How licensing works in DC
The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) licenses drivers. New drivers aged 16 to 20 go through the GRAD (graduated) program in three steps.
| Stage | Minimum age | Main rules |
|---|---|---|
| Learner permit | 16 | Pass vision and knowledge tests. Drive only between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., with a supervisor. Hold for 6 months and log 40 supervised hours. |
| Provisional license | 16½ | Night limits (see below). Strict passenger limits. 10 hours of supervised night driving. |
| Full license | 18 at the earliest | Restrictions end after the required time or at 21, but not before 18. |
New drivers are most likely to crash in their first months of driving alone, and night driving and carrying friends make that risk higher. Graduated licensing rules give you time to build skill in safer conditions, so you gain experience before the limits come off.
Provisional night limits
| Months | Nights | No driving |
|---|---|---|
| September to June | Sunday to Thursday | 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| September to June | Friday and Saturday | 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. |
| July and August | Every night | 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. |
Your learner permit is either a REAL ID or a Limited Purpose permit. Which one you get depends on whether you have a valid Social Security number.
The DC knowledge test
DC DMV has a separate GRAD knowledge test for new drivers aged 16 to 20. Questions come from the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual. Printed manuals are no longer handed out, so use the online version.
| Test | Time limit |
|---|---|
| GRAD or learner permit knowledge test | 75 minutes |
| Non-commercial knowledge test | 60 minutes |
- The test is offered in English and many other languages, including Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Audio-assisted tests are available.
- You can take the standard or GRAD test virtually, by appointment, or at a test proctoring center.
- You pay the fee whether you pass or fail.
- After you pass, visit a DC DMV Service Center within 14 business days with your identity, residency and eligibility documents.
If you fail
- Wait three full calendar days before you try again.
- After six failures within 12 months, you cannot test again until 12 months after your first failure.
- If you fail for cheating or going over the time limit, you must wait 60 days.
Rules specific to DC
Phones
DC bans handheld phone use and texting for all drivers. Drivers with a learner permit may not use a phone at all, even hands-free.
City driving
DC is a dense city with many pedestrians, bicyclists, buses and traffic circles. Expect questions on crosswalks, sharing the road and roundabouts. Study those topics in the national guide.
Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, a common city situation in DC.
- The pedestrian in the crosswalk.
- Your car stops before the crosswalk.
- Traffic in the next lane also stops.
In a roundabout, yield to traffic already circling and go counterclockwise.
- Yield at the entry.
- Circle to the right.
- Signal and exit.
Key numbers to remember
Many test questions ask for an exact age, time or number. Use this table as a quick review before you practice.
| Rule | Number |
|---|---|
| Minimum learner permit age | 16 |
| Learner permit driving hours | 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| GRAD test time limit | 75 minutes |
| Retest wait | 3 full calendar days |
| Wait after cheating or timeout | 60 days |
| Visit a service center after passing | Within 14 business days |
| Learner supervised hours | 40 |
| Provisional minimum age | 16½ |
Test tips
- Read the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual online.
- Learn the DC numbers: 16, 16½, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., 40 hours, 10 night hours, 75 minutes.
- Do these practice tests until you score 90% or more.
- Book your test and gather your documents early.
On test day
Give yourself plenty of time on the day of your test. Get a good night's sleep, eat something before you go, and arrive early so you do not feel rushed.
- Bring every document on the official checklist, plus your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see.
- Turn off your phone and put it away before the test starts.
- Read each question all the way through, then read every answer before you choose.
- If you are not sure, first rule out the answers you know are wrong.
- Change an answer only if you are sure you misread the question.
If you do not pass, do not give up. Look at the topics you missed, study those parts of the handbook again, and take more practice tests before you try again.
Keep studying
This guide covers rules that are special to DC. The general rules of the road, such as right-of-way, turns, lane markings, parking, alcohol and sharing the road, are in the national US driving study guide. Study both before your test.