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The Washington knowledge test has 40 multiple-choice questions from the Washington Driver Guide, and the Department of Licensing (DOL) says you need 32 correct (80%). This practice test has the same 40-question length, with original, unofficial questions checked against the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Since the 2016 redesign the real test puts extra weight on distraction, impairment, speed and hazard judgment, so this set does too.
Washington knowledge test: key facts
- 40 questions; 32 correct to pass (DOL). You can miss 8.
- Given by DOL, licensed driver training schools and school district traffic safety programs.
- Fee set by the testing location.
- A pass is valid for 2 years (DOL).
Where to test and what happens if you fail: Washington DOL knowledge test guide.
Signs, signals and markings (questions 1 to 12)
1. What does an eight-sided red sign mean?
- A. Stop completely
- B. Yield
- C. Railroad crossing
- D. Do not enter
Answer: A. Only STOP signs are octagons. Driver Guide topic: signs.
2. A downward-pointing red and white triangle tells you to:
- A. Merge at full speed
- B. Stop always
- C. Turn right only
- D. Slow down and yield, stopping if needed
Answer: D. That is a YIELD sign. Driver Guide topic: signs.
3. A yellow diamond sign warns you of:
- A. A rule you must obey
- B. Services
- C. A route number
- D. A possible hazard or change ahead
Answer: D. Yellow diamonds are warning signs. Driver Guide topic: signs.
4. A five-sided sign means:
- A. Hospital
- B. School zone or school crossing
- C. No passing
- D. Railroad
Answer: B. Pentagons mark schools. Expect children and lower limits. Driver Guide topic: signs.
5. Orange signs and cones mean:
- A. A truck stop
- B. A hospital zone
- C. A work zone: slow down and watch for workers and flaggers
- D. A tourist route
Answer: C. Work zones need lower speeds and extra attention. Driver Guide topic: work zones.
6. Facing a steady circular red light, which turn may you make after stopping, if no sign forbids it?
- A. No turns at all
- B. A right turn, or a left turn from a one-way or two-way street onto a one-way street going left
- C. Any turn without stopping
- D. Only a U-turn
Answer: B. Washington allows right on red and left on red onto a one-way street after a full stop, yielding to traffic and pedestrians. RCW 46.61.055.
7. Facing a green light, you are turning right. A pedestrian is crossing the street you are turning into. You must:
- A. Stop and let the pedestrian cross
- B. Go first because you have a green light
- C. Honk and turn
- D. Turn around them
Answer: A. Drivers turning on green must stop for pedestrians lawfully in the intersection. RCW 46.61.055.
8. A flashing yellow left-turn arrow means:
- A. No left turn
- B. Protected turn
- C. Turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
- D. Stop and wait
Answer: C. Oncoming traffic may have a green light. Wait for a safe gap. Driver Guide topic: signals.
9. A solid yellow line on your side of the center line means:
- A. You may not pass
- B. You may pass
- C. Bikes only
- D. You must turn left
Answer: A. Pass only when a broken line is on your side and the road is clear. Driver Guide topic: pavement markings.
10. A white diamond painted in a lane means:
- A. A school zone
- B. Parking
- C. The lane is reserved for certain vehicles, such as HOV
- D. A crosswalk
Answer: C. Check nearby signs for who may use the lane and when. Driver Guide topic: pavement markings.
11. Lane control signals show a steady red X over a lane. You must:
- A. Not drive in that lane
- B. Use it for passing
- C. Use it only at night
- D. Turn from it
Answer: A. A red X means the lane is closed to you. Driver Guide topic: lane signals.
12. A flashing red light means:
- A. Slow down
- B. Speed up
- C. Stop, then proceed when safe
- D. Yield to trucks
Answer: C. Treat it like a STOP sign. Driver Guide topic: signals.
Right of way and intersections (questions 13 to 17)
13. Two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time. Who yields?
- A. The driver on the right
- B. The faster driver
- C. The driver going straight
- D. The driver on the left
Answer: D. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Driver Guide topic: right of way.
14. You are entering a roundabout. You should:
- A. Speed up
- B. Stop in the circle
- C. Yield to traffic already in it and travel counterclockwise
- D. Enter to the left
Answer: C. Slow down, yield on entry and keep right. Driver Guide topic: roundabouts.
15. An emergency vehicle with siren and lights approaches from behind. You should:
- A. Pull to the right edge, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes
- B. Keep driving
- C. Stop in your lane
- D. Move left
Answer: A. Give emergency vehicles a clear path. Driver Guide topic: emergency vehicles.
