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The DC DMV knowledge test checks traffic laws, rules of the road, safe driving and road signs, all from the DC DMV Driver Manual (December 2023). This page gives you 36 original practice questions that cover the manual’s chapters, with the District rules that differ from neighboring Maryland and Virginia. They are unofficial practice, not DC DMV questions.
What to know about the real DC test
- Fee as of November 2026: $10 at a DC DMV service center, $39.95 at a Test Proctoring Center, $49.95 virtual. You pay whether you pass or fail.
- Time limit for the GRAD (learner permit) knowledge test: 75 minutes.
- Fail it and you wait 3 full calendar days to retest. Six fails in 12 months locks you out until 12 months after the first fail.
- Phones, watches, notes or talking count as cheating: you fail and cannot retest for 60 days.
- Question count and pass mark: ask DC DMV if you need them.
Documents, permit types and fees: the DC DMV learner permit and knowledge test guide.
Signs, signals and markings (questions 1 to 10)
1. A red octagon with white letters means:
- A. Stop only if traffic is coming
- B. Slow down and yield
- C. Do not enter
- D. Come to a complete stop
Answer: D. STOP signs are the only eight-sided signs. Manual topic: identifying signs by colors and shapes.
2. A square sign showing a red circle crossed by a white horizontal bar means:
- A. Do not enter
- B. Road closed for repairs
- C. Railroad crossing
- D. Hospital
Answer: A. DO NOT ENTER marks the wrong way onto a one-way street or ramp. Manual topic: regulatory signs.
3. Yellow signs are used for:
- A. Parking rules
- B. Speed limits only
- C. General warnings about the road ahead
- D. Directions to destinations
Answer: C. Yellow warns of curves, intersections, crossings and similar hazards. See US road signs by shape and color. Manual topic: signs by color.
4. Blue signs along a highway show:
- A. Construction
- B. School zones
- C. Speed limits
- D. Motorist services such as gas, food and lodging
Answer: D. Blue is for services. Green gives directions; brown points to recreation. Manual topic: signs by color.
5. The traffic light is green, but a police officer signals you to stop. You must:
- A. Go if the officer is not directly in front of you
- B. Honk to ask the officer to move
- C. Follow the green light
- D. Obey the officer and stop
Answer: D. An officer’s directions override signals and signs. The manual uses this as a sample question. Manual topic: driver license examination process.
6. A flashing yellow signal means:
- A. The intersection is closed
- B. Pedestrians only
- C. Slow down and proceed with caution
- D. Stop and wait for green
Answer: C. Flashing yellow is a warning. Flashing red means stop first, as at a STOP sign. See traffic signals in the US. Manual topic: signals.
7. A broken yellow center line on your side means:
- A. You are in a bus lane
- B. Passing is never allowed
- C. You may pass when it is safe
- D. The road is one way
Answer: C. Broken yellow lets traffic pass with care; a solid yellow line on your side does not. See US pavement markings. Manual topic: pavement markings.
8. A diamond symbol painted in a lane usually marks:
- A. A merge point
- B. A school crossing
- C. A lane reserved for certain vehicles, such as carpools or buses
- D. A pothole
Answer: C. The diamond marks a reserved lane, such as an HOV lane. Read the signs for who may use it and when. See HOV lanes explained.
9. The white line painted across your lane at an intersection is where you:
- A. Park
- B. Speed up
- C. Stop when the signal or sign requires it
- D. Begin a U-turn
Answer: C. Stop behind the stop line, not in the crosswalk. Manual topic: pavement markings.
10. A pedestrian is walking in a marked crosswalk ahead with no signal. You must:
- A. Stop and let them cross
- B. Go around them
- C. Continue if they are not in your lane yet
- D. Honk and pass behind them
Answer: A. Pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way. DC streets have heavy foot traffic, so expect them everywhere. See pedestrians and crosswalks.
DC driving and traffic rules (questions 11 to 25)
11. Unless a sign says otherwise, what is the speed limit on a DC city street?
- A. 15 mph
- B. 20 mph
- C. 25 mph
- D. 30 mph
Answer: B. The DC default on city streets is 20 mph. See speed limits and the basic speed law. Manual topic: traffic rules.
12. What is the DC speed limit in alleys and school zones, unless posted?
- A. 10 mph
- B. 15 mph
- C. 20 mph
- D. 25 mph
Answer: B. 15 mph in alleys and in school zones. Manual topic: traffic rules.
