Obtaining A Washington Drivers License

Things to know

Driver's License Types. Probationary Driver's License. If you are under the age of 21 when you obtain your Indiana driver's license, your license is considered probationary. To obtain a probationary driver's license, you must meet Indiana’s age requirements below and have held a learner's permit for 180 days (approximately six months). (1) New Washington residents must obtain a valid Washington driver's license within thirty days from the date they become residents. (2) To qualify for a Washington driver's license, a person must surrender to the department all valid driver's licenses that any other jurisdiction has issued to him or her.

By law, after you move to Washington (WA) you have 30 days to get your WA driver license. Also, you'll need your driver license before you can register any vehicles.
We have different offices for driver licensing and vehicle licensing. You won't be able to get your license and register your vehicle at the same place.

Overview

Establish residency in WA
Decide if you want a standard driver license or an enhanced driver license (EDL)
Find out if you can pre-apply online
Visit a driver licensing office
Get WA plates for your vehicle, if needed

1. Establish residency in WA

You're considered a WA resident when you do any of the following:

Register to vote
Receive state benefits
Receive in-state tuition fees
Get a WA state license at resident rates (Fishing license, hunting license, etc.)

2. Decide if you want a standard driver license or an enhanced driver license (EDL)

An EDL is an alternative to a passport. You use it to re-enter the U.S. by land and sea after traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Getting an EDL has different steps and requires a trip to an EDL office. See steps to getting your EDL/EID.

3. Find out if you can pre-apply online

You may be able to save time in an office by pre-applying online. Some restrictions may apply. Find out if you can pre-apply.

4. Visit a driver licensing office

Obtaining A Washington Drivers License Renewal

Visit an office to start your application or to finish the application you started online. Bring the following:

Proof of identity, including your out-of-state license.
Proof of principal Washington State residence.
Payment for the fees.

At the office, you'll need to:

Be prepared to wait in line. See Tips for visiting an office: Driver licensing offices
Tell us your Social Security number (SSN) - mandatory to help enforce child support laws.
- You don't need to show us your card, we'll still be able to verify it.
Pass a vision screening
Pay any fees
Decide if you want to register to vote and be an organ donor (optional)

Pass any required tests:

Tests you'll need to pass based on our situation
If you have	Pass these tests
A valid license from: Another U.S. state District of Columbia U.S. Territory or possession U.S. Department of State British Columbia Germany South Korea Taiwan – If you want a WA driver's license, please contact the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle (TECO) at 206.441.4586 ext. 311 or by e-mail at infoseattle@mofa.gov.tw. Japan – If you want a WA driver's license, visit the Consulate-General of Japan’s website about transferring Japanese driver licenses in English or Japanese, or contact the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle at 206.682.9107 or by email: info@se.mofa.go.jp.	No tests required if you're 18 years old or older. See Teens if you're under 18.
An expired license from another state	Knowledge and drive test
Proof of valid out-of-state license (driving record dated within the last 30 days)	Knowledge and drive test waived
No driver license	Knowledge and drive test
A Washington learning permit	Knowledge and drive test
A valid license, but have a medical or physical condition that shows testing is required	Knowledge and drive test

If you're under the age of 18 with a valid driver license or permit from another state or country and you want a WA driver license, you need to:

Have held an instruction permit for at least 6 months. This time can include your out-of-state or out-of-country instruction permit or license
Provide proof of having successfully completed an approved driver training course.
- Online and parent taught traffic safety education aren't approved courses in WA. If your teen completes a course in another state it must meet WA minimum requirements.

Getting A Washington Drivers License

If you're from another country

If you've moved to WA from a country or Canadian province not mentioned above, you must complete all the steps to getting your first license.
If you're visiting WA, you may use your out-of-country driver license for up to 1 year.

Get your license

Before you leave the licensing office, we'll punch a hole in your out-of-state driver license/ID card and return it to you. You'll get a temporary license that allows you to drive for 45 days. You probably won't be able to use your temporary license for ID purposes. Some businesses may:

Accept your hole-punched out-of-state card for identification
Ask you to provide something else for proof of ID

We'll mail your permanent license within 7–10 days. If you don't receive it within 30 days, please visit a driver licensing office.

5. Get WA plates for your vehicle, if needed

Obtaining A Washington State Driver's License

See Moving to WA? Get plates to find out what you need to do.

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