DC driver handbook profile

District of Columbia driver manuals and DMV resources.

Open the passenger-driver, motorcycle, and commercial driver manuals in one place, then verify current licensing rules with District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Open the driver manual Visit the official state source

District of Columbia driver services are administered by District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. This guide identifies the next official action, summarizes first-time-driver milestones from the reviewed state handbook, and routes visitors to the correct agency service without replacing the agency’s instructions.

Start with your goal

What are you trying to do?

Understand the permit path

Review District of Columbia’s first-time-driver requirements and testing topics.

Open official guidance Find a licensing office

Check locations, services, hours, and local visit instructions.

Open official guidance Prepare for an appointment

Choose the correct reservation type before visiting an office.

Open official guidance Open the official handbook source

Verify the latest agency manual and any newly published changes.

Open official guidance

First-time driver snapshot

Important licensing milestones

Minimum permit age16 years old

The District’s learner permit is available at age 16.

Permit holding period6 months

The permit period applies before the provisional-license road test.

Supervised practice40 total hours

At least 10 hours must be nighttime practice.

Permit supervisionLicensed driver 21+

The supervisor must hold a valid full driver license.

Source: District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles — official driver handbookVerified July 29, 2026

Where to go

Choose the office that handles your task

District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles office

Driver licenses, permits, identification cards, tests, and endorsements offered at that location.

Confirm the location’s services and hours before traveling.Find the right location

Appointment center

Reservations for eligible in-person licensing and testing services.

Choose the correct appointment type and office.Find the right location

Official handbook center

Current driver manuals, testing topics, and agency-published licensing guidance.

Recheck the official source when a requirement or deadline affects your application.Find the right location

Source: District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles — office and service informationVerified July 29, 2026

Before an office visit

Prepare before you schedule

Confirm that the selected location provides the exact license, permit, test, or ID service you need.
Reserve the correct appointment type and save the confirmation.
Bring the original identity, lawful-presence, residency, Social Security, and name-change documents required for your transaction.
For a test or minor application, confirm vehicle, insurance, education, practice-log, and parent or guardian requirements.

Source: District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles — official service guidanceVerified July 29, 2026

More official resources

Additional driver resources

Find a DMV office

Open the state or county office locator.

Open resource Appointments

Check whether this agency accepts or requires reservations.

Open resource Online services

See which driver services can be completed online.

Open resource Official handbook source

Verify the latest manuals on the licensing agency website.

Open resource

Official state resources

Use the agency site for locations and services.

FirstMiles reviewed the agency's public driver-licensing pages and kept this profile focused on manuals, office locations, appointments, and official online services.

Find a DMV office

Open the state or county office locator.

Open official siteAppointments

Check whether this agency accepts or requires reservations.

Open official siteOnline services

See which driver services can be completed online.

Open official siteOfficial handbook source

Verify the latest manuals on the licensing agency website.

Open official site

Free handbook links

Choose the manual you need.

Each link opens the FirstMiles archive when available. If an archive file is temporarily unavailable, you will be sent to the official state source instead.

Driver Manual