13. Can you turn left on a red light in DC?
- A. No, left on red is illegal in DC
- B. Yes, at night only
- C. Yes, from one one-way street to another
- D. Yes, after a full stop
Answer: A. The DC manual says left on red is not allowed. For right turns on red, obey every NO TURN ON RED sign and check DDOT’s current rule. See right on red in the US.
14. How far before a turn must you signal in DC?
- A. At least 100 feet
- B. At least 300 feet
- C. At least 200 feet
- D. At least 50 feet
Answer: A. 100 feet before a turn. A lane change needs at least 300 feet. Manual topic: driving rules, signaling.
15. How far ahead must you signal before changing lanes in DC?
- A. 50 feet
- B. 100 feet
- C. 200 feet
- D. 300 feet
Answer: D. At least 300 feet for a lane change. See lane changes and blind spots.
16. Where are U-turns banned in DC?
- A. Only at night
- B. Only on highways
- C. At intersections with traffic lights, and on a crosswalk next to one
- D. Nowhere; they are always legal
Answer: C. The manual bans U-turns at signalized intersections and on an adjacent crosswalk. See U-turn rules.
17. When passing a cyclist in DC you must leave at least:
- A. 2 feet
- B. 3 feet
- C. 4 feet
- D. 6 feet
Answer: B. At least 3 feet. The manual also says not to sound your horn as you pass. See sharing the road.
18. Which of these is legal for a fully licensed adult DC driver?
- A. Wearing earphones attached to a music player
- B. Talking on a phone hands-free
- C. Texting at a stop sign
- D. Holding the phone to your ear at a red light
Answer: B. All DC drivers must be hands-free. Headsets or earphones attached to an audio device are banned; phone earphones and hearing aids are allowed. See hands-free and texting laws.
19. On a one-way DC street with more than one lane, you may pass:
- A. Not at all
- B. On either side, when it is safe
- C. Only on the right
- D. Only on the left
Answer: B. The manual allows passing on either side on multi-lane one-way roads and highways with four or more lanes. Manual topic: driving rules, passing.
20. You are joining an interstate from a short entrance ramp with no acceleration lane. The manual’s advice is to:
- A. Stop and wait for traffic to clear completely
- B. Find a gap in traffic first, then speed up
- C. Speed up first, then look for a gap
- D. Merge slowly and expect others to brake
Answer: B. This is one of the manual’s sample questions. With no lane to build speed, pick the gap before you go. See freeway driving for new drivers.
21. How close to a fire hydrant may you park in DC?
- A. 5 feet
- B. 10 feet
- C. 15 feet
- D. 20 feet
Answer: B. Not within 10 feet of a hydrant. See US parking rules. Manual topic: parking rules.
22. You may not park within how many feet of a driveway or alley in DC?
- A. 5 feet
- B. 10 feet
- C. 15 feet
- D. 25 feet
Answer: A. 5 feet from a driveway or alley entrance. Manual topic: parking rules.
23. How far in front of a stop sign or traffic signal at the roadside must you keep clear when parking?
- A. 10 feet
- B. 15 feet
- C. 20 feet
- D. 25 feet
Answer: D. 25 feet in front of a stop sign or signal. Manual topic: parking rules.
24. Why should nothing hang from your rearview mirror in DC?
- A. DC regulations forbid it, and it can get your road test vehicle rejected
- B. It drains the battery
- C. It blocks the airbag
- D. It is legal, just untidy
Answer: A. Objects on the mirror block your view. See the DC road skills test guide.
25. An emergency vehicle with lights and siren comes up behind you. You should:
- A. Speed up to stay ahead
- B. Pull to the right, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes
- C. Move left
- D. Stop in the middle of the lane
Answer: B. Give it a clear path and stop until it has gone by. See pulling over for emergency vehicles.
Safe driving (questions 26 to 29)
26. Which of these is the only thing that removes alcohol from your body?
- A. Coffee
- B. Eating a meal
- C. A cold shower
- D. Time
Answer: D. Only time removes alcohol. Nothing speeds it up. See implied consent and DUI. Manual topic: driver information, alcohol and drugs.
