Washington statute
RCW 46.20.025 — Exemptions
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 46.20: Drivers' Licenses—Identicards, Revised Code of Washington.
Full text of RCW 46.20.025
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
The following persons may operate a motor vehicle on a Washington highway without a valid Washington driver's license:
(1) A member of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or in the service of the National Guard of this state or any other state, if licensed by the military to operate an official motor vehicle in such service;
(2) A nonresident driver who is at least:
(a) Sixteen years of age and has immediate possession of a valid driver's license issued to the driver by his or her home state; or
(b) Fifteen years of age with:
(i) A valid instruction permit issued to the driver by his or her home state; and
(ii) A licensed driver who has had at least five years of driving experience occupying a seat beside the driver; or
(c) Sixteen years of age and has immediate possession of a valid driver's license issued to the driver by his or her home country. A nonresident driver may operate a motor vehicle in this state under this subsection (2)(c) for up to one year;
(3) Any person operating special highway construction equipment as defined in RCW 46.04.551;
(4) Any person while driving or operating any farm tractor or implement of husbandry that is only incidentally operated or moved over a highway; or
(5) An operator of a locomotive upon rails, including a railroad crossing over a public highway. A locomotive operator is not required to display a driver's license to any law enforcement officer in connection with the operation of a locomotive or train within this state.
Official sources
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This reference is informational and is not legal advice.