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Washington driving lesson · Getting Your License

Ages 18+, the intermediate license, and farm permits

A 3-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Getting Your License
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
28, 29, 30, 184

Teens 16 and 17 pass through two restricted phases: the instruction permit, then the intermediate license. The intermediate license limits passengers, late-night driving, and phone use, and violations stretch those limits or suspend the license. Adults 18 and older skip the intermediate phase.

If you're 18 or older, you can get your first license by:

  • Transferring your license from another state
  • Passing the knowledge and skills exams
  • Knowledge exam, then a permit and practice with a driver of 5+ years' experience, then the skills exam
  • Getting an exam waiver for a permit, taking a training course, then passing both exams
Handbook p. 28 ↗

Intermediate license limits

Intermediate license limits
LimitFirst 6 months6 months to 18 or 1 year (first)
Passengers under 20 (not immediate family)None allowedNo more than 3
HoursNo driving 1–5 a.m.*No driving 1–5 a.m.*
Handbook p. 28 ↗

Know the rule

*Driving from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. is allowed only with a parent, guardian, or licensed driver at least 25 years old. Nighttime restrictions expire after one year of safe driving.

Handbook p. 28 ↗

Know the rule

Intermediate drivers may not use a cell phone or wireless device while driving, even hands-free, except to report an emergency.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Penalties for violations and at-fault collisions

Penalties for violations and at-fault collisions
OffensePenalty
1stCurrent restrictions apply until you're 18
2ndSuspended 6 months or until 18, whichever comes first
3rdSuspended until you're 18
Handbook p. 29 ↗

Exceptions that allow driving at any hour, with passengers:

  • Agricultural purposes
  • One year of safe driving with no crash and no traffic offense
Handbook p. 29 ↗

Know the rule

You don't need a new license at 18. Intermediate restrictions lift automatically; get an updated card when you renew.

Handbook p. 29 ↗

Agricultural permit

Permission for a person under 18 to drive tractors and other farm vehicles within a specific area for farm work. There's no minimum age for a juvenile agricultural permit.

Handbook p. 184 ↗

Know the rule

An agricultural permit does not replace the instruction permit or waive any first-license requirement, including practice hours.

Handbook p. 30 ↗

Know the rule

DOL sends early warning letters to drivers ages 18 to 21 after their first moving violation. Parents and guardians of intermediate license holders get similar letters after violations or crashes.

Handbook p. 30 ↗
2×

A driver's chance of crashing after receiving their first violation

Handbook p. 30 ↗

Put it into practice

You're 16 and got your intermediate license 3 months ago. Your 17-year-old friend asks for a ride home. You can't take them: no passengers under 20 except immediate family during the first 6 months.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

An 18-year-old gets a permit and wants to practice before the skills exam. How much experience must their supervising driver have?
  1. 5 or more years
  2. 3 or more years
  3. 10 or more years
  4. 1 or more years

Answer: 5 or more years

Adult applicants who practice on a permit must drive with someone who has 5 or more years of licensed experience.

Handbook p. 28 ↗
During the first 6 months on an intermediate license, when is driving restricted unless with a parent, guardian, or licensed driver 25 or older?
  1. Midnight to 5 a.m.
  2. 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  3. 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
  4. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Answer: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

From issue date to 6 months, intermediate license holders can't drive 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. without an approved supervising adult.

Handbook p. 28 ↗
During the first 6 months on an intermediate license, how many passengers under 20 (outside immediate family) may ride along?
  1. 2
  2. None
  3. 1
  4. 3

Answer: None

For the first 6 months, no passengers under 20 are allowed except immediate family members.

Handbook p. 28 ↗
After 6 months on an intermediate license (until 18 or one year, whichever comes first), how many passengers under 20 may ride along?
  1. No more than 3
  2. No more than 1
  3. No more than 5
  4. No more than 2

Answer: No more than 3

After 6 months, intermediate license holders may carry up to 3 passengers under 20, excluding immediate family.

Handbook p. 28 ↗
An intermediate license holder gets a 2nd traffic violation or at-fault collision. What's the penalty?
  1. Restrictions continue until age 18
  2. License suspended until age 21
  3. Suspended 6 months or until 18, whichever is first
  4. A 30-day license suspension

Answer: Suspended 6 months or until 18, whichever is first

A 2nd violation suspends the license for 6 months or until 18, whichever comes first; a 3rd suspends it until 18.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
A juvenile agricultural permit can substitute for an instruction permit when getting your first Washington driver license.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

An agricultural permit is not a substitute for an instruction permit; all normal licensing requirements still apply.

Handbook p. 29 ↗
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