27. A medicine label warns it may cause drowsiness. Before driving you should:
- A. Drink coffee to cancel it out
- B. Drive, because legal drugs cannot impair you
- C. Drive only on highways
- D. Not drive until you know how it affects you, and ask a pharmacist if unsure
Answer: D. Legal medicines can impair driving just as alcohol can. See drugged driving.
28. In heavy rain your car starts to hydroplane. You should:
- A. Speed up
- B. Steer sharply to the shoulder
- C. Brake hard
- D. Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight; do not brake hard
Answer: D. Let the car slow until the tires grip the road again. See driving in snow, fog and rain.
29. A large truck ahead is turning right and swings wide to the left first. You should:
- A. Pass it on the right
- B. Honk until it straightens
- C. Pull alongside it
- D. Stay back and let it complete the turn
Answer: D. Trucks need room to turn right. Never squeeze into the gap on its right. Manual topic: sharing the road.
Permits, GRAD and points (questions 30 to 36)
30. What hours may a DC learner permit holder drive?
- A. 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- B. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- C. 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- D. Any time with a supervisor
Answer: B. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, with no exceptions. See DC GRAD hours and restrictions.
31. Who must sit beside a DC learner permit holder?
- A. Any licensed driver aged 18 or older
- B. Any adult passenger
- C. A driving instructor only
- D. A driver aged 21 or older with a valid full license, wearing a seat belt
Answer: D. The supervisor must be 21 or older with a full license, in the front passenger seat and belted. The manual says no other passengers.
32. How many certified practice hours do you need before the DC road skills test?
- A. 30
- B. 40
- C. 50
- D. 60
Answer: B. 40 hours on the 40-hour certification form. Then 10 night hours on the provisional license. See DC 40-hour and 10-hour certifications.
33. During the school year, until what time may a DC provisional license holder drive on a Friday or Saturday night?
- A. 9 p.m.
- B. 10:59 p.m.
- C. 11:59 p.m.
- D. 1 a.m.
Answer: C. Sunday to Thursday the limit is 10:59 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:59 p.m. In July and August it is 11:59 p.m. every day.
34. On a full license with conditions, a DC driver under 18 may carry no more than how many passengers under 21 (siblings not counted)?
- A. 1
- B. 2
- C. 3
- D. 4
Answer: B. No more than 2 passengers under 21; siblings do not count. On the provisional license, only one licensed driver 21 or older plus siblings or parents may ride.
35. A DC driver reaches how many points for an automatic suspension?
- A. 6
- B. 8
- C. 10
- D. 12
Answer: C. 10 or 11 points means a 90-day suspension; 12 or more means revocation for at least 6 months. Points stay on the record for 2 years. See points systems.
36. A DC learner permit holder with 8 or more points, or a GRAD violation, faces:
- A. A 30-day warning period
- B. A $50 fine only
- C. A 90-day permit suspension
- D. Nothing until the road test
Answer: C. The permit is suspended for 90 days and a reinstatement fee applies. Any pointable violation also delays the provisional license.
Common questions
How many questions are on the DC permit test?
Ask DC DMV for the number and the pass mark. Treat any figure you see elsewhere as unofficial, and aim to get nearly all of these practice questions right.
Are these the real DC DMV questions?
No. They are original and unofficial. DC DMV links to a free practice test, but says it does not contain real exam questions either.
Can I take the DC knowledge test online?
Yes, a proctored virtual test by appointment, for $49.95 as of November 2026. Service center testing is first come, first served.
What languages is the DC test in?
English plus many others, including Amharic, Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), French, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese, with more added from December 15, 2025. Audio-assisted tests are available. See permit tests in other languages.
What vision standard do I need?
20/40 or better in your best eye, or 20/70 or better in your best eye plus a field of at least 140 degrees. Glasses are allowed.
I don’t have a Social Security number. Can I still take the test?
Yes, for a Limited Purpose permit, if you have lived in DC for 6 months. See the DC Limited Purpose license, and the full guide to learning to drive in Washington DC. Other states: US permit practice tests.
Sources
- District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, “DC DMV Driver Manual” (English, December 2023)
- District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Knowledge Tests” (dmv.dc.gov)
- District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, “GRAD License Program” (dmv.dc.gov)
- District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Vision Screening” (dmv.dc.gov)
- District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver License Fees” (dmv.dc.gov)
- Council of the District of Columbia, “D.C. Code § 50-1401.01” (code.dccouncil.gov)