Cheat sheet
Washington DMV Permit Test Cheat Sheet
Signs & Signals
- 30-35% of exam
- Sign Shapes Sign Colors Line Markings Signal Meanings Flashing Signals
Right-of-Way & Intersections
- 10-15% of exam
- Yield Rules 4-Way Stops Roundabouts Left Turns Pedestrians
Speed & Distances
- 10-15% of exam
- Speed Limits Basic Speed Rule Following Distance Signal Distance Parking Distances
Alcohol & WA Laws
- 20-25% of exam
- BAC Limits Implied Consent E-DUI Move Over Law Graduated Licensing
Sharing the Road / Safety
- 20-25% of exam
- School Buses Emergency Vehicles Bicyclists Work Zones Adverse Conditions
Quick Facts
- Exam WA DOL Knowledge Test
- Questions 40
- Pass 80% (32/40)
- Time No fixed limit
- Body WA DOL
- Format Multiple-choice + true/false
- Source WA Driver Guide
Solid vs Broken Line SI
Solid
- No passing
- Stay in lane
- Hazard ahead
Broken
- Passing allowed
- Lane change OK
- View clear
- Solid restricts; broken permits
Signal Says What? SI
- Steady red → Stop fully
- Red, turning right → Stop, then turn
- Steady yellow → Stop if safe
- Flashing red → Stop like sign
- Flashing yellow → Slow, proceed
- Signal dark → Treat 4-way stop
Sign Shapes SI
- Octagon Stop Only
- Triangle (down) Yield
- Diamond Warning ahead
- Pentagon School zone
- Pennant No passing zone
- Round Railroad crossing
- Rectangle vertical Regulatory rule
- Rectangle horizontal Guide/info
Yellow vs White Line SI
Yellow
- Opposing traffic
- Center divider
- Don't cross solid
White
- Same direction
- Lane divider
- Edge of road
- Yellow opposes; white same
Sign Colors SI
- Red Stop / prohibit
- Yellow General warning
- Orange Work zone
- Green Directions/distances
- Blue Driver services
- Brown Parks/recreation
- White Regulatory law
- Fluorescent green Pedestrian/bike/school
Regulatory vs Warning SI
Regulatory
- White/red
- It's the law
- Speed, stop, yield
Warning
- Yellow/orange
- Hazard ahead
- Curve, school, work
- Law vs heads-up
Line Markings SI
- Solid yellow No passing
- Broken yellow Passing allowed
- Double solid yellow No passing either way
- Solid + broken yellow Pass on broken side
- Yellow lines Separate opposing traffic
- White lines Same-direction lanes
- Solid white Discourage lane change
- Two-way left lane Center turn only
Flashing Red vs Yellow SI
Flashing red
- Full stop
- Like stop sign
- Then proceed
Flashing yellow
- Slow down
- No stop needed
- Proceed cautiously
- Red stops; yellow slows
Signal Meanings SI
- Steady red Stop, hold
- Steady yellow Stop if safe
- Steady green Go if clear
- Red right turn Stop, then turn
- Flashing red Treat as stop
- Flashing yellow Slow, proceed cautiously
- Flashing yellow arrow Turn yielding to traffic
- Dark signal Treat as 4-way stop
Left Yields RI
- Turning left? You yield to everyone
- Left yields oncoming Left yields pedestrians Straight beats turn
Yield vs Stop RI
Yield
- Slow down
- Stop if needed
- Triangle sign
Stop
- Full stop always
- Then proceed
- Octagon sign
- Yield maybe; stop always
Who Goes First? RI
- 4-way, you arrived first → You go
- Arrived same time → Right car goes
- Turning left → Yield oncoming
- On smaller road → Yield main road
- Pedestrian in crosswalk → Always yield
- Emergency lights/siren → Pull right, stop
- Entering roundabout → Yield to circle
- Funeral procession → Yield, let pass
Right-of-Way Rules RI
- 4-way arrive same Right-side car first
- Arrive first First to go
- Left turn Yield oncoming
- T-intersection Through road first
- Entering road Yield to traffic
- Roundabout Yield to circle
- Emergency vehicle Pull right, stop
- Pedestrian crosswalk Always yield
Tie Goes Right RI
- Same time at stop? Right car first
- Right has priority Yield to your right First arrived first goes
Parking 15-20-30 SP
- Hydrant 15, crosswalk 20, stop sign 30
- 15 ft hydrant 20 ft crosswalk 30 ft stop sign
Can I Park / Pass Here? SP
- Within 15 ft hydrant → No parking
