Washington Driver Guide: study guide

Key rules by chapter

A few of the rules from each chapter that come up in our practice questions:

1. Licenses

• If you're enrolling in a driver training course, you can apply for a permit as early as 15, 1 to 10 days before the course starts.
• Without a driver training course, you can take the knowledge exam after you turn 15½, but you must wait until 18 to take the skills exam.
• Your knowledge exam score is valid for 2 years; if you wait too long to take the skills exam you may have to retake it.

2. Vehicles

• Washington requires $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more, and $10,000 for property damage.
• File a Vehicle Report of Sale within 5 days of selling, trading, gifting or disposing of your vehicle.
• The purchaser must bring the signed title to a licensing office within 15 days to avoid penalty fees.

3. Drivers

• Polydrug use, the mixing of more than one type of drug, is the most common impairment involved in fatal crashes.
• It's against the law to drive wearing earbuds, headphones or headsets that broadcast sound or cancel noise; a one-ear hands-free device may comply with WAC 204-10-045.
• An officer can ticket you for violating the distracted driving law, and fines after your first violation can be doubled.

4. Roads (incl. Rules of the road 4.10-4.20)

• Wait until a pedestrian has cleared your lane and one additional lane before proceeding.
• If the pedestrian uses a wheelchair, cane, guide dog or other service animal, wait until they have completely crossed the street.
• Don't use a center turn lane to pass a school bus; drivers in all turn lanes must stop.

5. Risks

• File a collision report form within 4 days of a crash if an officer doesn't do this for you.
• Follow the instructions on the back of the ticket within 15 days to avoid having your driving privileges suspended.
• In Washington, vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people ages 16 to 25.

How to study the handbook

Read one chapter, then take a practice test. Every answer explanation names the handbook section it comes from, so when you get one wrong, go back to that section. Pay most attention to exact numbers and to the rules specific to Washington, which are where most people lose points.