The Washington drive test

Bring these or you can't test

• Proof of current liability insurance for the car you test in, showing the policy holder's name, a description of the car, and the policy start and end dates.
• A car in good working order with valid registration, tabs and plates. A rental car is fine.
• If any equipment on the safety check doesn't work, the test won't go ahead.

The safety check before you drive

The examiner checks the brake lights, including the center one, the turn signals, seat belts, license plate, parking brake, mirrors and passenger door. The windshield can't be cracked or blocked, and the driver's window must open far enough for hand signals. If the weather calls for them, the wipers, headlights and defroster are checked too.

What the examiner scores

• Starting the car, leaving the curb, signaling and waiting for a safe gap.
• Speed control for traffic, pedestrians, weather, construction and visibility.
• Lane choice, lane changes with a look over your shoulder, following distance and signaling before turns.
• Signals and signs, turning into the correct lane, yielding and right-of-way, including at blind or crowded intersections.
• Smooth stops in the right place, an emergency stop, and backing in a straight line while looking over your right shoulder.
• Arm signals, parking on a hill, parallel parking without parking assist, and backing out of a driveway or alley into traffic.

On the day

• Only you, the examiner, a service animal and an interpreter for the deaf or hard of hearing can be in the car. A DOL supervisor or trainee may observe, and you can object at the start.
• No weapons in the car.
• The examiner won't try to trick you or ask you to do anything illegal, and goes over your results with you afterward.
• Pass, and your score goes straight to DOL. It's valid for one year.
• Fail, and you may have to wait before you retest. DOL doesn't publish the wait or a retest fee.

Booking and getting ready

Book through DOL's online scheduler or directly with a school or testing location from DOL's location finder. Under 18, you also need 6 months on your learner permit, a finished driver training course and your practice hours before you can get an intermediate license. DOL suggests testing in a car you know well, and it has four short videos showing the pre-test check, the backing maneuver, parallel parking, and lane changes and turns.