How Many Questions Are on the Washington Motorcycle Permit Test? (2026)
If you're wondering how many questions on the Washington motorcycle test there are, it's 25, all multiple choice, given by the Department of Licensing (DOL). You need 20 correct to pass. That's 80%.
Topics come from the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual. You can use a Washington motorcycle permit practice test to prepare. Going for the two-wheel (2W) endorsement? Then yep, you're taking this one. Give dol.wa.gov a quick look before test day too, stuff changes.
How Many Questions Are on the WA Motorcycle Test?
There are 25 questions on the Washington DOL motorcycle knowledge test. No more, no less. It's multiple choice. You need it for the two-wheel (2W) path.
You need 20 correct to pass. You can miss up to 5. Miss 6 and you're retaking it.
| Test Detail | Number |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 25 |
| Correct answers needed | 20 |
| Passing percentage | 80% |
| Questions you can miss | 5 |
20 out of 25 is 80%, right on the line, no extra room.
What Score Do You Need to Pass?
Get 20 of 25 and you're through. That's an 80% passing score.
Here's the thing: five wrong answers is your entire margin. Each question is worth 4 percentage points.
The car test has 40 questions. You need 32 to pass. That's still 80%. The motorcycle test is shorter. Each question counts more. Car test, you get to blow eight. Bike test, five. So yeah, two dumb mistakes from rushing can actually sink you here.
Hitting 20 once on a practice run doesn't mean much. Do it again and again until you're clearing it every time. Not at 20. Above it. Me, I wouldn't book it till I was pulling 23 or more.
What Topics Are on the WA Motorcycle Permit Test?
The DOL pulls questions from the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual. Only manual topics are fair game.
The test covers these topics:
Gear comes up (what to wear when, basically), plus the controls and what you check before you roll out, and then starting, stopping and turning without dropping it. Then lane position, braking, swerving, riding in a staggered group, and the rain/gravel/wind stuff.
Lane positioning questions show up a lot. So do braking questions. Read those parts twice. Little details decide the answer, like where in the lane you can see best, or when it's both brakes at once. You'll get WA motorcycle test questions on rain, gravel and wind for sure. Riding around Bellevue or Everett? It's wet half the year, so spend extra time on the wet-weather pages.
How the Test Fits Washington's Endorsement Path
The knowledge test is just one step. It's not the whole process.
Washington requires either passing the DOL riding skills test or completing an approved motorcycle training course through the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program. The knowledge test comes first for most riders, then you take the skills test or show your course completion.
Riders under 18 must complete a training course. No exceptions. The course covers knowledge and skills. You'll still need to pass the DOL written exam unless paperwork says otherwise.
Riders in Kent and Renton often ask if the course replaces the test. It doesn't replace the knowledge test entirely. It replaces the riding skills test. You still need to pass the written portion.
Doing the course? Look up dates with the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program early so you're not stuck waiting for a spot. Course or not, the written test usually comes first anyway, so knock it out while you figure out the rest.
For practice before you sit for the real thing, use the free Washington motorcycle practice test at /moto/washington.
How to Pass the WA Motorcycle Knowledge Test
Going in without a plan is how people end up retaking it.
Start by reading the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual once. Not skimming. Reading. Then take a Washington motorcycle permit practice test to see where you stand.
After that, do this:
- Take repeated WA state motorcycle permit practice tests that mirror the 25-question format
- Review each missed question
- Focus extra time on lane positioning and braking questions
- Use one WA state motorcycle permit practice test each day
Don't cram. Twenty minutes a day for a week or two is way better than one long night, honestly, the manual actually sticks that way. Miss one? Flip back to that page and read the whole section around it, not only the line with the answer in it.
A perfect practice score prepares you for the real Washington motorcycle knowledge test.
Get 25 out of 25 three or four times and you're good. Then book your test.
Washington Motorcycle Permit Test FAQ
How many questions are on the WA motorcycle permit test?
25, all multiple choice.
What score do I need to pass?
20 correct answers, which is 80%.
How many questions can I miss?
You can miss up to 5. Miss 6 and you fail.
What does the test cover?
Gear, controls, starting/stopping/turning, lane position, braking and swerving. It includes group riding and hazard handling. Every question comes out of the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual, so that's what you study.
Can a training course replace the test?
The course can replace the riding skills test. You still need the knowledge test. Under 18? Then the course isn't optional for you.
Where can I practice?
Drivio has free WA motorcycle practice tests at /moto/washington that follow the same 25-question format.
Beginner Questions About the WA Motorcycle Test
How long does the test take?
20 to 30 minutes for most folks. 45 tops.
What if I fail? How soon can I retake it?
You can retake it. There might be a short wait first, and it can vary by office, so just call your local DOL office and ask.
Is it hard?
Not if you study. The Washington motorcycle permit test isn't designed to trick you. It tests whether you know the material. Riders who read the manual and take practice tests pass easily. Riders who wing it don't. Most of what trips riders up is reading too fast, so slow down, read the whole question and every answer before you pick one.
Do I need the riding skills test too?
You need the riding skills test too. An approved motorcycle training course removes that requirement. The written test alone won't get the endorsement on your license, you need the riding part handled too.
How many practice tests should I take?
Take a WA state motorcycle permit practice test until you score 23 or higher. For most people, that's four to six full practice runs. If you're missing lane positioning questions, take more. Same goes for braking. And mix it up a bit, don't just retake the same practice test till you've memorized the order of the answers, because that feels great and teaches you nothing. A fresh set of 25 each time tells you way more about whether you're actually ready for the DOL version, and if your score drops on a new set, that's fine, that's the point.
Use the free Washington motorcycle practice test. The test has 25 questions. You need 20 of them right, but I'd keep practicing until you're getting all 25. Then book your test.
Share
