(1)(a) To obtain an initial driver's license under this section, except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the following persons must, in addition to other skills and examination requirements as prescribed by the department, satisfactorily complete a driver training education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020 or a driver training education course as defined by the department and offered by a driver training school licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW:

(i) A person at least 18 years of age but under 19 years of age, beginning January 1, 2027;

(ii) A person at least 18 years of age but under 20 years of age, beginning January 1, 2028;

(iii) A person at least 18 years of age but under 21 years of age, beginning January 1, 2029;

(iv) A person at least 18 years of age but under 22 years of age, beginning January 1, 2030.

(b) The course offered by a school district or an approved private school must be part of a traffic safety education program authorized by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and certified under chapter 28A.220 RCW. The course offered by a driver training school must meet the standards established by the department under chapter 46.82 RCW. A school district, approved private school, or driver training school may offer the behind-the-wheel instruction portion for up to four hours in a single day in cases of hardship, such as a student needing to travel a great distance to receive the behind-the-wheel instruction.

(c) Driver training schools licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW are encouraged to include a self-paced online course, or components of a self-paced online course, in the classroom instruction portion of driver training education courses, as authorized and certified by the department, to the extent feasible, and to focus teaching resources on the behind-the-wheel portion of driver training education.

(d) Eligibility to enroll in a driver training education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020 under this section is limited to students who are enrolled in a public school, as defined in RCW 28A.150.010; enrolled in an approved private school under RCW 28A.305.130; or receiving home-based instruction in accordance with chapter 28A.200 RCW.

(2) To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a motorcycle endorsement under this section, the applicant must successfully complete a motorcycle safety education course that meets the standards established by the department.

(3) Beginning May 1, 2026, until January 1, 2031, an applicant for an initial driver's license under the age of 25 must pass an online course approved by the department on driver work zone and first responder safety. The department may waive the requirement in this subsection if the department finds the online course is not available at the time of application. The department must contract with a provider of an online driver work zone and first responder safety course to host an online course that satisfies the requirement in this subsection to be made available at no cost to initial driver's license applicants under the age of 25.

(4) An applicant who was licensed to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle from a reciprocal jurisdiction outside this state is exempt from the driver training education requirements under subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

(5)(a) The department may waive the driver training education course requirement for a driver's license under subsection (1) of this section if the applicant demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that:

(i) The applicant was unable to take or complete a driver training education course;

(ii) A need exists for the applicant to operate a motor vehicle; and

(iii) The applicant has the ability to operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property.

(b) The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection (5) in coordination with the supervisor of the traffic safety education section of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(6) The department may waive the driver training education course requirement under subsection (1) of this section if the applicant provides proof that they have had education, from a reciprocal jurisdiction, equivalent to that required under subsection (1) of this section.

(7) Beginning by January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2031, the department must report on the implementation of the driver's education requirement under subsection (1) of this section, including the readiness of the driver education school system to accommodate additional growth, to the transportation committees of the legislature.

(8) The department may, by rule, pause or delay the requirements under subsection (1) of this section if, upon an internal review, the department finds that there is an insufficient number of driver education and traffic safety education courses or instructors available for the pending age cohort under subsection (1) of this section.

(9)(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, any initial driver's license holder who is at least 18 years of age but under 22 years of age, and who has been found to have committed a traffic infraction for a moving violation on two occasions, must complete a safe driving course. If such person does not complete a safe driving course within 180 days of notice from the department, the department must suspend the person's driver's license until the safe driving course is completed.

(b)(i) Beginning January 1, 2027, until January 1, 2031, any initial driver's license holder who is at least 22 years of age but under 25 years of age, and who has been found to have committed a traffic infraction for a moving violation on two occasions, must complete a safe driving course. If such person does not complete a safe driving course within 180 days of notice from the department, the department must suspend the person's driver's license until the safe driving course is completed.

(ii) Beginning January 1, 2031, any initial driver's license holder who is at least 22 years of age but under 25 years of age, and who has been found to have committed a traffic infraction for a moving violation on two occasions, must complete a condensed traffic safety education course, as determined by the department in rule. If such person does not complete the condensed traffic safety education course within 180 days of notice from the department, the department must suspend the person's driver's license until the condensed traffic safety education course is completed.

(c) For purposes of this subsection (9), multiple traffic infractions issued during or as the result of a single traffic stop constitute one occasion.

(10) Beginning January 1, 2031, every initial driver's license for a person under the age of 21 expires on the latter of the licensee's 21st birthdate following issuance of the license or the licensee's second birthdate after the license issuance date. A person may not renew the person's driver's license under this subsection until satisfactorily completing a driver training education refresher course, as determined by the department in rule.

(11) For purposes of subsections (3), (9), and (10) of this section, "initial driver's license" means a driver's license issued to a driver who has not previously been issued a driver's license in this state.

Findings—Intent—2025 c 299: "The legislature finds that young adults under the age of 25 who obtain their initial driver's license after turning 18 years of age and are therefore not required to complete some form of driver training education are statistically more likely to be involved in or cause serious injury or fatal crashes than their peers who completed driver training education before the age of 18. The legislature also finds that the demographic of young drivers 18 to 24 years of age are more likely to engage in unsafe driving practices through a combination of inexperience and high-risk behaviors. The legislature intends with this act to require young adults under the age of 25 to complete driver training education before obtaining an initial driver's license, when appropriate, and implement other driver training courses when necessary to ensure they become better drivers and ensure our roads are safer for everyone." [ 2025 c 299 s 1.]