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DC Department of Motor Vehicles · GRAD program

DC permit test the GRAD knowledge exam

The District runs its own licensing rules through the DC DMV's Graduated License Program, known as GRAD. Drivers 16 to 20 take a 30-question GRAD knowledge test, pay $10 per attempt, and wait three full days to try again. Everything below comes from DC DMV's own web pages. DC publishes its driver manual only as an online flipbook, so we cite the DMV pages directly.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · DC DMV web pages (driver manual is online-only; edition date not confirmed)

When you're allowed to drive

From the GRAD program page. DC is one of the few places where your curfew changes with the season.

StageSept–June, Sun–ThuSept–June, Fri–SatJuly–August
Learner permit6 a.m.–9 p.m. year-round
Provisional license6 a.m.–10:59 p.m.6 a.m.–11:59 p.m.6 a.m.–11:59 p.m. daily
Full license, ages 17–186 a.m.–10:59 p.m.6 a.m.–11:59 p.m.6 a.m.–11:59 p.m. daily
Full license, 18+No hour or passenger restrictions

Restricted-hour exceptions: work, a school-sponsored activity, a religious or athletic event or training you take part in, or a licensed driver 21+ belted in the seat beside you.

The knowledge test rules

DC DMV's knowledge test page is unusually detailed about what happens if things go wrong:

  • $10 per test, pass or fail (test info page).
  • Fail → wait three full calendar days. Fail on Tuesday, return Saturday.
  • Six failures in 12 months locks you out until 12 months after the first failure.
  • Cheating — a phone, a smartwatch, notes or talking — is an automatic fail plus a 60-day ban. Smart glasses and other wearable recording devices are restricted in testing areas.
  • Pass → you have 14 business days to bring your documents to a service center, or you test again.

Conflicting time limits. The knowledge-test page lists 75 minutes for the GRAD/learner test and 60 for non-commercial. The older test-info page says 50 and 40 minutes. We show both because we can't tell which is current. The newer page seems the safer bet, but don't count on extra time. DC DMV also doesn't state the passing score on the pages we reviewed.

Test it virtually, or walk in

Service centers test first-come, first-served. Virtual testing and the Test Proctoring Center need an appointment, and only cover the standard and GRAD tests. A language line helps applicants with limited English, and audio-assisted tests are available for anyone who needs reading help.

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DC DMV practice test

25 questions drawn from DC DMV's rules. The real GRAD test is 30 questions, but the pass mark isn't published, so this practice set is scored against 80%. DC DMV's own online practice test uses different questions from the real exam — use both.

Free quiz · no sign-up

DC DMV permit practice test

Questions
25
To pass
80%
About
17 min

Instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.

Preview the 25 free questions

  1. What is the minimum age for a DC DMV learner permit?

    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16
    • 17

  2. How many questions are on the GRAD knowledge test for ages 16–20?

    • 20
    • 25
    • 30
    • 40

  3. How many questions are on the standard knowledge test for drivers 21 and older?

    • 20
    • 25
    • 30
    • 50

  4. How much does DC DMV charge for each knowledge test?

    • Free
    • $5
    • $10
    • $20

  5. After failing the knowledge test, how long must you wait to retest?

    • 1 day
    • 3 full calendar days
    • 7 days
    • 14 days

  6. You fail the knowledge test on a Tuesday. When is the earliest you can retest?

    • Wednesday
    • Friday
    • Saturday
    • The next Monday

  7. How many failures within 12 months trigger a wait of 12 months from the first failure?

    • 3
    • 5
    • 6
    • 10

  8. If you're caught using a phone or study materials during the test, you can't retest for:

    • 7 days
    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 1 year

  9. After passing, how long do you have to visit a service center and get your permit?

    • 5 business days
    • 10 business days
    • 14 business days
    • 30 days

  10. During what hours may you drive with a DC learner permit?

    • 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
    • 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
    • 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
    • Any time

  11. From September to June, a provisional licensee may drive Sunday–Thursday until:

    • 9:59 p.m.
    • 10:59 p.m.
    • 11:59 p.m.
    • Midnight

  12. On Friday and Saturday, provisional drivers may drive until:

    • 10:59 p.m.
    • 11:59 p.m.
    • 1 a.m.
    • 2 a.m.

