50 + $60 + $1) or $131 for an 8-year license ($50 + $80 + $1). The technology fee is already in those totals, so do not add it again. A standard license lets you drive, but since May 7, 2025 you cannot use it to board a domestic flight.
Which extra costs apply to you?
How much is the Washington enhanced driver license (EDL)?
The EDL issuance fee is $17 for each year instead of $10. With the same $50 application fee and $1 technology fee, a first license with an EDL costs $153 for 6 years or $187 for 8 years. If you already have a Washington license, the upgrade costs $7 for each year left on it, from $7 to $56. The EDL is your driver license, a REAL ID document for flights in the U.S., and a way to enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean by land or sea. Only U.S. citizens who can prove citizenship qualify. Compare the enhanced and standard licenses before you pay.
Is there a fee for the Washington knowledge test and drive test?
Yes. The fee varies by testing location, so ask for the exact amount before you book. You schedule both tests at an approved training and testing location. To pass, you need 32 correct answers out of 40 on the knowledge test and at least 80 out of 100 on the drive test. A knowledge test pass is good for 2 years and a drive test pass for 1 year, so plan your next step inside that time. One of our free practice questions asks how long a knowledge test pass stays valid.
What a first Washington license costs in total
| Your path | DOL fees | DOL total (before test and school fees) |
|---|---|---|
| Permit, then a 6-year standard license | $35 + $111 | $146 |
| Permit, then an 8-year standard license | $35 + $131 | $166 |
| Permit, then a 6-year license with an EDL | $35 + $153 | $188 |
| Permit, then an 8-year license with an EDL | $35 + $187 | $222 |
What does driver training add to the cost?
To get a license before 18, you must finish an approved driver training course, and you pay school fees on top of the DOL fees. With a course, you can apply for the permit at 15. Without one, the earliest permit age is 15½, and the license waits until 18. From January 1, 2027, the law also requires a driver training course for first-time applicants who are 18 (under 19). The age limit goes up one year each January 1, to under 22 from 2030, and DOL may pause or delay this by rule. A state-funded voucher program for eligible low-income people starts in January 2027.
Key takeaways
- The Washington instruction permit costs $35 for one year, and a renewal costs $25.
- A first standard license costs $111 for 6 years or $131 for 8 years in 2026. A first license with an EDL costs $153 or $187.
- A standard license does not let you board domestic flights, but an EDL does. The upgrade from a standard license costs $7 for each year left.
- Test fees vary by testing location, and driver training adds school fees.
- Next step: practice the traffic laws on the free Washington personal driver practice test.
Washington driver's license fees: common questions
How much does it cost to replace a Washington driver's license?
A lost or stolen driver license, EDL or instruction permit costs $20 to replace. A revised license with a new name, address, photo or endorsement before your next renewal also costs $20, and other fees may apply.
How much does it cost to renew a Washington driver's license?
A standard license renewal costs $61 for 6 years or $81 for 8 years. If you renew more than 60 days late, a $10 late fee makes it $71 or $91. An EDL renewal costs $103 for 6 years or $137 for 8 years.
Is there a fee to pay Washington DOL fees by card?
Online, a card payment adds a 3% fee, and a payment from your checking account adds no fee. At a driver licensing office, a debit card adds $2.25. A credit card adds $2.25 when the total is $75 or less, and 3% when the total is more than $75.
Did the Washington license fees go up in 2026?
Yes. On January 1, 2026, the instruction permit fee went from $25 to $35, and the application fee for a new license went from $35 to $50. If a page still shows the older amounts, use the DOL fee page.
Is the Washington work zone course free?
Yes. The online work zone and first responder safety course is free. From November 1, 2026, first-time license applicants under 25 must pass it to get their license. It takes about an hour, and it works on a phone or a computer.
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