What drivers ed includes
Every approved teen course in Washington has the same backbone: 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours behind the wheel with a certified instructor, and an hour of in-car observation. The classroom can be in person or online. What varies between schools is the teaching quality and whether testing is bundled in. WMST lays out exactly what is included on the Teen Drivers Education page.
When your teen can start
Drivers ed can begin at 15. Starting early matters because being enrolled lets your teen get a permit at 15 instead of waiting until 15 and a half. We cover the timing in detail in when to start drivers ed.
What it costs
WMST teen packages run from $549 to $699, with the Standard package at $625, currently $525 with the Spring Fever discount. The full breakdown, including what each package adds, is in the cost guide.
Online or in person
Both are the same DOL-approved course. The right choice depends on your teen, their schedule, and how they learn. We compare them honestly in online versus in-person.
How to choose a school
Look at three things: who teaches the driving, whether testing happens with the same school, and how quickly your teen actually gets behind the wheel. WMST is a DOL-approved examiner, so your teen trains and tests with one team, and we keep the same instructor through the whole program. More on that tradeoff in high school versus driving school.