Washington, DC Driver's License: When You Can Apply
| Age | Type of License | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 16 (First Timers) | Learner Permit | Pass a Knowledge Test and a Vision Test. |
| 16 ½+ (Learner Permit Holders) | Provisional License | Must have held Learner Permit for 6 months. Also practice driving for 40 hours and pass a Vision Test and a Road Skills Test. |
| 21+ (Learner Permit Holders) | Full (Adult) License | Pass a Road Skills Test. |
| 17+ (Provisional License Holders) | Full (Adult) License | Must have held Provisional License for 6 months. |
Note 1: To apply for any type of instruction permit or license, you must first obtain consent from your parents or guardians if you are under 18 years of age.
Note 2: If more than one line of this table applies to you, you can choose either option unless otherwise specified.
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District Columbia Driver's License & Permit FAQ
How Can I Apply for my DC Driver's License? Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s What Other Learners from DC are Saying:
"I took the learner's permit test twice and failed it. First attempt: 21/29...23 to pass. Second attempt I got a 14 or 15..23 to pass. After failing the second time some guy got me hip to this site and I've been using it to study. I went back to the DMV again (third time's the charm) and got a 26/29. Boo-yah!"
Manny Prive, Washington, DC
"I took the permit test TWICE and FAILED both tests. Some guy I met at the DMV told me about this website and I took the practice tests and failed almost all of them. By failing the practice tests I learned more than I ever did and I went back to the DMV and got a 25/29 or 86% and 23 or 80% is needed to pass."
Studon Ventel, Washington, DC
"Thanks in large part to this website and its test, I was able to pass my knowledge test with flying colors!"
Alphonso Morgan, Washington, DC
"I failed the test 2 times. The first I got 19/29 (23 to pass). The second time I got 22/29 (23 to pass). I felt like giving up because I didn't want to keep failing so my brother showed me this website and I've been taking the practice test for a week. I finally passed the third test 27/30. This website helped me out. I recommend it to anyone who wants to practice before going to your DMV. Also get the iPhone app!"
Kevin Kemp, Washington, DC
"I failed the DC permit test twice, and on the third time I passed! I took it the first time in December, didn't really study because many of my friends walked in and passed. I failed and was devastated. Anxious to pass, I took it again three days later and failed again. I had studied the manual so much for the second time that I couldn't figure out what I had done wrong. I was so dismayed about failing the test twice that i didn't begin studying again until recently. I did practice tests on this site everyday, and didn't focus as much on the manual. When I got a question wrong I wrote it on a document, and went back to those to study. This really helped me understand the material but also practice test taking and multiple choice. The last thing is that if your state's test has a "skip" feature, use it! You can come back to the ones you don't know at the end instead of having to quickly guess when you don 't know in the moment. If you failed one or more times like me, don't worry, you WILL pass, you just need to spend time practicing taking tests on this sight, and take your time with the test. Thanks Driving-Tests!"
Claire Smith, Washington, D.C.
