District of Columbia Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your District of Columbia learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official DMV pages and linked to the source.
District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: DC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner Permit ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The District of Columbia licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what DMV itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where The state agency publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Minimum permit age16District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
You must be at least 16 years old to get a DC DMV learner permit
2Documents
DMV lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Completed DC driver license or identification card application
- Proof of identity and age
- Two documents proving District residency
- Proof of Social Security number
- Parental consent plus parental/legal-guardianship verification documents if age 16 or 17
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
3Required education
Required driver educationWe have not verified a driver-education requirement on The state agency's own pagesDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
4Application
DC DMV lists the learner permit fee at $20
5Knowledge test
Questions on the official testThe state agency does not publish thisDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Official passing scoreThe state agency does not publish thisDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Wait before a retakeThe state agency does not publish a verified retake waitDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC official knowledge-test sourceChecked 2026-08-12Official source
6Permit restrictions
Permit validity24 monthsDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
A DC DMV REAL ID learner permit is valid for 2 years for U.S. citizens and is non-renewable
Restrictions District of Columbia puts on a new driver:
- Permit hours: Learner permit holders may drive only between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
- Grad enrollment: Drivers under age 21 who obtain a learner permit are automatically enrolled in the GRAD program
- Provisional hours: During the provisional phase, drivers may drive Sunday-Thursday 6:00 a.m.-10:59 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 6:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m. from September-June, and 6:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m. every day in July and August
- Grad exit: Once you turn 21, you are released from the GRAD program; full-license drivers age 18+ have no driving-hours or passenger restrictions
District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving for applicants under 2140 hoursDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
DC's certification page states that 40 hours of practice are required for the provisional-license step; a separate 10 hours of night driving is later required to convert from provisional to full license with conditions. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 21 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
8Road test
Minimum permit hold6 monthsDistrict of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
To obtain the provisional license, you must have held a valid learner permit for at least 6 months
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age17District of ColumbiaDMVDC DMV — Obtain a REAL ID Learner PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Drivers in the GRAD program can convert to a provisional license at age 17 after holding the learner permit at least 6 months and meeting the certification requirements
How to get your permit in District of Columbia
- At 16+, complete the DC application and gather proof of identity, two DC residency documents, Social Security proof, and parental-consent documents if you are 16 or 17
- Go to a DC DMV service center, pass the vision screening and knowledge test, and pay the learner permit fee
- Use the learner permit only between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.; if you fail the knowledge test, wait 3 full calendar days before trying again
- If you are under 21, follow the GRAD learner-permit phase and hold the permit at least 6 months with a clean points record
- Complete the 40-hour certification for the provisional-license step, then qualify for the provisional license at 17+ and continue through the GRAD program
What is different about District of Columbia
Rules that are set by District of Columbia rather than nationally, and where they depart from what most states do. Compared against DMV Prep's verified rules for all 51 jurisdictions — unverified figures are left out of both sides of every comparison.
- Minimum permit age: 16 here. The most common minimum permit age is 15 (25 of 50 states we have verified).
- Permit validity: 24 months here. The most common permit validity is 12 months (9 of 19 states we have verified).
- Supervised-driving requirement: 40 hours here. The most common supervised-driving requirement is 50 hours (29 of 49 states we have verified).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in District of Columbia?
You can get a learner's permit in District of Columbia at 16. You must be at least 16 years old to get a DC DMV learner permit.
How much does a District of Columbia permit cost?
The District of Columbia permit fee is $20. DC DMV lists the learner permit fee at $20.
How long do you have to hold your permit in District of Columbia?
To obtain the provisional license, you must have held a valid learner permit for at least 6 months.
How many practice driving hours does District of Columbia require?
District of Columbia requires 40 hours of supervised practice driving for applicants under 21. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 21 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
Where can I practice for the District of Columbia permit test?
Right here — take a free District of Columbia practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
