District of Columbia Learner's Permit
The rules of the road plus the District of Columbia's own licensing rules, permit conditions and penalties.
- Questions in this course
- 395
- The mock test
- 30 questions, 24 correct to pass, scored as one total — 8 signs and signals; 22 rules of the road.
This course is for anyone taking the District of Columbia knowledge test for a first driver license — most often a teenager applying for a learner's permit, but equally an adult who has never been licensed and a driver moving to the District of Columbia from another state or another country. The test is the written part of getting licensed. It is not the road test, and passing it does not by itself let you drive alone.
The District of Columbia sets its own minimum age, its own list of documents and its own fees, and changes them from time to time. Check those against DC DMV before you go, because they may have changed since this course was written.
The knowledge test is given by District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, not by this site and not by a driving school. In most cases you take it at a licensing office: bring your documents, take a vision screening, and sit the test the same visit. Offices are listed at DC DMV office locations, and many require an appointment, so look before you drive there.
Some states also allow the knowledge test online, at a high school, or through an approved driver-education course, sometimes only for applicants under a certain age. Whether the District of Columbia does is on the DC DMV licensing pages.
If anything on this site disagrees with what DC DMV publishes, DC DMV is right and we want to know.
Official links
- DC DMV — driver licensing — Ages, documents, fees and how to apply
- DC DMV — office locations — Where to sit the test, and appointments
- District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles
Questions
Common questions
Is there an official test, and how is the mock test scored?
Drivers under 21: 30 questions, 24 to pass. Drivers 21 and older: 25 questions, 20 to pass. These counts and pass marks are widely reported; the District of Columbia does not publish them. The time limit is 75 minutes. This mock test uses the format for drivers under 21. 30 questions, 24 correct to pass, scored as one total — 8 signs and signals; 22 rules of the road.
How are the questions checked?
Every question is checked before it goes live, and again each time the site is updated.
Where do I take the Learner's Permit test in the District of Columbia?
The knowledge test is given by District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, not by this site and not by a driving school. In most cases you take it at a licensing office: bring your documents, take a vision screening, and sit the test the same visit. Offices are listed at DC DMV office locations, and many require an appointment, so look before you drive there.
Is this course free?
Part of every course is free: a slice of every topic and one short practice test a day. Full access is $10 a month for one course, or $20 a month for every course on the site.