Washington DC DMV permit practice test 2026
Practise for the Washington DC DMV knowledge test. Our 257 practice questions are written from the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual (2023), and every answer tells you where to find the rule in the handbook. Free, with no sign-up.
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All 10 Washington DC practice tests
Each test mixes questions from every part of the handbook. Work through them in order, then use the simulator.
What the test covers
Our questions follow the handbook's chapters. The number of practice questions on each topic:
| Topic | Practice questions |
|---|---|
| Licensing laws and penalties | 38 |
| Safe and defensive driving | 36 |
| Sharing the road | 28 |
| Emergencies | 23 |
| Hazards, weather and night driving | 23 |
| Right of way | 17 |
| Road signs | 17 |
| Signals and pavement markings | 16 |
| Speed limits | 11 |
| Lanes, highways and freeways | 11 |
| Parking | 11 |
| Turns and intersections | 10 |
| Following and passing | 8 |
| Alcohol and drugs | 8 |
Washington DC learner's permit rules
- Minimum age: 16
- Hold the permit for at least 6 months (GRAD, ages 16-20), violation-free; permit valid 2 years for US citizens, non-renewable before the road test
- 40 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night
- Supervisor 21+ with a valid full license in the front passenger seat (both wear seat belts)
- Drive only 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- No other passengers besides the supervisor
- No phone or electronic device use, even hands-free
- No driving for compensation or commercial vehicles
- 8+ points or a GRAD violation: 90-day permit suspension
- Parental consent if 16 or 17
Fees: Learner permit $20; Knowledge test (DC DMV Service Center) $10; Knowledge test (Test Proctoring Center) $39.95; Virtual knowledge test $49.95; Provisional driver license $20; Driver license (first-time and renewal, 8 years) $47; Road skills test $10; Road test not cancelled at least two business days ahead $30; Driver license reinstatement $115.
The official handbook
Everything on the test comes from the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual, also available in Spanish, fr, am, vi, zh, ko. Read it alongside the practice tests. Our chapter-by-chapter guide.
Renewing your license
Drivers 70 or older when the license expires must have a physician complete the Mature Driver section of the application certifying they can drive safely.
Questions
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Washington DC?
16. You then hold the permit for at least 6 months (GRAD, ages 16-20), violation-free; permit valid 2 years for US citizens, non-renewable before the road test and 40 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night.
What happens if I fail the Washington DC permit test?
You can retake it: Three full calendar days after a failed knowledge test (fail on Tuesday, retest Saturday). Cheating (phones, watches, study materials, talking) means a failed test and a 60-day wait. If you fail six times within 12 months, you can't take a seventh test until 12 months after the first failure.
Can I take the Washington DC permit test in Spanish or another language?
English, Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese; since Dec 15, 2025 also Turkish, Hungarian, Finnish, Danish, Indonesian, Dutch, Farsi, Italian, Swedish (24 total).
What do I need to bring for the Washington DC permit test?
Completed Driver License or Identification Card Application; Proof of identity and date of birth (full legal name); Proof of Social Security number; Two proofs of DC residency; Parental consent form if 16 or 17 (with a birth certificate, adoption order or guardianship decree to verify the parent or guardian); and more (see the full list).
What is the vision requirement in Washington DC?
With or without corrective lenses: at least 20/40 in the better eye, or at least 20/70 in the better eye with a field of vision of at least 140 degrees.
Independent practice tests, not affiliated with the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Questions written by us from the official handbook and checked against it.