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Washington, D.C. has implemented a program it calls GRAD – Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers, to help teen drivers gain the knowledge, experience and skills they need to hold a full, unrestricted driver’s license and enjoy all the privileges that come with that. GRAD’s age requirements and stages are:

• 16 years old – Learner’s Permit
• 16 ½ years old – Provisional Driver’s License
• 17 years old – Full Driver’s License (with conditions until 18)

• Proof of identity, birth date, residency and Social Security Number – here are acceptable documents
• Form DMVR-4 – DC Driver License Application
• Form DMV-PCF-01 – Parental Consent Form to Obtain Learner’s Permit

• $20 for Learner’s Permit fee and $10 for written test fee

You can apply in person at a DC DMV office.

Visit https://dmv.dc.gov/page/all-DC-DMV-locations for office locations, hours and contact information.

No, Washington, D.C. does not require teens to take a driver’s education course.

You have 30 days to transfer a valid out-of-state license to Washington, D.C. To do so, visit a DC DMV office with proper identification and $47 for the license fee.

The Washington, D.C. written test checks your knowledge of traffic laws, rules of the road, motor vehicle laws and safe driving practices. Here are two examples of content from the manual that you could be asked questions about on the written test:

• You must not engage in any vehicle race, speed exhibition, or speed contest including those commonly known as drag races on any public street, road or highway
• When it comes to using chains, snow tires or radial tires, chains do the most to improve traction and stopping on ice and in snow

The Washington, D.C. written test is multiple choice.

No, all questions are taken from the Washington, D.C. Driver’s Manual and are intended to verify your knowledge of traffic laws and safe driving practices. No question is written with the intention of “tricking you.”

There are 25 questions on the test and you must answer at least 20 of them correctly to pass.

We recommend studying the Washington, D.C. Driver’s Manual from cover to cover and then testing your knowledge by taking online practice tests. You can then use your test results to identify your strengths and weaknesses and better focus your study efforts in the future.

We offer Driver’s Manuals for free here on this website.

It’s important to memorize road signs and their meanings so that you can identify them on sight. You should also try to memorize numerical data, such as measurements, lengths and distances. In addition, strive to build a solid foundation of knowledge in the areas of traffic law and safe driving practices.

Take a practice test to ensure you have the knowledge to pass and then be sure to use the Driver’s Manual to review any questions that you missed. But don’t stay up too late reviewing, you should be sure to get a good night’s sleep so that you are at your best for the exam.

We recommend that you make an appointment if possible. Contact your local DC DMV office to see if appointments are accepted.

You will take the test at a local DC DMV office.

You should bring:

• Proof of identity, birth date, residency and Social Security Number – here are acceptable documents
• Form DMVR-4 – DC Driver License Application
• Form DMV-PCF-01 – Parental Consent Form to Obtain Learner’s Permit

• $20 for Learner’s Permit fee and $10 for written test fee

You should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Yes, you will need to pay a $20 written test fee as well as a $20 Learner’s Permit fee.

The Washington, D.C. written knowledge test consists of 25 questions and you will need to answer at least 20 of them correctly to pass. When taking the test you cannot refer to the manual or use your cellphone.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit and can begin supervised driving practice. You will need to complete 40 hours of practice with a supervising driver age 21 or older.

You will be allowed to retake the test.

You must wait a minimum of 72 hours to retake the test.

Now that you have your Learner’s Permit you can being supervised driving practice with a licensed driver age 21 or older. You must complete 40 hours of supervised driving practice in all. You can only drive between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

You can apply for your Provisional Driver’s License when you meet the following requirements: you are 16 ½ years old or older, have completed 40 hours of supervised driving practice and you have held your Learner’s Permit for at least six months.

Yes, you can drive on any public road or street in Washington, D.C., as long as you are accompanied by a supervising driver age 21 or over.

With your Learner’s Permit you are only eligible to drive between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Yes, you must be accompanied by a supervising driver who is at least 21 years old.

You can replace a lost or stolen permit online or in person at a DC DMV office. The replacement fee is $20.

The best thing you can do to ensure driving test success is to practice. You should practice both vehicle maneuvers, such as parking, turning and stopping as well as driving on public roadways. You should also continue to work on improving your driving knowledge by studying the state Driver’s Manual and applying the safe driving practices that you learn to your own driving.

Yes, you should practice:

• Parking, including parking on a hill, parking in a space and parallel parking
• Turning, including right and left turns along with two-point and three-point turnabouts
• Backing up, both in a straight line and while turning
• Stopping, including quick stops
• Accelerating smoothly
• Changing lanes
• Signaling
• And more

The driving test will include maneuvers, driving in traffic, your ability to use turn signals, safely controlling the vehicle and parallel parking so be sure to practice all of these things extensively.

You can schedule a test online or you can contact a local DC DMV office directly.

You will take the test at a local DC DMV office.

• Learner’s Permit
• Form DMV-GRAD-HR40 – Certification of Eligibility for Provisional License
• $10 for driving test fee and $20 for Provisional Driver’s License fee

• Properly functioning vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance

A licensed parent or legal guardian should bring you.

During the driving test you examiner will direct you to complete a series of vehicle maneuvers, such as parking, turning and stopping. You will also be asked to drive in traffic on public roadways. You will need to display good vehicle control, good observational skills and good decision making to pass the test.

The most common reason is a lack of driving practice which leads the driver to commit too many mistakes and receive a failing score. Other reasons for failure include getting involved in an accident, refusing to perform a maneuver, not following the examiner’s directions and getting ticketed for a moving violation.

• Following the vehicle in front of you too closely
• Failing to signal before a turn
• Failing to check the blind spot before changing lanes
• Using poor driving posture or hand position on the wheel
• Not obeying a traffic sign or signal

You will be allowed to retake the test.

Yes, a $10 fee will be charged for each driving test.

You will receive your Washington, D.C., Provisional License.

• You can drive unsupervised from 6:01 a.m. to 10:59 p.m. Monday – Thursday

• You can drive unsupervised from 6:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Friday – Sunday from September through June

• You can drive unsupervised from 6:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. every day in July and August

• You can only drive with a passenger who is 21 or older and has a valid driver’s license unless the passenger is an immediate family member

• You must also complete 10 hours of supervised driving practice at night

You can receive your full license when you are 17, have held your Provisional License for at least six months and have no traffic violations for the past 12 months. Your full license will contain the following restrictions until you turn 18:

• Only 2 or fewer passengers under age 21 unless they are siblings
• Can drive from 6:01 a.m. to 10:59 p.m. Monday – Thursday and from 6:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Friday – Sunday in September through June
• Can drive from 6:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. every day in July and August

Washington, D.C., requires vehicle owners to carry car insurance. Minimum requirements as set by DC law are:

• Bodily injury liability – $25,000/$50,000
• Property damage liability – $10,000
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury – $25,000/$50,000
• Uninsured motorist property damage – $5,000

Washington, D.C., driver’s licenses must be renewed every eight years. You will receive a renewal notice approximately 60 days from the expiration date with renewal instructions. You may be able to renew online, by mail or in person.

You can replace a lost or stolen license online or in person at a DC DMV office. There is a $20 duplicate license fee.

You can renew your license online or in person at a DC DMV office. Once you renew online, the next renewal must be in person.

Yes, when renewing in person you will need to pass a vision test.

During the test, you will be asked to look into a machine and read lines of characters to the DMV representative. This screening determines whether your eyesight and peripheral vision meet the District’s standards to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Minimum requirement for a non-restricted license is 20/40 with a 140 degree visual field.