Hey there, new driver: I hear you’re wanting to hit the open road and wave around a piece of plastic that proves you’re a licensed Washington driver and don’t look good in florescent lighting. What if I told you that you could take your driver’s test tomorrow — both the written and driving portions — without taking a number, waiting in line or sitting for hours next to a sniveling child?
No joke.
Battle Ground
Wake’s Driving School
105 W. Main St.
360-666-3025
Noon – 2 p.m. Monday – Thursday, noon – 2 p.m. Saturday. Scheduling, 1 – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Camas
Big John’s Driving School of Camas
3519 S.E. Second Ave.
360-210-5323
Skills testing by appointment; knowledge test, noon-2:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. or by appointment.
Confident Driving Instruction of Camas
2033 N.E. Ione St.
360-833-2200
Hours by appointment.
Vancouver
Big John’s Driving School of Vancouver
14020 N.E. Fourth Plain Road
360-882-3602
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Confident Driving Instruction of Vancouver
10637 N.E. Coxley Drive
360-944-5940
Hours by appointment.
Driving 101
11701 N.E. 95th St.
360-892-6988
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday- Friday.
The Washington State Department of Licensing recently expanded a new program that shifts the knowledge and skills tests for new license applicants to driver training schools. This program is the final phase of a bill intended to speed up wait times at the DOL. Drivers with special needs will still go to the DOL for their testing.
Last Saturday, if applicants went into one of the two Vancouver licensing offices to take the written test, they were turned away and given a list of area driving schools that offer testing. Several disgruntled applicants ended up at Big John’s Driving School.
“The word wasn’t really out there that this was happening,” said Michelle Chetlain, office manager at Big John’s.