Understanding Teen Licensing in Washington: With and Without Driver's Education

If you're a parent trying to figure out how (and when) your teen can start driving in Washington State, you're not alone. The process can definitely be confusing, especially because the rules change depending on your teen's age and whether or not they're enrolled in a Driver's Education course.

Let me break it down in the simplest way I can.

Teens can get their Learner's Permit as early as 15½ years old.

🚦 First: Know How Long Test Scores Stay Valid

Before we get into the age-specific rules, there's something important to understand about test timing:

  • A Knowledge Test score is valid for 2 years. (Your teen must pass the Driving Test (Road Test) within 2 years of passing the Knowledge Test—or they'll have to take it again.)
  • A Driving Test (Road Test) score is valid for 1 year.
So, if too much time passes between steps, your teen might have to retake one or both tests. Keep that in mind when planning.

🛑 Without Driver's Education

If your teen is not enrolled in a Driver's Education course, here's what they can and cannot do:

    Under 15½ years old
  • They cannot do anything yet. No permit, no tests.

    At 15½ years old
  • They can:
    • Take and pass the Knowledge Test.
    • Get a Learner's Permit (valid for 1 year).
    • Then, practice driving with a licensed adult.

  • However, they cannot:
    • Get an Intermediate Driver's License (more info below).
    • Take the Driving Test (Road Test) until they are 18 years old.
Once they turn 18 (provided they have passed the Knowledge Test), they can take the Driving Test (Road Test) without needing a permit and get a Standard Driver's License.

⚠️ Note
If they take the Knowledge Test at 15½ years old, it will expire 2 years later- when they are 17½ years old. So, if they wait until 18 to do the Driving Test (Road Test), they may need to retake the Knowledge Test.

✅ With Driver's Education

Here's where things open up sooner for teens enrolled in a Driver's Education course:

15 years old

  • This is the youngest age they can:
    • Enroll in a Driver's Education course.
    • Take the Knowledge Test once they finish the course.

15½ years old

  • They can:
    • Take the Knowledge Test even if they're still in the middle of their Driver's Education course.
    • Once they've passed both the Driver's Education course and the Knowledge Test, they can take the Driving Test (Road Test).

16 years old

  • At that point, they become eligible for their Intermediate Driver's License. If they have:
    • Completed the Driver's Education course, the Knowledge Test, and the Driving Test (Road Test).
    • Held their Learner's Permit for 6 months.
    • Completed 50 hours of practice driving, including 10 at night, with a licensed adult who has 5 years of driving experience—this requirement should be done independently at home and is not normally part of the driving school's instruction.

Practice driving hours (including nighttime) with any licensed adult who has 5 years of driving experience.

🚗 What Is the Intermediate Driver's License?

The Intermediate Driver's License allows your teen to drive solo, which is a big step toward independence. However, it comes with a few safety-related restrictions. These restrictions lift at different times—see the DOL article linked below for full details:

No driving between 1 AM and 5 AM.

  • No passengers under 20 who are not family members (unless accompanied by a licensed adult).
  • No use of any wireless devices while driving, even if they are hands-free. (Wireless devices may only be used to report an emergency.)

These rules are meant to reduce distractions and increase safety during the early months of independent driving.

When your teen turns 18, their Intermediate License automatically becomes a Standard License with no restrictions.

With Driver's Education, teens in Washington may qualify to drive solo on their 16th birthday.

📘 Final Thoughts

So yes—it's a lot to take in. But here's the big picture:

Without Driver's Education, your teen won't be able to drive independently until after turning 18 years old.

With Driver's Education, they may be eligible to drive solo as early as their 16th birthday.

Starting early, staying on track, and practicing consistently gives teens a smoother—and safer—path to independence on the road.

At Control Driving School, we're licensed with the State of Washington and offer:

  • The full Driver Education course
  • The Knowledge Test
  • The Driving Test (Road Test)
  • Driving Lessons

We're happy to walk you through it step-by-step and help your teen build confidence behind the wheel.

Feel free to Enroll, or contact us and ask any questions—we're happy to help.

📞 Need Help Getting Started? 425.572.6871

For even more details on the requirements for teens seeking a driver's license in Washington, visit the DOL website for full information and special circumstances.