Cheat sheet · Washington DMV Practice Test

Licensing, Permits & Vehicle Paperwork

Permit age (with driver training course): 15 §1.8
Permit age (no course): 15½, by passing the knowledge exam §1.8
Permit valid for: 1 year (renewable for a fee) §1.8
Knowledge exam score valid for: 2 years §1.12
Knowledge exam to pass: 32 of 40 correct (80%)
Teen license: hold permit for: 6 months minimum, age 16+ §1.8
Teen supervised driving: 40 hrs day + 10 hrs night §1.8
Supervisor experience (under 18): 3+ years licensed §1.8
Supervisor experience (18+ on permit): 5+ years licensed §1.8
Out-of-state course minimum: 30 hrs classroom + 6 hrs behind the wheel §1.8
Violation-free before teen license: 6 months §1.8
Temporary license good for: 45 days §1.8
Renew license: Up to 1 year before it expires §1.15
Expired 8+ years: Retake knowledge and skills tests §1.15
Address change: Within 10 days (License Express) §1.16
Name change: In person at a licensing office §1.16
Early warning letter: Ages 18-21 after first moving violation; crash risk doubles §1.8

Intermediate license (ages 16-17)

First 6 months	No passengers under 20 except immediate family
After 6 months, until 18 or 1 yr	Max 3 passengers under 20 (not family)
Night	No driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. unless with parent, guardian, or licensed driver 25+
Phone	No use at all, even hands-free, except to report an emergency
1st violation	Restrictions continue until 18
2nd violation	Suspended 6 months or until 18 (whichever first)
3rd violation	Suspended until 18
At 18	Restrictions lift automatically

Vehicle paperwork

New resident registers vehicle	30 days
Seller files Report of Sale	5 days (does NOT transfer ownership)
Buyer transfers title	15 days to avoid penalty
Title	Keep in a safe place, NOT in the vehicle
Registration	Signed, kept IN the vehicle
License plates	Front AND rear
Liability insurance minimums	$25,000 one person / $50,000 two+ people / $10,000 property

Alcohol, Drugs & Driver Fitness

Implied consent: Driving in WA = you agree to be tested if suspected §1.15
Refuse the test: Lose license 90-730 days, or until 21 if longer §1.15
DUI conviction suspension: 90 days to 4 years (plus interlock, fines, jail possible) §1.15
DUI on your record: For life §1.15
Parked but in physical control: Can still be DUI §1.15
Open containers: Trunk or truck bed only, not reachable by the driver §1.15
Cannabis: Legal at 21+, but driving after ANY use is illegal; no safe amount §3.1
Most common impairing substance: Alcohol §3.1
Most common impairment in fatal crashes: Polydrug use (mixing drugs) §3.1
Prescribed/OTC drugs: No excuse; impaired is impaired. 'Heavy machinery' warning includes driving §3.1
Drowsy, driving alone: Pull off and take a 20-minute nap §3.1
Long trips: Stop every ~100 miles or 2 hours; sleep 7-9 hours before §3.1
Headphones: Illegal if they broadcast sound or cancel noise; one-ear hands-free OK §3.0
Night vision: No tinted lenses; to avoid glare, look at the right edge of the road §3.0

DUI limits

	Age 21+	Under 21
Alcohol (BAC)	0.08% or more	0.02% or more
THC (active, per mL blood)	5.00 ng or more	Anything above 0.00 ng

Vehicle Equipment & Occupant Safety

Minimum tire tread: 2/32 inch §2.5
Correct tire pressure: Label on driver's door edge or owner's manual §2.5
Headlights required: ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise §2.5
Dim high beams: oncoming: Within 500 ft §2.5
Dim high beams: following: Within 300 ft §2.5
Brake lights visible from: 100 ft §2.5
Signal before turning/changing lanes: 100 ft §2.5
Daytime running lights: Dimmer than headlights; no taillights §2.5
Chest to steering wheel: At least 10 inches (airbag) §2.5
Headrest: Even with your ears §2.5
Seat belt: Everyone in the vehicle. Shoulder strap across chest, lap belt on hips §2.6
Front seat: Children under 13 never ride in front (airbags) §2.6
Driver-assist tech (ADAS): Helps, but you are still fully responsible §2.4
Hazard lights: Breakdown or emergency stop §2.5

Hand signals (left arm out the window)

Left turn	Arm straight out
Right turn	Arm bent up, fingers to the sky
Stop / slow	Arm bent down, fingers to the ground

