Parent's Guide to Teen Driver Ed
Your Role in Building a Safe, Confident Driver
The 50-Hour Supervised Practice Requirement
Washington State law (RCW 46.20.055) requires permit holders under 18 to complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice before getting their license.
Total Practice Hours
Nighttime Hours Required
Intermediate License (GDL) Restrictions
Per RCW 46.20.075, new drivers have restrictions during their first year of driving:
Passenger Restrictions
No passengers under 20 for first 6 months (except family). Then max 3 passengers under 20 for next 6 months.
Nighttime Driving
No driving between 1 AM and 5 AM for the first year (unless for work, school, or emergencies).
No Cell Phones
No electronic devices while driving - not even hands-free. Emergencies only.
Enumclaw Practice Route Suggestions
Beginner Routes
- ✓ Enumclaw High School parking lot (weekends)
- ✓ Residential streets off Cole Street
- ✓ Mud Mountain Dam road (low traffic)
Advanced Routes
- ✓ Highway 410 towards Greenwater
- ✓ SR-164 to Auburn (highway merging)
- ✓ Downtown Enumclaw intersections
💡 Practice in varied conditions: rain, fog, dusk, and darkness to build real-world skills.
Skills Progression Checklist
Hours 1-15
- □ Starting and stopping
- □ Basic steering control
- □ Right turns
- □ Left turns
- □ Parking lot practice
Hours 15-35
- □ Lane changes
- □ Intersections
- □ Parallel parking
- □ Highway driving
- □ Night driving
Hours 35-50
- □ Complex intersections
- □ Freeway merging
- □ Weather conditions
- □ Emergency maneuvers
- □ Independent navigation
Insurance Discount Potential
Many insurance companies offer discounts (typically 5-15%) for teen drivers who complete an approved driver education course. Contact your insurance provider to ask about their "Good Student" or "Driver Education" discounts.
Questions? We're Here to Help
Contact us anytime with questions about your teen's driver education journey.