  13. In July and August, GRAD provisional drivers may drive:

    • 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
    • 6 a.m.–10:59 p.m.
    • 6 a.m.–11:59 p.m. every day
    • Without limits

  14. To drive during restricted hours (other than for an exception), the licensed driver beside you must be at least:

    • 18
    • 19
    • 21
    • 25

  15. At what age are you released from the GRAD program?

    • 18
    • 19
    • 20
    • 21

  16. What is the minimum age for a Full License with Conditions?

    • 16½
    • 17
    • 18
    • 21

  17. How long must you hold a provisional license before a Full License with Conditions?

    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 12 months

  18. How many hours of certified night driving do you need for a Full License with Conditions?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20

  19. To convert to a Full License with Conditions, how long must you go without a pointable offense?

    • 6 months
    • 9 months
    • 12 months
    • 18 months

  20. How many documents proving DC residency must you bring?

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4

  21. How long is a REAL ID learner permit valid for a US citizen?

    • 1 year
    • 18 months
    • 2 years
    • 4 years

  22. How long is the temporary paper permit valid while the card is mailed?

    • 15 days
    • 30 days
    • 45 days
    • 60 days

  23. Who needs a parental consent form for a learner permit?

    • 16- and 17-year-olds
    • Everyone under 21
    • Under-16s
    • No one

  24. Can you take the DC knowledge test virtually?

    • No
    • Yes, by appointment, for the standard and GRAD tests
    • Only the motorcycle test
    • Only the CDL test

  25. Once you're 18 with a full license, what hour or passenger restrictions apply?

    • The same as provisional
    • None
    • A midnight curfew
    • Weekends only

Getting the learner permit, in order

  1. Print and complete the driver license / ID application.
  2. Gather documents in four categories: proof of identity and age, two proofs of DC residency, proof of your Social Security number, and — at 16 or 17 — the parental consent form (with a birth certificate, adoption order or guardianship decree).
  3. At a service center: vision screening, then the knowledge test, then a new photo.
  4. Pay the permit fee.
  5. Leave with a temporary paper permit valid 45 days. The card is mailed within 10 business days, and never to a PO box.

You can't get a REAL ID learner permit if you owe the District money or have unpaid moving-violation fines elsewhere. Without a Social Security number you can get a Limited Purpose permit instead. A REAL ID learner permit lasts two years for US citizens and can't be renewed. Anyone under 21 is enrolled in GRAD automatically. Driver education isn't required, but DC DMV encourages it before the road test.

Provisional to full: the conditions

The provisional license page lists what you need for a Full License with Conditions:

  • Be at least 17, with six months on a provisional license.
  • 12 straight months (six on the permit plus six provisional) without admitting to, being liable for, or being convicted of a pointable offense.
  • A signed form certifying 10 hours of night driving with a fully licensed driver 21+, with a copy of that driver's license attached.
  • The $47 driver license fee. Eligible drivers can do the conversion online.

Not confirmed from DC DMV pages: the exact permit holding period before the road test, total supervised-hour requirements, passenger limits for provisional drivers, and the permit fee. We leave those out rather than guess.

Across the river

Many DC families also deal with Maryland (25 questions, 88% to pass) and Virginia (a separate 10-question signs section you must ace).

DC permit test FAQ

How many questions are on the DC permit test?

DC DMV's test information page lists 30 questions on the GRAD test (ages 16–20) and 25 on the standard test (21+). DC DMV doesn't state the passing score on the pages we reviewed.

How long do I wait to retake the DC knowledge test?

Three full calendar days — if you fail on Tuesday, you can retest on Saturday. After six failures within 12 months, you can't test a seventh time until 12 months after your first failure.

Can I take the DC DMV knowledge test online?

Yes, virtually by appointment, or at a Test Proctoring Center, for the standard and GRAD tests. Motorcycle and CDL tests must be taken in person. After passing, visit a service center within 14 business days.

What hours can I drive with a DC learner permit?

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. only.

How much is the DC DMV knowledge test?

$10 for each test, whether you pass or fail. We didn't confirm the learner permit fee itself; DC DMV lists it on its fees page.

What languages is the DC permit test in?

Fifteen languages, including Amharic, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese, plus nine more added December 15, 2025, such as Turkish, Farsi and Italian. Audio-assisted tests are also available.

Keep studying

Sources: DC DMV knowledge tests, DC DMV test info, learner permits, GRAD program, provisional license, DC driver manual listing. Independent study site; not affiliated with DC DMV.