The District of Columbia road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The District of Columbia road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the DC DMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the District of Columbia driving test at 16, after holding a learner permit for 6 months (learner permit) and logging 40 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
District of Columbia sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. GRAD graduated licensing applies to ages 16 to 21. A provisional applicant must have no points offense for 12 consecutive months.
Below you'll find the full District of Columbia road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, District of Columbia's written knowledge test ranks tied for 28th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the District of Columbia road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the District of Columbia road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. You must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older. Driving yourself on a learner permit unaccompanied results in a 6-month bar.
If you fail the District of Columbia road test
Here's how a retake works in District of Columbia: 72 hours. The retest fee is $10 per road test.
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $47 (8 years).
How the District of Columbia road test is scored
District of Columbia doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the District of Columbia written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the DC DMV (dmv.dc.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (5 official DC DMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/learner-permits-and-provisional-licenses
- What to bring: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/dmv-road-skills-test-requirements
- Test format: https://dmv.dc.gov/page/road-skills-tests
- Scoring: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/dmv-road-skills-test-requirements
- Retakes: https://dmv.dc.gov/service/dmv-road-skills-test-requirements
- Fees: https://dmv.dc.gov/book/dmv-fees/driver-license-fees
- Handbook (Updated January 22, 2024): https://dmv.dc.gov/publication/dc-dmv-automobile-driver-manual
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official District of Columbia sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.