Child restraints

Birth to 2	Rear-facing car seat
2 to 4	Car seat with harness (rear or forward)
4+ until 4'9"	Booster until adult belt fits (often ages 8-12)
Over 4'9"	Seat belt that fits properly

Vehicle Control & Blind Zones

Hand position: Outside of wheel, top half: 9 & 3 or 10 & 2 §2.7
Hand-to-hand (push/pull): Hands never cross, which is safer if the airbag deploys §2.7
Hand-over-hand: Low speed, parking, intersections, skid recovery §2.7
One hand at 12 o'clock: Only when backing §2.7
Braking levels: Light, medium, firm, emergency §2.8
ABS: Lets you steer while braking hard; does NOT shorten the stop; car may shake §2.8
Pitch / Roll / Yaw: Front-back / side tilt / zig-zag of the rear §2.10
Accelerate / stop hard: Weight shifts back / forward §2.10
Stop line under side mirror: About 3-6 inches from the line §2.11
Shoulder check: Keep the steering wheel straight while looking §2.12
Truck 'no zones': If you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you §2.13

Attention, Distraction & Attitude

Hand-held devices: Illegal for ALL drivers. Hands-free OK for licensed adults §3.4
Permit / intermediate drivers: No phone at all, even hands-free §3.0
Repeat distracted-driving ticket: Fine can be doubled §3.4
Aggressive driving: A traffic offense §3.1
Road rage: A criminal offense. Report it in progress by calling 911 §3.1
Victim of road rage: Move away, no gestures, go to a busy public place, call 911 §3.1
OODA loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act §3.3
Scan behind when: Changing lanes, slowing, backing, going down steep hills §3.5
Watch near parked cars: Feet, wheels, shadows, movement §3.5
Idling in a garage: Carbon monoxide can kill §3.6
Clean Car Law: Applies to 2009 and newer vehicles §3.6

Sharing the Road

Pedestrian in crosswalk: Wait until they clear your lane + 1 more lane §4.1
Cane, guide dog, wheelchair: Wait until they've crossed completely; don't honk §4.1
Passing a bicyclist: At least 3 ft; move a full lane if there are 2 lanes your way §4.6
Bicyclist in crosswalk: Treat as a pedestrian §4.6
Driving in a bike lane: Only to turn or to cross it to park §4.6
Motorcycles: Full lane width. Never share the lane. Extra following distance §4.5
Merging ahead of a truck: Wait until you see both of its headlights in your mirror §4.4
Loaded truck stopping at 55 mph: About 450 ft §4.4
Turning trucks: Don't pass. They need 2 lanes in a roundabout §4.4
Transit bus pulling out: Yield to it §4.3
Slow-moving vehicle triangle: Vehicle built for 25 mph or less; pass with 3 ft §4.8
Emergency vehicle with lights/siren: Pull RIGHT and stop; rejoin traffic in your original order §4.9
Light rail: Keep at least 1 car length away §4.7

School bus with red lights flashing

Behind the bus (same direction)	STOP, on any road
Oncoming, 2-lane road	STOP
Oncoming, 3+ lanes or median/barrier	May continue
Center turn lane	Can't use it to pass; you must stop
Go again when	Lights stop, sign retracts, arm returns
Fine for passing	Doubled
Yellow lights	Slow down, prepare to stop

Railroad crossings

Stop distance	15-50 ft from the nearest rail
Lights flashing, gate up	Still STOP
Train stopping distance	Up to 1 mile
Stalled on tracks	Get everyone out immediately
Report a blocked crossing	Number on the blue & white ENS sign, or 911

Traffic Signals & Signs

Signal not working: Treat like a 4-way stop §4.10
Officer, flagger, or crossing guard: Their directions override signals §4.10
Driving too fast for conditions: You can be ticketed even when under the limit §4.12
Traffic cameras record: Red lights, railroad signals, school-zone speeding; ticket mailed to owner §4.12
Work zone with workers present: Fines double §4.12
Wrong Way sign: Stop and turn around immediately §4.12
Ramp meter red: Stop at the white line §4.11

