The passenger rule
For the first six months, your teen cannot drive with passengers under 20 who are not immediate family. After those six months, they can carry up to three non-family passengers under 20. The idea is simple: a car full of friends is the single biggest crash risk for a brand new driver, so the state phases it in.
The night rule
An intermediate license holder cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, or licensed driver who is at least 25 is in the car. School, religious, or work activities for the teen or their immediate family carry narrow exceptions, but the safe assumption is no solo late-night driving early on.
How long the restrictions last
The passenger limit steps down after the first six months, from no non-family passengers under 20 to no more than three. The restrictions can be removed entirely after a full 12 months with no at-fault crashes or qualifying violations, and they no longer apply once your teen turns 18, when they move to a standard license. Washington updated the intermediate license law effective in 2026, so confirm the current specifics with the DOL.