Washington graduated driver licence stages

By the end of this topic you can

• You can name the three stages of Washington licensing for drivers under 18.
• You can state the minimum age for a permit with and without driver training.
• You can list what you need before applying for an intermediate license.
• You can explain the passenger, night and phone limits on an intermediate license.
• You can say when and how those limits end.

What you need to know and understand

• The minimum permit age is 15 and a half, or 15 if you are enrolled in an approved driver training course that includes practice driving.
• You must be at least 16 and have held your permit for at least six months to get an intermediate license.
• Every applicant under 18 must pass an approved driver training course.
• You need a signed certification of 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night.
• You must have no traffic violation in the six months before you apply, and no ticket pending.
• A license issued to someone under 18 is an intermediate license until the driver turns 18.
• Intermediate drivers may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless an exception applies.

Step one: driving on an instruction permit

The permit lets you practice on public roads with an experienced driver beside you. The person in the front passenger seat must be a qualified driver training instructor or a licensed driver with at least five years of driving experience.

Keep the permit with you whenever you drive. Permit holders may not use a wireless device while driving, except to report illegal activity, call for emergency help or prevent injury. A permit is valid for one year, and the Department of Licensing (DOL) can issue another if you need more time.

Step two: qualifying for an intermediate license

Before you can move up, you must meet all of these conditions under state law:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have held an instruction permit for at least six months.
• Pass a driver training course and the DOL licensing exam, including the drive test.
• Have a parent, guardian, employer or approved responsible adult certify 50 hours of practice, including 10 at night.
• Have no traffic violation in the last six months and no pending ticket.
• From November 1, 2026, first-time applicants under 25 must also pass a free online work zone and first responder safety course.

Step three: living with the intermediate limits until 18

For the first six months you may not carry any passenger under 20 who is not immediate family. After that, the limit is three such passengers. You may not drive from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless a licensed driver aged 25 or older is with you, or you are driving for school, religious or work activities.

If you go 12 months with no crashes, no traffic offenses and no restriction violations, the passenger and night limits lift early. The phone ban stays until 18. Our deeper guides to Washington intermediate license rules and learning to drive in Washington State cover each step in more detail.

Common mistakes

• Assuming any adult can sit beside a permit driver. The supervisor needs at least five years of driving experience, or must be a qualified instructor.
• Booking the drive test before the six-month permit period ends. Count the months from the date your permit was issued.
• Getting a ticket shortly before applying. A violation in the six months before you apply blocks the intermediate license.
• Thinking hands-free calls are fine for teen drivers. Permit and intermediate drivers may not use a wireless device at all while driving, except in emergencies.

Test yourself: Washington graduated driver licence stages

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Washington State
• Washington Intermediate License Rules for Teens
• Washington Permit Practice Test