Lights

Solid red	Stop. Right on red after a full stop unless a sign says no
Left on red	Only onto a ONE-WAY street, after a full stop
Flashing red	Same as a stop sign
Red arrow	Stop; no turn that way
Solid yellow	Slow and prepare to stop. Already in the intersection? Continue (no speeding up)
Flashing yellow	Same as a yield sign
Yellow arrow	About to go red; yield to oncoming traffic
Solid green	Go once the intersection is clear; yield to pedestrians
Green arrow	Protected turn (you have the right-of-way)
Flashing green	Not used in WA (it's a British Columbia signal)

Sign colors

Red	Stop / prohibited
White	Regulatory (rules)
Yellow	General warning
Orange	Construction / maintenance
Fluorescent yellow-green	School, pedestrian, bike
Green	Guide / directions
Blue	Motorist services
Brown	Recreation / cultural / historic

Sign shapes (national standard)

Octagon	Stop
Downward triangle	Yield
Diamond	Warning
Pentagon	School zone / crossing
Round (yellow, X + RR)	Railroad crossing ahead
Orange triangle with red border	Slow-moving vehicle
Red circle with slash	That action is not allowed

Intersections, Right-of-Way & Turning

4-way stop: First to arrive goes first; tie → the car on the RIGHT goes §4.13
Left turns: Yield to cars going straight or turning right §4.13
2-way stop: Turning vehicles yield to the car going straight §4.13
Crosswalks: Every intersection is legally a crosswalk, marked or not §4.13
View blocked at stop line: Creep forward slowly until you can see §4.13
Turning: Into the nearest lane; stay in your lane through multi-lane turns §4.14
U-turns: Allowed unless signed. Never on curves or near hilltops §4.14
Y-intersection: The major road has the right-of-way §4.14
Mid-block crosswalk: Stop for pedestrians, sign or not §4.14
Diverging diamond: Lanes cross over so left turns onto the freeway don't cross oncoming traffic §4.15

Roundabouts

Direction	Counterclockwise
Entering	Yield to traffic already inside (look left)
Design speed	15-25 mph
Lanes	Pick your lane before entering and stay in it
Emergency vehicle	Exit the roundabout, then pull over
Trucks	May use the apron and both lanes

Uncontrolled intersection: YOU yield when

A car is already in it	Yield
Entering a state highway from a secondary road	Yield
Unpaved road onto a paved road	Yield
Turning left with oncoming traffic	Yield

Lanes & Road Markings

Keep right: Except to pass; carpool lanes are not passing lanes §4.10
Shoulders: No driving or passing on them unless directed §4.10
Missed exit: Keep going; never back up on a freeway or shoulder §4.10
No markings: Stay as far right as safely possible §4.16
Medians: Never drive within, over, or across them §4.16
Shared center turn lane: Left turns only, either direction; max 300 ft; no passing §4.16
In a turn lane: You must complete the turn §4.16
HOV lane: Diamond symbol; motorcycles allowed §4.16
Bicycle box at red: Stay behind the white line; no right on red §4.16
Fire lane: Red stripes or red curb; no stopping §4.16
Yellow stripes: No driving there §4.16
Tolls: Good To Go! account §4.16

Lines: white = same direction, yellow = opposite direction

Dashed white	Lanes going YOUR way. You may change lanes when safe
Short dashed white	Your lane is ending: merge or exit
Solid white	Stay in your lane unless a special situation requires a change
Double solid white	Barrier. Illegal to cross
Solid white at the edge	Edge of the road / separates a bike lane
Double dashed white	Reversible lane; check the overhead signals
Dashed yellow	Center of a 2-way road. You may pass when safe
Single solid yellow	Road edge or no-passing zone
Double solid yellow	No passing in EITHER direction
Solid + dashed yellow, dashed on your side	You MAY pass when safe
Solid + dashed yellow, solid on your side	You may NOT pass

Rule of thumb: dashed means you may cross when safe; solid means stay put; double solid means never. You may cross a solid yellow on your side only to enter a shared center left-turn lane.