- Within 20 ft crosswalk → No parking
- Within 30 ft stop sign → No parking
- Solid yellow your side → No passing
- Broken yellow your side → Pass if clear
- Approaching hill/curve → No passing
- School bus red lights → Stop, no pass
- Within 100 ft intersection → No passing
WA Speed Limits SP
- School zone 20 mph
- Residential street 25 mph
- City/town default 25 mph
- Rural highway 60 mph
- Interstate (some) 70 mph
- Alley 15 mph
- Basic speed rule Safe for conditions
- Too slow Can be illegal
Following & Signal Distances SP
- Following distance 4-second rule
- Bad conditions Add more seconds
- Signal before turn 100 feet
- Railroad stop 15-50 feet back
- Headlights on Dusk to dawn
- Low visibility Headlights under 1,000 ft
- High beams off Within 500 ft
- Tailgate Top rear-end cause
Parking Distances (No Park) SP
- Fire hydrant Within 15 feet
- Crosswalk Within 20 feet
- Stop sign/signal Within 30 feet
- Driveway/fire station Block access
- Uphill with curb Wheels away
- Downhill Wheels toward curb
- No curb Wheels toward edge
- Set parking brake Always when parked
BAC 2-4-8 LA
- Teen 02, commercial 04, adult 08
- Under 21: 0.02 Commercial: 0.04 Adult: 0.08
0.08 vs 0.02 BAC LA
0.08%
- Adults 21+
- Per se DUI
- Standard limit
0.02%
- Under 21
- Zero-tolerance
- Stricter limit
- Adults 0.08; teens 0.02
BAC & DUI Limits LA
- Age 21+ 0.08% limit
- Under 21 0.02% limit
- Commercial driver 0.04% limit
- Below limit Still DUI possible
- Implied consent Agreed to test
- Refuse test License suspended
- Marijuana THC 5 ng/mL limit
- Best prevention Don't drink, drive
WA-Specific Laws LA
- E-DUI No handheld phone
- Hands-free One-touch only
- E-DUI 1st fine About $136
- Move Over Slow + change lanes
- Seat belts Required all seats
- Child restraint Until 4'9" tall
- Back seat Children under 13
- Score valid 2 years
Graduated Licensing (GDL) LA
- Permit holder Licensed driver 5+ yrs beside
- Intermediate curfew No 1-5 a.m.
- First 6 months No under-20 passengers
- Months 6-12 Max 3 under-20
- Family exception Immediate family allowed
- Phone use Banned for teens
- Restrictions last 1 year or 18
- Carry always License + insurance
IPDE Scanning SH
- Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute
- Identify hazards Predict outcomes Decide action Execute safely
Sharing the Road SH
- School bus red lights Stop both directions
- Divided highway Opposite may proceed
- Emergency vehicle Pull right, stop
- Bicyclist Treat as vehicle
- Pass cyclist Give 3+ feet
- Motorcycle Allow full lane
- Large truck Avoid blind spots
- Work zone Slow, double fines
Adverse Conditions SH
- Fog Low beams only
- Rain start Roads most slippery
- Hydroplane Ease off gas
- Skid Steer into skid
- Ice/bridges Freeze first
- Snow Slow, increase gap
- Stuck gas pedal Shift neutral
- Tire blowout Hold wheel, ease off
Common Traps
Yield ≠ Stop
- Yield slows down ≠ Stop is full stop
Flashing red ≠ yellow
- Red means full stop ≠ Yellow means slow only
Yellow line ≠ white line
- Yellow separates opposing ≠ White separates same way
School zone ≠ residential
- School zone 20 mph ≠ Residential 25 mph
Below 0.08 ≠ safe
- Still DUI if impaired ≠ Under-21 limit is 0.02
Hands-free ≠ handheld
- One-touch is legal ≠ Holding phone is E-DUI
Divided ≠ two-lane bus
- Two-lane: both stop ≠ Divided: opposite proceeds
Last Minute
- 1. Pass at 32/40 (80%)
- 2. Octagon = stop only
- 3. Yellow opposes, white same way
- 4. Solid = no pass, broken = pass
- 5. Flashing red = full stop
- 6. Right car first if tie
- 7. Left turn yields to all
- 8. School 20, residential 25 mph
- 9. Follow with 4-second rule
- 10. Signal 100 feet before turn
- 11. Hydrant 15, crosswalk 20, sign 30
- 12. BAC: 0.08 / 0.02 / 0.04
- 13. Implied consent = must test
- 14. Stop both ways for bus
Washington DMV Driver License Knowledge Test
- Practice Questions 111 questions Study Guide 15 topics Cheat Sheet 104 facts Flashcards 50 cards