Washington DMV Tests & Practice Permit Tests
Results
#1. Which of the following is marked with solid white lines?
Bicycle lanes are marked with solid white lines.
#2. When driving on a slippery surface such as snow or ice, you should:
Reduce speed and allow extra space between your car and the car ahead. Do not brake or turn suddenly.
On packed snow you should cut your speed in half. On ice you must slow to a crawl.
Use snow tires or chains when the road has snow on it and any time it is required on posted signs.
As you drive, watch for shady spots, bridges and overpasses since these places freeze first and dry out last. Do not brake or turn suddenly. Use a low gear when going down steep hills.
#3. When you reach a roundabout:
Always enter and drive around the circle to the right.
#4. All the following practices are dangerous while driving. Which is also against the law?
Using an electronic wireless-communications device to send, read, or write a text message while operating a motor vehicle is against the law. See Driver Guide for some exemptions.
#5. The speed limit on ocean beaches is:
The speed limit is 25 mph and pedestrians have the right-of-way at all times.
Driving is allowed on ocean beaches in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. The beach is considered a state highway, so all road, vehicle registration, and driver licensing regulations apply.
#6. When parking uphill on a two-way street with no curbs, your front wheels should be:
Headed either uphill or downhill and there is no curb, turn the wheels so the car will roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.
#7. As the percentage of alcohol in your blood increases, you become more:
As the amount of alcohol in your body increases, your judgment worsens and your skills decrease. The degree of impairment and the intensity of the effect will rise rapidly.
#8. If you are using the left-hand lane to pass slower traffic and someone tailgates you, it is best to:
If another driver follows you too closely and there is a right lane, move over to the right. If there is no right lane, wait until the road ahead is clear then reduce speed slowly. This will encourage the tailgater to drive around you. Never slow down quickly to discourage a tailgater. Doing that increases your risk of a collision from behind.
#9. If you are a new resident, you must register your vehicle within:
If you are a new resident, you must register your vehicle within 30 days of becoming a resident.
#10. When the road is marked this way, are you permitted to cross the center lines and overtake another car?
Solid yellow lines mean that no passing is allowed.
#11. If your car breaks down, you should:
If you are having vehicle trouble and have to stop:
- Get your vehicle off the road and away from traffic, if at all possible.
- Turn on your emergency flashers to show you are having trouble. At night, leave your headlights on.
- Try to stop where other drivers have a clear view of your vehicle if you cannot get your vehicle off the roadway. (Do not stop just over a hill or just around a curve.)
- Try to warn other road users that your vehicle is there. Place emergency flares 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle. This allows other drivers to change lanes if necessary.
- If you do not have emergency flares or other warning devices, stand by the side of the road where you are safe from traffic and wave traffic around your vehicle.
- Never stand in the roadway.
- Lift the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, side mirror, or door handle to signal an emergency.
Remember, all too often collisions occur because a driver did not see a stalled vehicle until it was too late to stop.
#12. When you are very tired (fatigued):
When you are tired, you cannot drive as safely as when you are rested. You do not see as well, and you are not as alert as when you are rested. It takes you more time to make decisions and you do not always make good decisions. You can be more irritable and can get upset more easily.
Stop and rest. Never drive if you are sleepy.
#13. What does this sign mean?
Yield ahead. This sign warns of a yield sign ahead. Slow down and be prepared to yield other traffic.
#14. You are driving on a rural highway. You see an orange diamond-shaped road sign far ahead. The sign will:
Construction, maintenance, or emergency operations signs are orange with black letters or symbols. They warn you that people are working on or near the roadway.
#15. Merging onto a road is safest if you:
Do not try to merge into a gap that is too small. A small gap can quickly become even smaller.
Anytime you want to merge with other traffic, you need a gap of about four seconds. If you move into the middle of a four second gap, both you and the vehicle that is now behind you have a two second following distance. You need a four-second gap whenever you change lanes, enter a roadway, or when your lane merges with another travel lane.
When it is safe, go back to following the three-second-rule.
#16. Which of the following is the best advice for a driver who has had alcoholic drinks at a party?
Let somebody else drive.
There are ways of dealing with social drinking situations. Arrange to go with two or more persons and agree that one of you will not drink alcohol. You can take turns being a designated driver, use public transportation, or use a cab.
#17. If the rear of your vehicle starts to skid left, you should:
If your vehicle begins to skid:
- Take your foot off the accelerator.
- Stay off the brake. Until the vehicle slows, your brakes will not work and could cause you to skid more.
- Steer – Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go. When the vehicle begins to straighten out, turn the steering wheel back the other way.
- Continue to steer – Continue to correct your steering, left and right, until the vehicle is again moving down the road under your control.
#18. Before turning left, it is essential to:
Check the street you are turning into to make sure that no vehicles or pedestrians are in your path. Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.
#19. What do the light gray areas in the picture mark?
When turning or changing lanes, look over your shoulder in the direction you plan to move. Be sure no one is near the rear corners of your vehicle. These areas are called blind spots because you cannot see them through your mirrors. You must turn your head and look to see vehicles in your blind spot.