16. You are leaving an alley onto a street. You must:
- A. Pull out slowly without stopping
- B. Expect traffic to stop
- C. Stop before the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians and traffic
- D. Honk
Answer: C. Drivers coming out of alleys, driveways and parking lots yield to everyone. Driver Guide topic: right of way.
17. Turning left at a light with a solid green ball, you must:
- A. Stop until red
- B. Turn from the right lane
- C. Go first
- D. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
Answer: D. A plain green light does not protect your left turn. Driver Guide topic: turns.
Speed, space and passing (questions 18 to 21)
18. Your speed should always be:
- A. Matched to the fastest car
- B. The posted limit
- C. No faster than is safe for conditions
- D. 5 mph over the limit
Answer: C. Rain, darkness and traffic all call for slower speeds. Driver Guide topic: speed.
19. You are passing a cyclist on a road with two lanes in your direction. Washington law requires you to:
- A. Move completely into the lane to the left of the right lane when safe
- B. Honk first
- C. Pass on the right
- D. Pass in the same lane
Answer: A. On a road with one lane in your direction, slow down and pass at a safe distance, where practicable at least 3 feet. RCW 46.61.110.
20. You may not pass another car when:
- A. It is daytime
- B. You are on a straight road
- C. The car is going under the limit
- D. You are approaching a hill or curve where you cannot see ahead
Answer: D. Pass only where you can see enough clear road to finish safely. Driver Guide topic: passing.
21. When merging onto a freeway you should:
- A. Stop at the end of the ramp
- B. Expect others to move over
- C. Use the ramp to match traffic speed and merge into a gap
- D. Merge slowly
Answer: C. Signal, check your blind spot and fit in at speed. Driver Guide topic: freeway driving.
Sharing the road (questions 22 to 27)
22. A school bus stops with red lights flashing on a two-lane road. You are coming toward it. You must:
- A. Stop, and stay stopped until the bus moves or the signals turn off
- B. Continue, because you are going the other way
- C. Slow to 20 mph
- D. Honk
Answer: A. Drivers from either direction stop. Oncoming traffic need not stop on a divided highway or on a road with three or more marked lanes. RCW 46.61.370.
23. You are driving on a road with three marked lanes and meet a stopped school bus with red lights on the other side. You:
- A. Must stop
- B. Need not stop, because you are meeting it on a road with three or more lanes
- C. Must turn around
- D. Must pull onto the shoulder
Answer: B. Traffic behind the bus must still stop. RCW 46.61.370.
24. On a four-lane highway you approach a stopped police car with lights flashing on the shoulder. You should:
- A. Slow down and, if safe, move to a lane away from it
- B. Flash your lights
- C. Keep your lane and speed
- D. Stop behind it
Answer: A. If changing lanes is unsafe, slow to at least 10 mph below the limit (or no more than 50 mph where the limit is over 60). RCW 46.61.212.
25. Railroad crossing lights start flashing as you approach. You must:
- A. Drive around the gate
- B. Slow down and look
- C. Stop and wait until the train has passed and the lights stop
- D. Speed up to cross first
Answer: C. Never race a train or go around lowered gates. Driver Guide topic: railroad crossings.
26. A large truck ahead is signaling a right turn and has swung left. You should:
- A. Stay back and give it room
- B. Honk
- C. Pass on its right
- D. Move up beside it
Answer: A. Trucks swing wide to turn right. Never squeeze into the gap. Driver Guide topic: sharing the road with trucks.
27. The Washington emergency or work zone around a stopped emergency vehicle covers:
- A. 200 feet before and after it
- B. Only the lane it is in
- C. 50 feet before and after it
- D. 1 mile ahead
Answer: A. The zone is the adjacent lanes 200 feet before and after the vehicle. RCW 46.61.212.
Alcohol, cannabis and impairment (questions 28 to 32)
28. What is the per se alcohol limit for adult drivers in Washington?
- A. 0.08
- B. 0.02
- C. 0.05
- D. 0.10
Answer: A. An alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher within two hours of driving is DUI. RCW 46.61.502.
29. What THC blood level is DUI for drivers 21 and older?
- A. Any amount
- B. 5.00 or higher
- C. 2.00
- D. There is no limit
Answer: B. A THC concentration of 5.00 or higher within two hours of driving is DUI. RCW 46.61.502.
30. A Washington driver aged 20 has an alcohol concentration of 0.03. What applies?
- A. Driving after consuming alcohol under 21, which applies from 0.02
- B. A warning only
- C. Only a fine if there was a crash
- D. Nothing; 0.08 is the limit
Answer: A. For under-21 drivers, 0.02 or more alcohol, or any THC above 0.00, is an offense. RCW 46.61.503.
