Washington Motorcycle Permit: Eligibility, Tests, and How to Apply

To get a Washington motorcycle permit, you need to be at least 16, hold a valid Washington driver license, pass a knowledge test and a riding skills test at an approved motorcycle training school, and then apply to the Department of Licensing with $35 and your identity documents.¹² The permit is good for 180 days and lets you practice riding with two firm limits: no passengers, and no riding after dark.³

Who Qualifies

Washington law sets three baseline requirements: you must be at least 16 years old, hold a valid Washington driver license, and pass a motorcycle knowledge test.³ The driver license requirement is why the DOL doesn’t treat this like a first-time credential; it assumes you already know basic road rules.

Applicants under 18 face two extra rules. A parent or guardian has to sign a consent form, either in person at a licensing office or through a notarized Parental Authorization Affidavit sent with the applicant.⁴ Minors also have to complete an approved motorcycle safety course before the permit is issued.⁵ The course is optional for adults, though the DOL recommends it.

The Two Tests at a Training School

Before you can apply, you have to pass both a permit knowledge test and a permit riding skills test at an approved motorcycle safety training school.⁵ These are separate from the endorsement-level tests you’ll take later.

The knowledge test has 50 multiple-choice questions on traffic laws, lane positioning, and hazard recognition, drawn from the DOL’s Motorcycle Operator Manual.⁶ A passing score stays valid for one year.⁷

The skills test runs on a closed course at the school, not on public roads. You’ll perform a quick stop from roughly 20 to 25 mph and a timed figure-8 that checks left and right cornering.⁶ The DOL recommends taking both tests as part of a full safety course rather than booking them on their own, since the course gives you structured practice on the same maneuvers.

Applying for the Permit

Once you pass both tests, the training school uploads your scores to the DOL. You can then apply online through the DOL website or in person at a licensing office.⁵ The fee is $35 for the full 180-day permit.²

Bring an accepted proof of identity: a valid U.S. passport, a passport card, a permanent resident card, or a certified birth certificate are all stand-alone options.⁸ You’ll also provide your Social Security number if you have one. Because you already hold a Washington license, most of this is on file, but the DOL may ask you to verify anything that’s changed.

You get a temporary paper permit on the spot and can start riding under the permit restrictions immediately. The permanent card arrives by mail within about 7 to 10 days.⁹

What You Can and Can’t Do With the Permit

Two restrictions apply the entire time you hold the permit. You can’t carry passengers, and you can’t ride during the hours of darkness.³ You also have to carry both the permit and your valid driver license whenever you ride.

The 180-day clock starts the day the permit is issued. If it expires before you upgrade to a full endorsement, you’ll have to retest. Test scores are only valid for one year, so long delays can send you back to square one.⁷

Helmet and Insurance Before You Ride

Washington requires every rider and passenger to wear a DOT-certified helmet meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, with the chin or neck strap fastened while the motorcycle is moving.¹⁰ Novelty helmets without proper construction and a DOT label don’t satisfy the law.

Liability insurance is also mandatory. The minimum coverage applies to motorcycles the same way it applies to cars:

$25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
$50,000 for bodily injury or death of all people in one accident
$10,000 for property damage

Instead of a standard policy, you can file a $60,000 surety bond or certificate of deposit with the DOL.¹¹ Riding without proof of insurance is a separate violation on top of any licensing issue.

Moving From Permit to Full Endorsement

The permit is a stepping stone. To get the full endorsement, you take two more tests at an approved training school: a 25-question endorsement knowledge test covering cornering, decision-making, and hazard management, and an endorsement-level riding skills test.⁶

Once you pass, you can apply online for the endorsement if you’re 18 or older and don’t hold a CDL. Riders under 18 and CDL holders have to go into a licensing office. The DOL adds the endorsement to your existing driver license and mails an updated card within a few weeks. The endorsement lifts the passenger and nighttime restrictions.

What Happens if You Ride Without One

Riding a motorcycle in Washington without a valid endorsement or permit is a traffic infraction, not a criminal offense. You’ll pay the standard base penalty plus an additional $250 that goes to the state’s motorcycle safety education fund.¹² The infraction can also raise your insurance premiums and complicate future licensing decisions.

1
Washington State Department of Licensing. Motorcycle Endorsements
2
Washington State Department of Licensing. Driver Licensing Fees
3
Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.20.510 – Motorcycle Instruction Permit
4
Washington State Department of Licensing. Driver License Application Ages 16 to 17
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Washington State Department of Licensing. Get a 2-Wheel Motorcycle Permit or Endorsement
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Washington State Department of Licensing. 2-Wheel (2W) Motorcycle Testing
7
Cornell Law Institute. Washington Administrative Code 308-109-010 – Definitions
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Washington State Department of Licensing. Documents for Proof of Identity
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Washington State Department of Licensing. Moving to Washington – Get a Driver License
10
Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.37.530 – Protective Headgear and Eye Protection
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Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Washington State’s Mandatory Auto/Motorcycle Insurance Law
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Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.20.500 – Motorcycle Endorsement Required