From Permit to License: The Complete Timeline for Washington Teen Drivers (2025 Update)

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For Washington teens, getting a driver’s license is one of the most exciting teen driving milestones—a first real taste of independence. For parents, it’s a journey that can be filled with both pride and questions.

The WA teen driver licensing process is a graduated system designed to introduce new drivers to the road in safe, measured steps. Understanding this timeline is the key to a smooth, successful, and stress-free experience for the entire family.

Here is the complete, step-by-step guide to Washington’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws for 2025-2026.

Table of Contents

Understanding Washington’s Graduated Licensing Program

Washington’s GDL program is a three-stage process:

Learner’s Permit: The supervised practice phase.
Intermediate License: A “probationary” license with restrictions.
Full, Unrestricted License: Earned at age 18.

This system is proven to reduce accidents by allowing teens to build real-world skills while limiting their exposure to high-risk situations (like driving at night or with other teen passengers).

Step 1: Permit Requirements and Practice Hours

This is the first and most critical milestone.

Getting a Learner’s Permit WA 2025

Minimum Age: A teen can get a learner’s permit at 15 years old if they are enrolled in an approved driver education course (like WMST).
Without a Course: If not enrolled in a course, a teen must wait until they are 15 ½ and pass the knowledge test.
Pre-Registration: Before you can enroll in a course or take a test, you must pre-register with the Department of Licensing to get a WDL number (Washington Driver’s License number).

Required Parent Supervision Hours

Once a teen has their permit, the practice begins. Washington law requires parents to supervise and log a minimum number of hours in addition to their professional driver’s ed:

50 TOTAL HOURS of supervised driving.
10 NIGHT HOURS of supervised driving.

The supervisor must be a licensed driver who has had their license for at least 5 years.

Step 2: What Changes After You Get Your Intermediate License

This is the “solo” phase, and it comes with the most important rules. To be eligible for the intermediate license, a teen must:

Be at least 16 years old.
Have held their learner’s permit for at least 6 months.
Have completed a state-approved driver education course (like WMST).
Have completed all 50 parent supervision hours.
Pass the official knowledge test and driving Skills Test.

Once they pass, they are issued an intermediate license, which has the following strict rules:

Passenger Restrictions

First 6 Months: NO passengers under 20 years old (except for immediate family members).
Next 6 Months: No more than THREE (3) passengers under 20 (except for immediate family members).

Curfew

First 12 Months: The teen cannot drive between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Exception: This is only allowed if they are with a parent, guardian, or a licensed driver who is 25 or older.

Wireless Device Ban

This is the strictest rule: An intermediate license holder CANNOT use any wireless device while driving, even hands-free. This includes all phone calls and texting. The only exception is for reporting an emergency.

This license automatically becomes a full, unrestricted license when the driver turns 18 years old.

How WMST Supports Teens and Parents at Each Step

At WMST, our goal isn’t just to help your teen pass the test; it’s to create a safe, confident, and defensive driver for life.

Step 1 (Permit): We provide the official, state-approved driver’s ed course required for 15-year-olds to get their permit. Our interactive online classes (using tools like Kahoot) are engaging and effective, keeping teens focused and learning.
Step 2 (Practice): Our six full hours of real, behind-the-wheel instruction (not ineffective simulations) build the core skills. This gives parents a strong foundation to build on during the 50 hours of supervised practice.
Step 3 (License): We are a licensed third-party testing center. You can take your official Skills Test with our professional, certified examiners in the same vehicles you trained in, which is a huge confidence booster for new drivers.

We are here to support your family from the first WDL number to the final passing score.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At what age can teens get a permit in WA?

A teen can get a learner’s permit at 15 years old if they are enrolled in an approved driver education course. Otherwise, they must wait until 15 ½.

How many supervised hours are required?

Washington requires 50 total hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 of those hours at night. This is in addition to the 6 hours of in-car training with a professional school.

What restrictions come with an intermediate license?

The main restrictions are:

Passengers: No passengers under 20 for the first 6 months (then a max of 3).
Curfew: No driving from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. for the first 12 months.
Phones: A complete ban on all wireless device use, even hands-free.

Can parents track progress through WMST?

Yes. Our instructors provide detailed feedback after each in-car lesson, and we welcome parent ride-alongs. We believe in a collaborative approach and provide parents with clear goals for their at-home practice sessions.

What’s new in the 2025 licensing updates?

The biggest recent change was House Bill 1878, signed in May 2025. This new law creates a new requirement: starting May 1, 2026, all new drivers under the age of 25 must complete a new online safety module about first responder and work zone safety before they can be issued a license. WMST has integrated this new requirement into our program to ensure all our 2026 students are fully compliant.