31. You plan to drive across the state late at night after a long day. The safest choice is to:
- A. Drink coffee and go
- B. Sleep and leave in the morning
- C. Drive with the window open
- D. Take a short nap and go
Answer: B. Drowsy driving is impairment. The Washington test includes judgment questions like this. Driver Guide topic: fatigue.
32. Is it legal for a Washington driver to use a medical cannabis card as a defense to DUI?
- A. Only on rural roads
- B. Yes
- C. No. Being entitled to use a drug is not a defense
- D. Only under 21
Answer: C. RCW 46.61.502 says being entitled to use a drug is not a defense to DUI.
Washington teen license and phone rules (questions 33 to 38)
33. Under RCW 46.61.672, when may an adult Washington driver use a personal electronic device while driving?
- A. At stop lights
- B. To contact emergency services
- C. On empty roads
- D. Any time with a headset
Answer: B. Using a personal electronic device while driving is an infraction (E-DUI). A second offense doubles the penalty. RCW 46.61.672.
34. To get an intermediate license you must be at least 16 and have held your instruction permit for at least:
- A. 9 months
- B. 3 months
- C. 1 year
- D. 6 months
Answer: D. You also need driver education, a passed exam and 50 certified hours. RCW 46.20.075.
35. How many supervised practice hours must be certified for a Washington intermediate license?
- A. 60, with 15 at night
- B. 50, with 10 at night
- C. 40, with 10 at night
- D. 30, with 5 at night
Answer: B. The supervisor must be at least 21 with a valid license for at least three years. RCW 46.20.075.
36. For the first six months of an intermediate license, who may ride with you?
- A. One friend
- B. Anyone 16 or older
- C. No passengers under 20 who are not immediate family
- D. Up to three friends
Answer: C. For the rest of the intermediate period, no more than three passengers under 20 who are not family. RCW 46.20.075.
37. When may an intermediate license holder not drive, unless accompanied by a licensed driver 25 or older or for school, religious or work activities?
- A. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- B. 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
- C. After sunset
- D. Midnight to 5 a.m.
Answer: B. The night limit is 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. RCW 46.20.075.
38. May an intermediate license holder talk on a hands-free phone while driving?
- A. Only on freeways
- B. Only with a parent in the car
- C. No. The law bans using a wireless device while driving, except to report illegal activity or summon emergency help
- D. Yes
Answer: C. RCW 46.20.075 gives no hands-free allowance for intermediate drivers.
Emergencies (questions 39 to 40)
39. Your car starts to skid on ice. You should:
- A. Brake hard
- B. Turn the wheel sharply the other way
- C. Accelerate
- D. Ease off the gas and steer where you want the front of the car to go
Answer: D. Smooth steering and no hard braking help you regain grip. Driver Guide topic: emergencies.
40. Your brakes suddenly fail. A good first step is to:
- A. Shift into park
- B. Open the door
- C. Pump the brake pedal and shift to a lower gear
- D. Turn off the engine immediately
Answer: C. Pumping may restore pressure, and a lower gear slows you. Use the parking brake gently if needed. Driver Guide topic: emergencies.
Your score against the Washington standard
| Correct out of 40 | What it means |
|---|---|
| 36 to 40 | Ready to test |
| 32 to 35 | A pass on DOL’s 32 of 40 standard. Review the misses. |
| Under 32 | A fail. Reread the Driver Guide, then retest. |
DOL also has an online practice test. The most-missed topics are the teen rules and phone law: see Washington intermediate license rules for teens and Washington’s E-DUI law explained.
Common questions
Are these the real Washington DOL questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions based on Washington Driver Guide topics and RCW text.
How many questions can I miss on the Washington knowledge test?
8. DOL says you need 32 of 40 correct.
Do I have to pass the test before my permit?
Usually yes. DOL may waive it for the permit if you are enrolled in an approved driver training course, but you still pass it before your license.
Can I take the Washington knowledge test online?
DOL describes the knowledge test as taken in person at an approved testing location. Check current options with DOL or your driving school.
Is the test harder since 2016?
It grew from 25 to 40 questions and added more on distraction, impairment, speed and hazard judgment.
Where are tests for other states?
See US permit practice tests by state, or the full route in learning to drive in Washington State.
Sources
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.20.075 Intermediate license” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.61.055 Traffic control signal legend” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.61.110, 46.61.212 and 46.61.370” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, “RCW 46.61.502, 46.61.503 and 46.61.672” (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Washington State Transportation Commission, “Driver Licensing Exam Update” (October 2016) (wstc.wa.gov)