Washington - How to Obtain an Adult Driver's License

Advertisement

Procedure

Pre-apply online

See if you can avail of the option of pre-applying online.

• You can pre-apply, if youre a WA resident with a street address, 18 or older, never had a WA driver license, instruction permit, or ID card. Pre-applying online will save you time at a driver licensing office where you will complete the application process.
• You cant pre-apply, if youre not a resident, have other address issues, have or have had a WA driver license, instruction permit, or ID card. You will need to directly apply at a driver licensing office, or if your applying for an Enhanced card, visit a EDL/EID office.
• You may be able to pre-apply if, you have a valid license from another state.

1. Visit a driver licensing office to finish(for those who pre-applied online) or start your application.
2. Bring the following with you:
   Proof of identity
   WA residence street address
   Social Security number (mandatory to help enforce child support laws) Note: You do not need to show the card. The licensing office would still be able to verify it.
3. For those who do not have a Social Security number, you must verify your WA residence address before you can proceed.
4. Pay the fees.
5. Applicants will need to pass a knowledge test at a training and testing location then schedule a drive test. Note: Additional fees may apply.
6. Applicants are required to pass a vision screening.
7. If you plan to practice driving, apply for an instruction permit.
8. When you apply for a license you will also need to decide whether you would register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Note: You may check LifeCenter Northwest for more information.
9. Take the drive test at a training and testing location. Note: Additional fees may apply.
10. Once you pass the drive test, you may now get your license:
    Apply Online. If you have a WA photo instruction permit and dont have any driving violations or license suspension/revocations. or
    In Person. At a driver licensing office.
11. Youll get your temporary license:
    Online - When you print your receipt (temporary license). or
    In an office - before you leave.
12. DOL will mail your permanent license within 710 days. If you dont receive it within 30 days, you will need to go to a driver licensing office.

Advertisement

Required Documents

• Proof of Washington Residence
• Proof of identity.
• Evidence of Social Security number. If you don't have one, youll need to show proof of Washington residence.

Proof of Washington Residence

For applicants who do not have a Social Security number, bring as many of the following documents as possible to be reviewed as proof of your Washington residence address:

• Home utility bill (gas, electric, water, garbage, land-line telephone, or ISTA. etc):
  • Not acceptable: Cable, internet or satellite TV bills.
• A college or university document that has your current residential address on file.
  • Off-campus students: Bring the printout from the SEVIS database which:
    • States the address where you currently live.
    • Proof it was printed by the Designated School Official or Responsible Officer.
• Selective Service card with your current residential address.
• Vehicle title (not a Quick Title with a tamper proof tape over the VIN and Title number).
• Bank-issued documents that include your name and current residential address (or your previous address if youve recently moved). Examples:
  • Account statement
  • Credit card statement
  • Mortgage statement

Notes:

• Your documents must include your name and current Washington residential address.
• If you recently moved to a new address, bring both your current and previous documents to prove you were living in Washington.
• Documents other than the ones listed above may be taken into consideration if they show you reside in Washington.
• Its illegal to present fraudulent documents. If the Licensing Office find that your documents are fraudulent, you wont be able to reapply for 364 days.

Proof of identity:

• For those under 18 years old: Documents you may present
• For those 1825 years old:Documents you may present
• For those over 25 years old:Documents you may present
• For those aged 18 or older and have been assigned court guardians:Documents you may present
• For those enrolled in Job Corps:Documents you may present

Documents that will be accepted:

• Original or certified copies of the documents listed below.
• Multiple documents issued by a foreign government or organization, must be approved by the Licensing Office and will be accepted as separate documents. Currently accepted multiple documents are those issued by the:
  • Mexican government
  • Guatemalan government

Notes:

• The Licensing office may ask for more documents.
• The list may change without notice.

Stand-alone Documents:

• Washington State driver license, ID card, or instruction permit Valid or has expired within 1 year, has your signature, date of birth and photo.
• Out-of-state driver license, ID card, or instruction permit (if you have a Social Security number) Valid or expired within 60 days and has your photo. Give the Licensing Office your Social Security number so they can verify it.
• U.S. armed services ID card with photo Valid.
• U.S. passport Valid, has your signature and photo (an emergency passport isnt acceptable).
• Immigration ID with signature Valid, from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, with:
  • Your signature and photo which are identifiable (I-327, I-551, I-571, I-766). or
  • A Signature Waived notation or encrypted signature on the back of the card.
• U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization An original with your signature and photo.
• Department of Social and Health Services Childrens Administration (DSHS CA) ID letter If you're in:
  • Court-ordered foster care with DSHS, or
  • Another supervising Washington agency as your legal custodian, then
  • You may prove your identity with an ID letter from DSHS CA.

A-List Documents:

• Out-of-state driver license, ID card or instruction permit (if you dont have a Social Security number) Valid or has expired within 60 days and has your photo.
• Driver license from a foreign country Valid or has expired within 60 days, has security features and is verifiable.
• Federal or state employee ID card Valid, shows your signature and photo.
• Foreign passport Valid and stamped U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) entry form I-94/I94W or Temporary I-551 ADIT stamp.
• Tribal enrollment ID card Must be federally-recognized Indian tribal enrollment card, or U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ID card (Must have your signature and photo).
• Original U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization Where your signature and photo arent identifiable.
• Verification letter If youre on work release, or supervised by an agency that we have an agreement with, you may provide a verification letter from that agency. DOL currently have agreements with:
  • Washington State Department of Corrections electronic version only.
  • U.S. Federal correction authorities (FDOC).
  • Department of Social and Health Services Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (DSHS JRA) electronic version only.
  • DSHS Childrens Administration (CA) for foster youth only.
  • Western State Hospital (WSH).
• Washington city or county police employee ID card Valid, has your signature and photo.
• U.S. Passport card has your name and photo.

B-List Documents:

Documents that establish your name and date of birth

• Certified birth certificate. (Puerto Rico birth certificates must have an issue date of July 1, 2010 or later to be accepted.)
• Certified Washington birth registration card.
• A valid concealed weapons permit issued by a Washington county.
• Consular report of birth abroad.
• Court-issued adoption papers.
• Military DD 214.
• U.S. driver license, photo instruction permit, or ID card (invalidated or expired within the past 5 years).
• U.S. passport (expired within the past 5 years).
• Valid U.S. visa.
• Veteran Administration ID with your name, photo, and date of birth.
• Ward of the Court decree/Order of Dependency.
• Washington State driver license, photo instruction permit, or ID card (invalidated or expired within the past 5 years).

Other acceptable B-List Documents with your name and date of birth, signature, photo, or current WA residence address:

• Divorce decree that has your name and signature (filed with the county).
• Driving record from another state issued within the past 30 days.
• Foreign passport that has expired within 5 years, or without an I-94/I-94W form or temporary I-551 ADI

Office Locations & Contacts

Driver Licensing Offices in Washington

Eligibility

Before you can get a driver license, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Pass a traffic safety education course.
• Instruction permit: If youre over 18, you may apply at any time; an instruction permit is only required to practice driving.
• Not have any traffic violations within 6 months of applying for the license.
• Not have been convicted of any alcohol or drug offense while holding an instruction permit.

Fees

Driver license: $35 application fee + $54 issuance fee = TOTAL: $89

Validity

Driver license - 6 yrs

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

• Full Name
• Permanent Residential Address
• Date of Birth
• Age
• Social Security Number

Need for the Document

A driver's license or driving license is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway.

Also used as identification and proof of age.

Information which might help

Enter other informations which might help.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Washington State Department of Licensing

Others

More information which might help people.