District of Columbia DMV Teen Driver Frequently Asked Questions

The learner’s permit test consists of 20 multiple choice questions.  

To receive a passing grade on the examination you must correctly answer fifteen out of twenty questions. 

In order to apply for your permit, the District of Columbia requires that you provide the following documents:

• Proof of identity
• Social Security card
• Proof of DC residence
• Proof of citizenship or legal presence
• Necessary fees (a $10 testing fee and $20 for a learner’s permit, as of this writing)
• A parent or guardian’s signature

When you submit your application for your permit, you have ninety days or three attempts to successfully complete the written test. If you fail the test within ninety days you are allowed to retake it two more times, though usually you have to wait one day between attempts and you may be charged a reexamination fee each time. If you fail the test three times or wait longer than ninety days to retake it, then the application will be closed and you’ll have to repeat the process from the beginning.In general, obtaining a learner’s permit is not a difficult process. Students who have studied the DC Driver’s Handbook in its entirety rarely have any problem passing the test, and for extra assurance an excellent idea is take one or more of the free practice tests that are available online.

All of the questions that appear on the learner’s permit test are found in the DC Driver’s Handbook, which is also available for free download from the District of Columbia DMV website. The answers to these questions are also found in the handbook, so reading this book cover to cover is your best bet to ensure you achieve a passing score.There are two categories of questions found on the test. The first essentially deals with the “rules of the road”, and covers a wide range of information to include:

• Driving laws (liability insurance laws, alcohol-related laws, pedestrian laws, implied-consent laws)
• The penalties for violating these laws
• Various kinds of maneuvering (turning, signaling, lane changing, and parking)
• Differences between highway driving and city driving, including speed limits
• Procedures to be used in accidents or emergencies

The second category deals specifically with the different types of road signs. Questions from this category may include:

• The four basic uses for signs (indicating hazard, providing guidance, providing information, and regulating traffic) and which color is used for each
• Distinguishing various signs and their meaning based on color and shape
• The uses for pavement markings on both highways and streets, and the ways in which they restrict the actions of drivers

The written examination can be taken at any of your local driver’s license offices. The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is in charge of issuing driver’s licenses and a list of all DL offices can be found on their website. Once you’ve found a suitable office, completed an application and paid your fees, the test will be administered electronically on the computer and the results will be processed immediately upon completion.