Senior getting License in Washington (Seattle, North Bend: DMV, living, law)

[I_AM_ONLINE]

My mother in law is moving to Washington. She is eighty and is an amputee. She does not want to drive on the freeway but is afraid that if she tries to get her WA lic. they will require a driving test due to physical condition.

Does anyone know if the driving test includes driving on the freeway? I've never had more than trip around the block including when I got a lic in Washington.

L

[Hemlock140]

I haven't had to take the driving test since moving here 20 years ago, but of my 3 kids, none has had to go on the freeway for a driving test. Depending on where you will be living, there may be better choices than others for an easier test. We found the one in North Bend to be the best, not as busy, and much less traffic.

[notoriouskelly]

No offense, but maybe it'd be better for your MIL and the people of Seattle for her to hang up her license.

She had a good run; could be time for Meals on Wheels and allowing other volunteers to drive and help her.

[ukiyo-e]

If you're licensed in another state, WA doesn't require you to take ANY driving test - not even written. My son and I both had licenses from CA and they simply gave us WA licenses and punched a hole in our CA licenses to show they weren't valid anymore. I assume they also notified the CA DMV, but I'm not sure about that. I was kind of surprised how easy it was, given that when I moved to CA from the east coast years ago, I at least had to take a written test, as the laws vary a little from state to state.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by I_AM_ONLINE

My mother in law is moving to Washington. She is eighty and is an amputee. She does not want to drive on the freeway but is afraid that if she tries to get her WA lic. they will require a driving test due to physical condition.

Does anyone know if the driving test includes driving on the freeway? I've never had more than trip around the block including when I got a lic in Washington.

L

No, there's no freeway driving on the test. They just do simple stuff like take you through intersections to see how you handle left and right turns, parallel park, backing up along a curb, changing lanes, kid stuff.

[PollyGlott]

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

If you're licensed in another state, WA doesn't require you to take ANY driving test - not even written. My son and I both had licenses from CA and they simply gave us WA licenses and punched a hole in our CA licenses to show they weren't valid anymore. I assume they also notified the CA DMV, but I'm not sure about that. I was kind of surprised how easy it was, given that when I moved to CA from the east coast years ago, I at least had to take a written test, as the laws vary a little from state to state.

I know (first-hand) that ths is true for folks with a CA driver's license, but I'm not sure it is valid for people coming from all other states.

[rrrusty]

Originally Posted by ukiyo-e

If you're licensed in another state, WA doesn't require you to take ANY driving test - not even written. My son and I both had licenses from CA and they simply gave us WA licenses and punched a hole in our CA licenses to show they weren't valid anymore. I assume they also notified the CA DMV, but I'm not sure about that. I was kind of surprised how easy it was, given that when I moved to CA from the east coast years ago, I at least had to take a written test, as the laws vary a little from state to state.

Do they issue the new DL right away or do you wait for it in the mail?

Wondering how to drive around once l surrender the out of state license.

[josie13]

Originally Posted by rrrusty

Do they issue the new DL right away or do you wait for it in the mail?

Wondering how to drive around once l surrender the out of state license.

iirc, they give you a paper printout as proof while you're waiting for the plastic card to arrive in the mail.