A 4-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Washington decides who must hold a Washington license by residency, not by how long you've visited. If you've just moved here with a license from another state, you have a deadline. You'll also choose between a standard and an enhanced license, which matters for flying and crossing borders.
Know the rule
Driver licensing offices handle driver licenses and ID cards. Vehicle licensing offices handle vehicle licensing and registration. Go to the right one for the service you need.
If your out-of-state license is expired, you must pass both the Driving Knowledge Exam and the Driving Skills Exam. Some unexpired licenses transfer without retaking the exams.
New residents under 18 with an out-of-state license apply for a Washington Intermediate Driver License. DOL must approve the out-of-state driver education and verify you held a permit for at least 6 months.
Standard licenses marked "Federal Limits Apply" are no longer accepted at airport security checkpoints, U.S. border crossings, or secure federal buildings. An enhanced license or ID is one REAL ID-compliant option.
You move from Oregon to Seattle at age 30 with a valid Oregon license. You have 30 days to get a Washington license. If that Oregon license had already expired, you'd have to pass both the knowledge and skills exams.
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.
When a 16- or 17-year-old moves to Washington with an out-of-state license, DOL verifies they held an instruction permit for at least 6 months.
True
False
Answer: True
DOL must approve the out-of-state driver education and verify the teen had an instruction permit for at least 6 months.
Which of these can you do with a Washington enhanced driver license but NOT with a standard one?
Use it as identification
Board a domestic flight
Board an international flight
Operate a motor vehicle
Answer: Board a domestic flight
Enhanced licenses cover domestic air travel, land/sea border crossings, and federal facilities; standard ones don't, and neither covers international air travel.