Washington motorcycle permit test numbers to know
Distances, speeds, limits, fines and deadlines are the questions people miss most, because they have to be memorized. Here are 20 Washington numbers, grouped and cited, with a free quiz and flashcards to lock them in.
Numbers quiz
10 questions a round from the 10 number questions in our Washington bank. Questions you miss come back more often in later rounds.
Free and unlimited. Your answers count toward your readiness and mistake review.
Numbers flashcards
10 cards: the question on the front, the number and its source on the back. Swipe right if you knew it.
Each deck starts with 20 free cards. Swipe right if you knew it, left to see it again.
See 3 of the cards
Alcohol & drugs
In Washington, at what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is an adult rider considered intoxicated?
0.08% or above
In Washington an adult with a BAC of 0.08% or above is considered intoxicated.
Fines, points & penalties
What can happen if you ride on public roads without the required motorcycle permit or endorsement?
Your motorcycle may be impounded and you face a minimum fine of $389
Riding without the required permit or endorsement can get your motorcycle impounded, and the minimum fine is $389.
Distances & following gaps
What minimum following distance does the Washington manual recommend for motorcycles in ideal conditions?
3 seconds
Washington recommends at least a three-second following distance for both two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, and three seconds is the absolute minimum for ideal conditions.
Every Washington motorcycle number, by topic
Official Washington laws come first in each group, then the numbers from our handbook questions. Tap a source to read the exact words it comes from.
Alcohol & drugs
7 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0.08% | Legal BAC limit for adult drivers | app.leg.wa.govQuotean alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506 |
| 0.02% | BAC limit for underage drivers | app.leg.wa.govQuoteAn alcohol concentration of at least 0.02 but less than the concentration specified in RCW 46.61.502 |
| 0.04% | BAC limit in a commercial vehicle | app.leg.wa.govQuoteDriving a commercial motor vehicle while the alcohol concentration in the person's system is 0.04 or more or any measurable amount of THC concentration |
| one year, seven years | Drunk driving (DUI)License revoked or denied for one year for a first refusal within seven years | app.leg.wa.govQuoteFor a first refusal within seven years, where there has not been a previous incident within seven years that resulted in administrative action under this section, revocation or denial for one year |
| two years, age 21 | Drunk driving (DUI)Two years (or until age 21 if longer) for a second refusal or a refusal after a prior incident | app.leg.wa.govQuoteFor a second or subsequent refusal within seven years, or for a first refusal where there has been one or more previous incidents within seven years that have resulted in administrative action under this section, revocation or denial for two years or until the person reaches age twenty-one, whichever is longer. |
| 0.08% | In Washington, at what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is an adult rider considered intoxicated?Answer: 0.08% or above | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 67QuoteIn Washington State, an adult with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or above is considered intoxicated. |
| 0.02% | What BAC limit applies to Washington riders under age 21?Answer: 0.02% | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 67QuoteFor riders under the age of 21, lower BAC limits of 0.02% apply. |
Fines, points & penalties
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| $389 | According to the Washington manual, what can happen if you ride on public roads without the required motorcycle permit or endorsement?Answer: Your motorcycle may be impounded and you face a minimum fine of $389 | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 9QuoteYour motorcycle may be impounded if it is operated on public roadways without the required permit or endorsement. The current minimum fine for riding without an endorsement is $389. |
Distances & following gaps
3 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3 seconds | What minimum following distance does the Washington manual recommend for motorcycles in ideal conditions?Answer: 3 seconds | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 56QuoteA minimum following distance of three seconds is recommended for both two- and three-wheeled motorcycles. |
| 12 seconds | How far ahead does the manual say you should try to see down the road?Answer: At least 12 seconds | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 56QuoteWhether on two or three wheels, strive to see at least 12 seconds down the road ahead of you. |
| 360 feet | According to the manual's example, about how far will you travel while perceiving, reacting to and braking for a deer at 60 mph?Answer: About 360 feet | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 55Quotewhile carrying out the three factors that make up total stopping distance, you will have travelled an average of about 360 feet. |
Ages, permits & the test
8 numbers
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Questions on the test | dol.wa.govQuoteThis test has 50 questions. It measures how well you understand: The rules of the road, How to safely operate your motorcycle. ... [Endorsement knowledge test] This test has 25 questions. |
| $15 | Fee | app.leg.wa.govQuoteThe director shall collect a fee of fifteen dollars for the motorcycle instruction permit |
| under 18 | Motorcycle permitUnder 18 needs a parent or guardian consent form | dol.wa.govQuoteIf you're under 18, pass an approved 2-wheel safety course and your parent or guardian must sign a consent form. |
| 180 days | Motorcycle permit180 days | app.leg.wa.govQuoteA motorcycle instruction permit is valid for one hundred eighty days from the date of issue. (a) The department may issue one additional one hundred eighty-day permit. (b) The department may not issue more than two motorcycle instruction permits to an applicant within a five-year period. |
| five years | Motorcycle permitNo more than two permits in five years | app.leg.wa.govQuoteA motorcycle instruction permit is valid for one hundred eighty days from the date of issue. (a) The department may issue one additional one hundred eighty-day permit. (b) The department may not issue more than two motorcycle instruction permits to an applicant within a five-year period. |
| 180 days | How long is a Washington motorcycle instruction permit valid before it expires?Answer: 180 days | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 11QuotePermits expire after 180 days, and may be renewed one time before the first permit expires. |
| three business days | You just passed all your required Washington motorcycle exams. When can you go to a licensing office to have the endorsement added?Answer: After a waiting period of three business days | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 13QuoteThere will be a waiting period of three business days after you have completed the required exams before you may visit a licensing office to have your endorsement added. |
| 5 years | What is the minimum age for a passenger on a motorcycle in Washington?Answer: 5 years old | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 37QuoteAny passenger carried on a two- or three-wheeled motorcycle in Washington State must be at least five years old. |
Time limits & deadlines
1 number
| Number | What it’s about | Source |
|---|---|---|
| six months | According to the manual, when do a majority of motorcycle crashes occur?Answer: When the rider has less than six months of experience on their current motorcycle | Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, page 21QuoteStatistics show that a majority of crashes occur when a rider has less than six months of experience on their current motorcycle, regardless of experience level. |
Memory tips
How to study them (our advice, not official rules):
- Learn the number with its unit and its place. “15 feet from a hydrant” sticks; “15” on its own gets mixed up with 15 mph.
- Say the answer before you look. Recalling the number yourself is harder than spotting it among four options, and it is what makes it stick.
- Come back to the ones you miss. The quiz above brings missed questions back more often. Short rounds over several days beat one long session.
Questions about the numbers
What numbers do I need to know for the Washington motorcycle permit test?
Mostly distances (how close you may park to a hydrant or crosswalk, when to signal, when to dim your high beams), speed limits, blood-alcohol limits, and the ages, hours and deadlines for your permit and license. This page lists 20 of them for Washington, each with its source.
Why focus on numbers?
A California DMV study of its own knowledge test found that many of the hardest questions “are numerical and have correct answers that must be learned by rote memorization.” Numbers are easy to mix up under pressure, so they are worth drilling on their own.
Where do these numbers come from?
Each one is quoted from the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, Washington statutes or DOL pages. Our build checks that every number on this page appears word for word in the quote it cites.
Is the numbers drill free?
Yes. The table and the numbers quiz are free and unlimited, and so are the first 20 flashcards.