#20. This sign tells you:
Reduction of lanes. There will be fewer lanes ahead. Traffic must merge left. Drivers in the left lane should allow others to merge smoothly. Right lane ends.
| This Washington Permit Practice Test | |
|---|---|
| Questions per test: | 20 |
| Question pool: | 800+ |
| Type of test: | Random multiple-choice |
| The Official Washington Written Knowledge Test | |
|---|---|
| Questions on real exam: | 40 questions |
| Passing score: | 80% |
| Correct answers to pass: | 32 |
| Allotted time to complete test: | 45 minutes |
| Wait time before retest: | Varies |
Washington State (WA) – Practice Permit Test
You can double your chances of passing the official WA DOL permit test with this practice test from Driver’s Prep.
Each set of practice questions is easy to use. Every time you start a new practice test, you will get 20 random questions from a database with more than 800 questions. The large pool of possible questions gives you plenty of practice for the official knowledge exam.
After each question, you will get instant feedback on whether your answer is correct. Should you make a mistake, there is also an explanation to help you understand the right answer. Use this explanation to learn more and, when needed, read about the topic in the Driver Guide.
Start by Getting the Washington State Driver Guide
When you prepare for the real knowledge test, you should always start by getting the latest version of the Washington State Driver Guide . The Department of Licensing updates the guide regularly, so make sure you have the latest version.
The Driver Guide helps you clearly understand what you must learn for the examination.
After studying the guide, use these practice tests to check your progress and whether you are ready for the actual driver’s exam.
The passing score in Washington is 80 percent. On the examination, you must answer 32 out of 40 questions correctly.
Each practice test on driversprep.com is limited to 20 questions to speed up the process, but when you have taken 10-15 practice tests, you have also covered all the critical items and the most likely questions on the exam.
Aiming for a 100% score on the practice tests is best. It gives you a good margin on the DOL exam.
Remember, every practice question counts. The more comfortable you are with questions and answers, the more likely you will pass the examination.
Focus on authentic learning instead of simply memorizing answers because investing in knowledge always pays off.
The more you know, the stronger you stand. Invest in your future today, and you won’t regret it.
Read more: How to Ace the DMV Test
When Must I Pass a Knowledge Exam?
If you haven’t been licensed before
All first-time applicants must pass all tests, including the Washington written knowledge test.
If you let your WA license expire for more than six years.
If your Washington license expired more than six years ago, you must apply for a new license and pass all tests.
If you hold an expired license from another state.
If you have an expired out-of-state license, the typical test waiver does not apply, and you must pass the knowledge test before you can get a Washington license.
If you hold a license from a foreign country
If you hold an out-of-country license, the DOL will ask you to take all tests. However, the DOL will waive the knowledge and drive test if you have a valid driver’s license from British Columbia, Germany, South Korea, or Taiwan.
Test Waivers
When moving to Washington, DOL will waive the knowledge test if you hold a valid out-of-state license. If you are under 18, you must prove you completed a driver-training course meeting Washington standards.
When renewing your license, DOL waives the knowledge and driving tests unless the Department determines that you are not qualified to hold a driver’s license.
The Department of Licensing can ask you to retake the knowledge and driving test if necessary—chances of a necessary re-test increase with poor driving records or age.
What You Need to Know about the Washington Written Test
The knowledge exam is sometimes called the written test. It is the same test.
The test aims to verify that you understand road signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, Washington traffic laws, and common safe-driving practices.
DOL draws all questions from the information in the Washington Driver Guide. So, ensure you read the guide. Relying solely on taking practice tests is not a good idea.
Read more: Are Taking Practice Tests Enough?
You can take the test at all driver licensing offices. Unless you have notified DOL about support needs, the office will offer the test on a computerized test station.
The knowledge exam is a multiple-choice test with 40 questions. If you miss more than eight questions on the exam, you may have to wait before you can re-test.
Remember, before you can take the exam, you must apply online or at a WA driver’s license office.
You can also take the test at authorized driving schools and participating high schools.
Should you fail the knowledge examination, there is no official wait time before you can make another attempt. Examiners at a driver licensing office are less likely to let you have another go at the test the same day. Expect a waiting time of at least two to three days, depending on location and how many questions you missed.
With third-party test providers, like a driving school, you can take the test twice in one day, even if they recommend waiting at least 24 hours.
Each attempt to pass the test usually comes with a new fee of $35 (some third-party testers may waive the re-test fee).
The Department of Licensing does not offer the test from the comfort of your home, regardless of age.
Languages
The computerized knowledge test in Washington state is available in these languages:
English
Japanese
Russian
Vietnamese
What is on the Washington Permit Test
The Department expanded the test from 25 to 40 questions a few years back. The new 40-question test focuses more on distracted driving and the distraction of cell phones. Texting and using a handheld phone while driving is against the law in Washington State.
You should know that drivers with an intermediate license or instruction permit cannot use any wireless device, not even a hands-free phone while driving.
On the test, you should also expect questions about impaired driving, including how the use of marijuana affects your ability to drive safely.
Is the Washington Permit Test Hard?
Washington State does not release failures on the knowledge test, but experts generally consider it to be one of the toughest in the United States.
Failing the test can be expensive since you must pay the testing fee again.
Photo credits:
Struggling woman – CollegeDegrees360
Young man with Help sign – Marcos Calvo Mesa