Reversible lane signals

Green arrow	Use the lane
Red X	Don't use it
Steady yellow X	Lane changing direction; get out when safe

Zones, Parking & Transporting

School zone: 20 mph §4.17
Emergency zone (flashing roadside vehicle): Move over a lane OR slow 10+ mph under the limit; never over 50 mph §4.17
Work zone: Always slow down, workers or not, until the End Road Work sign §4.17
Curb distance: No more than 12 inches §4.18
Curb colors: White = short stops; yellow/red = loading or other restriction §4.18
Child alone in car: Crime: under 12, or under 16 with the engine running §4.18
Opening your door: Dutch Reach: use the far hand so you turn and see bikes §4.18
EV charging space: Only while plugged in §4.18
Disabled access aisle: Keep clear; placard never on the mirror while driving §4.18
Animal in truck bed: Harness or enclosure required §4.19
Beach driving: Grays Harbor and Pacific counties only, 25 mph §4.20
Ferry line-cutting: A traffic offense §4.20

No parking within…

5 ft	Driveway, alley, private road
15 ft	Fire hydrant
20 ft	Pedestrian safety zone
30 ft	Traffic signal, stop sign, yield sign
50 ft	Railroad crossing
75 ft	Fire station driveway (opposite side)
Never	Intersection, crosswalk, sidewalk, bike lane, bridge, tunnel, tracks, facing traffic, double-parked

Parking on a hill (always set the parking brake)

Downhill, curb	Wheels TOWARD the curb
Uphill, tall curb	Wheels AWAY from the curb
No curb	Wheels toward the edge of the road

Speed, Space & Road Conditions

Fatal crash factors: Speed, impairment, distraction, no seat belt, inexperience §5.0
Leading cause of death: Crashes, for ages 16-25 in WA §5.0
Hazard: Anything that requires you to make a change §5.0
Hazard routine: Plan, Communicate, Check, Execute, Evaluate (no more than medium braking) §5.0
Speed limit: Maximum for IDEAL conditions §5.1
Space ahead: At least 2 vehicle lengths §5.2
Merging onto a freeway: Traffic already on the freeway has the right-of-way §5.3
Zipper merge: Use both lanes to the merge point, then alternate (+60% flow) §5.3
Eye-lead practice: Pick a marker ~15 seconds ahead §5.4
Night speed: Able to stop within your headlights (~400 ft). No sunglasses §5.6
Curves: Slow BEFORE the curve, start slightly to the outside, steady speed through it §5.6
First rain on a hot day: Slickest: oil rises to the surface §5.6
Ice: Bridges, overpasses, shade. Worst near freezing when wet. Watch for black ice §5.6

Speed limits (mph)

	Limit	Source
City & town streets (default)	25	RCW 46.61.400
County roads (default)	50	RCW 46.61.400
State highways (default)	60	RCW 46.61.400
Highest WSDOT may post	75	RCW 46.61.410
Trucks over 10,000 lb (max)	60	RCW 46.61.410
School zone	20	§4.17
Roundabout (design speed)	15-25	§4.15
Ocean beaches	25	§4.20
Emergency zone	10+ under posted, never over 50	§4.17
Slow-moving vehicle triangle	Built for 25 or less	§4.8

A posted sign always overrides the defaults. Any limit is the maximum for ideal conditions; you can be ticketed for driving too fast for conditions even below it (§5.1).

Skid vs hydroplane

	Skid	Hydroplane
Gas	Foot off	Foot off
Brakes	Press or pump (ABS helps)	Gently
Steering	Steer the way the car is moving	Hold steady, no jerking
Prevention	Slow down, no sudden moves	Slow down on wet roads

Emergencies, Crashes & Law Enforcement

Breakdown flares: 200-300 ft behind the car; hood up or white cloth §5.7
Where not to stop: Just over a hill or around a curve §5.7
Tire blowout: Grip firmly, go straight, ease off the gas, DON'T brake hard §5.7
Engine dies: Steering is heavy but works; steady braking; pull off §5.7
Stuck accelerator: Shift to NEUTRAL, pull off, then engine off §5.7
Headlights fail: Hazards, signals, or fog lights; pull off ASAP §5.7
Crash causes: Too much speed, too little space, poor awareness §5.9
Injury crash: Never leave; call 911 §5.9
Hit a parked car: Find the owner or leave a note (date, time, contact) §5.9
Collision report: Within 4 days if police didn't file one §5.9
Injured people: Don't move them unless they're in danger; no drinks; keep warm §5.9
Bleeding: Hand pressure, then bandage, then tourniquet §5.9
Power line on car: Stay in, engine off, call 911. Fire: jump clear, feet together, shuffle 35 ft §5.9
Ticket: Signing ≠ guilt (refusing can mean arrest). Respond within 15 days §5.10

Pulled over

1	Signal, pull right, engine and radio off
2	Stay inside; interior light on at night
3	Hands on the wheel; lower the window
4	Mention any weapon right away
5	Say where your documents are, then wait to be told before reaching
6	Don't argue; contest the ticket in court