Washington DOL · Quick Reference 2026

Washington DOL Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the Washington Driver Guide — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Interstate highway (where posted)Up to 70 mph

Rural state / US highwayPosted (often 55–60 mph)

2-lane highwayPosted (default 50 mph)

Urban district (unless posted)25 mph

Residential / business area25 mph

School zone (when posted)20 mph

Alley / narrow lane15 mph

Work zone — finesDoubled when workers present

💡 In a Washington emergency zone (any roadside response with flashing lights), slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit. Never drive faster than 50 mph in an emergency zone, even when posted limits would be higher (Section 4.17).

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant15 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersectionNever on a crosswalk

From fire station driveway (opposite side)75 feet

From stop sign / yield / signal30 feet

From railroad crossing50 feet

From curb (parallel parking)Max 12 inches

In front of a drivewayNever — prohibited

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 210.02% Zero tolerance

Active THC (21+)5 ng/mL

Refuse chemical test90–730 days

Refuse — until age 21 (if under 21)Whichever is longer

Active THC (under 21)> 0 ng/mL

DUI conviction suspension90 days – 4 years

Minor (under 21) license delayMay delay until age 17

Reissue + retest after DUIRequired

Implied Consent lawRCW 46.20.308

⚠️ Refusing the breath/blood test under Washington's Implied Consent Law (RCW 46.20.308) costs your driving privilege 90 to 730 days, or until age 21 — whichever is longer. DUI also applies to anyone in physical control of a parked vehicle (RCW 46.61.503).

⚖️ DUI Penalties (Adults)

Offense	Fine	Jail	Suspension
1st DUI	Heavy fines	Possible jail	90 days – 1 yr
2nd DUI (within 7 yrs)	Heavier fines	Mandatory jail	2-yr revocation typical
3rd DUI (within 7 yrs)	Heavier fines	Mandatory jail	3-yr revocation typical
4th+ DUI	Felony fines	Prison time	Up to 4 yrs / Class B felony

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Turn signal (any road)100 feet before

Lane change signal100 feet before

Following distance2x vehicle length

Following — bad weather4+ seconds

School bus — same directionAlways stop

No passing near intersection / RRNever

No passing near bridge/tunnelNever

Dim headlights (oncoming)500 feet

Dim headlights (following)300 feet

Brake lights visible from100 feet

Loaded truck @ 55 mph stopping450 feet

Pass bicyclist (1-lane each way)3 feet minimum

RR crossing stop range15–50 feet from rail

Tire tread minimum2/32 inch

💡 Washington following rule: leave at least twice your vehicle's length between you and the car ahead (Section 5.2). Use the 2-second rule with a fixed point. Increase to 4+ seconds in rain, snow, fog, or behind motorcycles.

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.
→Roundabouts: yield to vehicles already in the roundabout. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists at the entry/exit crosswalks (Section 4.15).

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Stop in BOTH directions on any 2-lane road when a school bus has flashing red lights and the stop arm is extended.
→Exception: opposing traffic does NOT need to stop on a road with 3 or more lanes that is separated by a median or barrier.
→Penalty: fines are doubled for passing a stopped school bus (Section 4.2). Drivers in turn lanes must also stop.

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Minimum age for permit15 (with driver training) / 15½

Hold permit for6 months minimum

Supervised practice hours50 hrs (10 at night)

Driver's ed classroom30 hours

Behind-the-wheel training6 hours

Intermediate license age16

Full license age18 (auto-lifts restrictions)

Intermediate curfew (all days)1 a.m. – 5 a.m.

Curfew exceptionw/ parent or licensed adult 25+

First 6 months / after 6 mo0 / max 3 under 20 (non-family)

Phone use (permit / intermediate)Emergency only — no hands-free

Knowledge exam score validity2 years

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Under 2 yearsRear-facing car seat

Ages 2–4Harness car seat (rear- or fwd-facing)

Ages 4 to ~8–12Booster seat until belt fits

Over 4'9" tallLap/shoulder seat belt

Under 13 yearsShould not ride in front seat (airbag)

Seat belt enforcementPrimary — RCW 46.61.687, RCW 46.61.688

🏦 Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Bodily injury (per person)$25,000

Bodily injury (per accident)$50,000

Property damage (per accident)$10,000

Proof of insuranceRequired at traffic stops — electronic proof on phone accepted

📋 License Fees & Administration

Standard licenseSee dol.wa.gov for current fee

Knowledge test feeSee dol.wa.gov

Learner's permitSee dol.wa.gov

Duplicate / replacement licenseSee dol.wa.gov

Renewal frequencySee your expiration date

Address change deadlineWithin 10 days

Organ donor registrydonatelifetoday.com / lcnw.org

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Handheld phone use is illegal for all Washington drivers — hands-free only. Permit and intermediate license holders cannot use a phone at all (even hands-free) except for emergencies.
→Texting while driving is illegal. Fines after a 1st distracted driving violation can be doubled.
→Headlights required: sunset to sunrise + whenever wipers are on.
→Hill parking: downhill = turn wheels TO curb. Uphill with curb = turn wheels AWAY from curb.
→U-turns: only where allowed; treat them like a left turn and yield. Use only when safe and visible from all directions.
→Skidding: ease off gas/brakes, steer INTO the direction of the skid.
→Move-over law: in any emergency zone, slow to at least 10 mph below the posted limit and never drive faster than 50 mph. Move over a lane when possible (Section 4.17).
→Earbuds, headphones, or headsets that broadcast sound or cancel noise are illegal to wear while driving in Washington (Section 3.0).

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