Washington DMV Tests & Practice Permit Tests
Results
#1. When being followed closely, you should allow extra room in front of your vehicle:
When being followed closely, you should allow extra room so you will be able to stop without being hit from behind.
#2. This sign alerts drivers in advance of:
Deer crossing. This sign tells you that you are near an area where wild animals can cross the road. Slow down and be prepared to stop.
#3. When two vehicles from different directions arrive at the same time at a four-way stop:
At a four-way stop the driver reaching the intersection first, goes first (after coming to a complete stop). If more than one vehicle arrives at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.
#4. There is a large vehicle ahead. It approaches an intersection and signals right but appears to be turning left. What should you do?
Stay behind trucks making right turns. When making sharp turns, large vehicles sometimes require more than one lane to complete the turn. Be sure to allow enough room for these vehicles to safely complete their turns. When turning right, these drivers may angle into the left lane so they can make the right turn without running over the curb or hitting something. Do not try to squeeze by on the right side when a large vehicle is making a turn.
#5. At this intersection, cars in the center lane must:
Lane use control signs tell you where you can go or where you can turn and often use an arrow symbol. Cars in left lane may turn left or go straight. Cars in center lane must go straight. Cars in right lane must turn right.
#6. What does this sign mean?
Merging Traffic sign. You are approaching a point where other traffic lanes come together with your lane. Watch for traffic from that direction.
#7. When you park your car on any hill:
Drivers are responsible for making sure that their vehicle is not a hazard when it is parked. Always set your parking brake when you park. Leave the vehicle in gear if it has a manual transmission or in park if it has an automatic transmission.
#8. An instruction permit is valid for:
The permit is valid for one year and you can only renew it once.
#9. Which of the following is a likely effect of drinking alcohol?
Alcohol affects those areas of your brain that control judgment and skill. This is one reason why drinking alcohol is so dangerous – it affects your judgment.
Alcohol also slows your reflexes and reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly, and makes you less alert. As the amount of alcohol in your body increases, your judgment worsens and your skills decrease.
#10. To avoid glare from the high-beam headlights of an approaching car:
If a vehicle comes toward you with high beams on, make sure you have dimmed your lights. Look away from the other vehicle’s headlights and toward the right side of the road until the car has passed. This will keep you from being blinded by the other vehicle’s headlights and allow you to see enough of the edge of the road to stay on course. Do not try to get back at the other driver by keeping your bright lights on. If you do, both of you may be blinded.
#11. When you plan to cross traffic and stop halfway across at a median divider, you must make sure that:
When you cross traffic, you need room to get across. Stopping halfway across is only safe when there is a median divider large enough for your vehicle. Do not stop in a divider where part of your vehicle is sticking into traffic.
#12. When are you allowed to drink alcohol while driving?
It is a traffic infraction for a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle on a public highway, street, or road, to drink an alcoholic beverage, or to possess an alcoholic beverage with the intent of drinking it. The open container law covers the passenger area of any motor vehicle, including unlocked glove compartments and any other areas of the vehicle that are readily accessible to the driver or passengers while in their seats.
#13. When a traffic signal is showing a steady red light:
A steady red traffic light means stop. You must wait until the traffic light turns green and there is no crossing traffic before you may move ahead. If you are turning right, you may turn after coming to a full stop if it is safe and if there is no sign prohibiting the turn on a red light. You may also turn left onto a one-way street with traffic moving left after coming to a full stop if there is no sign prohibiting turns on a red light. Be careful of pedestrians crossing in front of your vehicle.
#14. If you are in an intersection when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights approaches from behind, you should:
If you are in an intersection, drive through the intersection and then drive to the right as soon as you can and stop. Never stop in an intersection.
#15. Which is the best rule to remember when turning on your headlights?
Besides helping you to see at night, headlights help other people see you. Turn on your headlights whenever you have trouble seeing others.
#16. To reduce the risk of hand, wrist, or arm injury if the airbag is deployed, it is a good idea to grip the steering wheel by:
Your grip on the steering wheel is important. Your hands should be placed on opposite sides of the steering wheel (left hand between 8 and 9 o’clock and right hand between 3 and 4 o’clock). This position is comfortable and on high-speed roads it allows you to make turns without taking your hands off the wheel. It also positions your hands out of the way of the airbag.
#17. Refusal to take a BAC breath test will result in an automatic license suspension:
If a police or traffic officer asks you to take a BAC test, you must do so. You will lose your driver’s license for at least one year if you refuse to take a BAC breath test.
#18. It is very important to look for vehicles behind you when you:
It is very important to look for vehicles behind you when you change lanes, slow down, back up, or are driving down a long or steep hill.
#19. Which is true about braking if you suddenly have a tire blowout while driving?
If a tire suddenly goes flat:
- Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight.
- Slow down gradually. Take your foot off the gas pedal and use the brakes lightly.
- Don’t stop on the road if at all possible. Pull off the road in a safe place.
#20. What does this sign mean?
The yield signs means you must slow down and yield the right-of-way to traffic in the intersection you are crossing or roadway you are entering.
| 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
