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Moving to Washington State with a license from another state? Washington law gives you 30 days from the day you become a resident to get a Washington driver’s license, and another 30 days to register your car. If you are 18 or older and your out-of-state license is valid, the Department of Licensing (DOL) says you normally take no tests. This guide covers the deadlines, which tests apply, what to bring and how teens transfer.
Key facts (Washington, as of November 2026)
- License deadline: within 30 days of becoming a Washington resident (RCW 46.20.021).
- Vehicle registration deadline: within 30 days of becoming a resident (RCW 46.16A.140).
- Valid out-of-state license, age 18 or older: no knowledge or drive test, according to DOL.
- Expired out-of-state license: you take both the knowledge test and the drive test.
- Under 18: you apply for a Washington intermediate license, and DOL checks your driver training and permit history.
- New-license application fee: $50 from January 1, 2026, on top of the license issuance fee (RCW 46.20.120).
When do you count as a Washington resident?
For licensing, state law says a resident is someone who shows an intent to live in Washington on more than a temporary or transient basis. RCW 46.20.021 gives three examples of evidence:
- registering to vote in Washington
- receiving benefits from a Washington public assistance program
- declaring residency to get a state license or resident tuition
The list is not complete, so other steps (signing a lease, starting a job) can also show you have moved. The 30-day clock starts on the date you become a resident.
Which tests do you need to transfer a license to Washington?
It depends on the license you hold. DOL’s moving page sets it out like this:
| Your situation | Knowledge test | Drive test |
|---|---|---|
| Valid license from another US state, age 18+ | No | No |
| Out-of-state license that has expired | Yes | Yes |
| No license at all | Yes | Yes |
| Under 18 with an out-of-state license | Apply for an intermediate license instead | DOL reviews your driver ed and permit history |
The law behind this is RCW 46.20.120. It lets DOL waive all or part of the driving portion when you surrender a valid license from your previous home state, or show a valid license from a foreign jurisdiction that Washington has an agreement with. DOL can still require a test if it has doubts about your qualifications. If you do need to test, see the Washington knowledge test guide and what happens on the Washington drive test.
Step by step: getting your Washington license
- Gather your documents (see the checklist below).
- Visit a driver licensing office. Licenses from other states are exchanged in person.
- Surrender your old license. State law requires you to hand in every valid license issued by another jurisdiction. DOL invalidates it and may hand it back. Its moving page says staff punch a hole in the card before returning it.
- Pay the fees. A “new license” in RCW 46.20.120 includes anyone never licensed in Washington, so movers pay the $50 application fee plus the issuance fee.
- Take the temporary license. DOL issues a temporary license while the card is made. DOL says it lasts 45 days and may not work as photo ID, so keep the hole-punched card too.
DOL also tells the state that issued your old license that you are now licensed in Washington, so you don’t need to cancel it yourself.
Documents checklist
- Your current out-of-state license.
- A driving record from your previous state dated within the last 30 days, which DOL lists as part of transferring a valid out-of-state license. Order it online from your old state before you move if you can.
- Proof of identity and proof of Washington address. Bring originals.
- Your Social Security number. If you don’t have one, see getting a Washington license without an SSN.
If you want an Enhanced Driver License or a REAL ID-compliant card, you need extra proof. Check DOL’s current document list before you go. For background on REAL ID, see REAL ID and your first US license.
Moving to Washington as a teen
If you are under 18, you don’t simply swap cards. You apply for a Washington intermediate license, and DOL has to approve your out-of-state driver education and confirm that you held an instruction permit for at least six months. That matches the state law for intermediate licenses (RCW 46.20.075), which requires:
- age 16 or older
- an instruction permit held for at least six months
- a driver’s education course
- a parent or guardian certifying 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night
- no traffic violations in the last six months
Once you have it, intermediate rules apply: no passengers under 20 outside your immediate family for the first six months, no driving from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. without a licensed driver aged 25 or older (with exceptions for school, religious and work activities), and no use of a wireless device while driving. Full details are in Washington intermediate license rules for teens.
Bring your driver ed completion certificate and permit records from your old state. If DOL cannot verify them, you may need to finish training or testing in Washington.
Registering your car in Washington
- Deadline: 30 days from the date you become a resident (RCW 46.16A.140).
- No stacking: the law says this 30-day period can’t be combined with any other reciprocity period.
- Title first: residents must apply for a Washington certificate of title and register any vehicle they drive on public roads.
The law treats you as presumed resident for vehicle purposes if you meet two of these conditions, such as keeping a home in Washington, holding a Washington driver’s license, using a Washington address for tax, or having a child in a Washington public school. Getting your license can therefore start the registration clock if it hasn’t started already. For the general process, see title, registration and inspection in the US.
Moving from another country
RCW 46.20.120 lets DOL waive the drive test only for licenses from foreign jurisdictions it has an informal agreement with. Everyone else should expect testing. Compare the options in foreign license reciprocity by state.
Common questions
How long do I have to get a Washington license after moving?
30 days from the date you become a resident, under RCW 46.20.021.
Do I have to take the written test to transfer my license to Washington?
Not if you are 18 or older and your out-of-state license is valid, according to DOL. If it has expired, you take both the knowledge and drive tests.
Can I keep my old license?
You must surrender it, but DOL may return it to you invalidated. The hole-punched card plus the temporary Washington license counts as proper ID under state law.
I’m 17 with a license from Oregon. What happens?
You apply for a Washington intermediate license. DOL reviews your driver education and permit history, and the intermediate passenger, night and phone rules apply until you turn 18.
How long do I have to register my car?
30 days from becoming a resident.
Is there a fee to transfer?
Yes. The $50 new-license application fee applies from January 1, 2026, plus the issuance fee. Check the current total with DOL.
Moving between other states? See moving to a new state: transferring your license, or start with the full Washington State license guide.
Sources
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.021: New residents” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.120: Examinations, waiver, fees, renewals, administration” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.075: Intermediate license” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.16A.140: Resident defined, vehicle registration required” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Department of Licensing, “Moving to Washington: Get a driver license” (dol.wa.gov)