How To Apply For a Washington Driver's License As A Teen

If you have met the age requirements and are ready to apply for your driver's license in Washington, you may be wondering what that process looks like. In Washington, new teen drivers applying for their drivers license have pretty strict guidelines to follow. If you follow the steps below, you will get behind the wheel and gain that freedom you are looking for with your driver license.

First Up: Instruction Permit

The first step to getting your driver's license in Washington is to obtain your Instruction Permit. For this, the requirements are based upon your age.

If you are at least 15 years of age AND intend on applying for your license before you turn 18, then the State of Washington requires you to:

• Pre-apply for a Washington Driver License (WDL) number
• Enroll in a 30-hour, approved driver training course

If you are at least 15 1/2 years of age AND do not intend on applying for your driving license until you turn 18, then the State of Washington requires you to:

• Pre-apply for a Washington Driver License (WDL) number
• Pass a written test

Next Step: Get Your Washington Driver License

The next step in the process is getting your driver's license. Again, the requirements for this step are based on your age.

If you are under 18 years of age, then the State of Washington requires you to:

• Be at least 16 years of age or older.
• Complete a 30-hour Driver's Education classroom course at a DOL-approved driving school.
• Complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons with a licensed driving instructor at a DOL-approved driving school.
• Hold your Washington Instruction Permit for six months. This is from the original date the Washington Instruction Permit was issued to you by the Department of Licensing.
• Have a parent or legal guardian certify that you have practiced driving for a total of 40 hours of drive time, which includes at least 10 hours of driving at night.
• Pass the written Instruction Permit exam.
• Pass the Behind-The-Wheel Driver’s Test.

If you are 18 years of age or older, then the State of Washington requires you to:

• Pass the written Instruction Permit exam.
• Pass the Behind-The-Wheel Driver’s Test.

Note that starting in 2027, Washington will begin to implement newly-passed legislation that requires all new drivers 21 and under to complete a driver's education course.

Driver's License Laws

Once you actually get your driver's license in hand, you will have some rules to follow if you are under the age of 18. The big rule to follow is that everyone in the vehicle must be wearing a seat belt or child restraint system. The following rules also apply, but are emergency exempt if an emergency should arise:

• You cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. in the first year of holding your license unless a licensed driver 25 or older is with you.
• You may not use a cell phone while driving a vehicle.
• For the first six months of having your driver license, you may not have any passengers under 20 except for immediate family members.
• Between six months and one year of holding your driver's license, you may have up to three passengers under the age of 20 (immediate family members are exempt).

It may seem like a lot, but as you work through the steps, it will all become easier and easier for you and then you'll have that driver license before you know it!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's license journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Driver's Ed and book your driving lesson today.