The WA licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in Washington, the Washington State Department of Licensing (dol.wa.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 7 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the WA agency runs the licence case
- The administrative action is governed by RCW 46.20.308, the implied consent law, and follows a test failure or refusal.
- A formal hearing to contest the suspension is requested on the department's DUI hearing request form.
- The non-refundable hearing fee is $375 unless the driver qualifies for a waiver.
- An Ignition Interlock Driver License allows restricted driving during suspension or revocation.
- Hearings are conducted under Chapter 308-101 WAC before the department's hearings division.
Washington licence facts
Washington DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the Washington code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (Washington)
- Controlling statute
- RCW 46.61.502
- Implied consent
- RCW 46.20.308
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 7 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 7 years
- First-offense fine
- $990–$5,000
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 364 days
- Licence suspension
- 3 months
- Ignition interlock
- Required on a first offense in most cases
- Trial court
- the District Court or Municipal Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense requires interlock and an alcohol/drug assessment.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an approved ignition interlock device — Washington requires one in most first-offense cases.
- Washington requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on dol.wa.gov before you travel to an office.
Washington ZIP codes covered
These Washington ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Washington resources
Counties
Other Washington official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to challenge a Washington licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 7 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the WA licensing agency at dol.wa.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Washington?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 3 months suspension in Washington. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.