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100+ Free DC DMV Permit Test Practice Questions

Pass your District of Columbia DMV Driver Knowledge Test exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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In the District of Columbia, for how long before turning must you continuously give a turn signal?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: DC DMV Permit Test Exam

80%

Passing Score Required

DC DMV

25 or 30

Questions (Standard vs GRAD Test)

DC DMV Driver Manual

$10

Test Fee at a DC DMV Service Center

DC DMV 2026

72 hours

Wait Time Before Retesting After a Fail

DC DMV Driver Manual

The DC DMV knowledge test is a computerized exam with an 80% pass mark. Applicants 21 and older take a 25-question standard test (20 correct to pass) with a 40-minute limit; applicants ages 16-20 take a 30-question GRAD test (24 correct to pass) with a 50-minute limit. The fee is $10 per attempt at a DC DMV Service Center. If you fail, you must wait at least 72 hours before retesting. All questions come from the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual.

Sample DC DMV Permit Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your DC DMV Permit Test exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What does an octagonal (eight-sided) traffic sign always mean?
A.Yield to crossing traffic
B.Come to a complete stop
C.Slow down for a hazard ahead
D.No entry permitted
Explanation: The octagonal shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs. When you see this shape you must come to a complete stop at the stop line, crosswalk, or before entering the intersection. The unique shape lets you recognize the sign even in poor visibility when you cannot read the lettering.
2What color background do regulatory signs such as speed limit and parking signs use?
A.Yellow with black symbols
B.Orange with black symbols
C.White with black letters
D.Green with white letters
Explanation: Regulatory signs, including speed limit and parking signs, have black letters or numerals on a white background. White signals a law or rule you must obey. Recognizing colors at a glance helps you respond before you are close enough to read the words.
3What does a five-sided (pentagon) shaped sign indicate?
A.A railroad crossing ahead
B.A school zone or school crossing
C.A no-passing zone
D.A divided highway begins
Explanation: The pentagon (five-sided) shape is used only to warn of school zones and to mark school crossings. When you see this shape, expect children near the roadway and be prepared to slow down and stop. The DC Driver Manual stresses extra caution around schools and playgrounds.
4What does an orange traffic sign indicate?
A.A motorist service such as fuel or lodging
B.A construction or maintenance work area
C.A recreational or cultural point of interest
D.A regulatory parking restriction
Explanation: Orange signs warn drivers of construction and maintenance work areas. In a work zone you should reduce speed, watch for workers and equipment, and be ready for shifted lanes or flaggers. Fines for traffic violations in work zones are typically increased.
5A diamond-shaped traffic sign is used to convey what kind of message?
A.A guide message such as a route number
B.A general warning of conditions or hazards ahead
C.A mandatory stop
D.A motorist service location
Explanation: Diamond-shaped signs warn drivers of special conditions or hazards ahead, such as curves, merges, or pedestrian crossings. When you see a diamond sign you may need to slow down and be ready to react. Most warning signs are black on a yellow background.
6What does a round, black-on-yellow traffic sign warn you about?
A.A pedestrian crosswalk ahead
B.A railroad crossing ahead
C.A school zone ahead
D.A sharp curve ahead
Explanation: A round sign with black markings on a yellow background is used only to warn that a railroad crossing is ahead. Slow down, look, and listen for trains as you approach. Pavement markings of a white 'X' and the letters 'RR' reinforce this warning.
7What should you do when you approach a triangular yield sign?
A.Always come to a full stop before proceeding
B.Slow down, and stop if necessary, then give the right-of-way to crossing traffic
C.Maintain speed because crossing traffic must yield to you
D.Sound your horn and proceed without slowing
Explanation: A yield sign requires you to slow down as you approach, look left, right, then left again, and stop only if necessary. You must give the right-of-way to any pedestrian, bicyclist, or vehicle, and may proceed only when it is safe. Unlike a stop sign, a yield sign does not always require a complete stop.
8In the District of Columbia, what must a driver facing a steady red traffic signal do before making a permitted right turn on red?
A.Slow to a rolling pace and turn if no cars are coming
B.Make a complete stop before the crosswalk and yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other traffic
C.Wait for the signal to turn green before turning
D.Turn immediately because right turns always have priority
Explanation: Where right turn on red is permitted in DC, you must first come to a complete stop before the crosswalk and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other traffic lawfully using the intersection. A right turn on red is never allowed where a sign prohibits it. DC law now requires no-turn-on-red signs at red-light intersections, and turning where signage prohibits it can bring a $100 fine.
9Under District of Columbia law, when may you make a left turn at a red traffic signal?
A.When turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street
B.When no oncoming traffic is present
C.Never — a left turn on red is illegal in the District of Columbia
D.Only between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Explanation: It is illegal to make a left turn on a red signal anywhere in the District of Columbia. Unlike some states that allow a left on red from one one-way street onto another, DC prohibits the maneuver entirely. You must wait for a green signal before turning left.
10What is the default speed limit on District of Columbia city streets unless otherwise posted?
A.20 miles per hour
B.25 miles per hour
C.30 miles per hour
D.35 miles per hour
Explanation: Unless a different limit is posted, the speed limit on District of Columbia city streets is 25 miles per hour. DC lowered its default urban limit to 25 mph as part of the Vision Zero effort to reduce traffic deaths. Always watch for posted signs that may set a lower or higher limit.

About the DC DMV Permit Test Exam

The DC DMV Driver Knowledge Test is the written exam required to obtain a learner permit or driver license in the District of Columbia. It is a computerized, touch-screen test covering traffic laws, road signs, rules of the road, and safe driving practices drawn from the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual. Applicants 21 and older take a 25-question standard test, while applicants ages 16-20 take a 30-question GRAD test under the Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers program. Both require 80% to pass.

Questions

25 scored questions

Time Limit

40 minutes (standard) or 50 minutes (GRAD test)

Passing Score

80% — 20 of 25 on the standard test, or 24 of 30 on the GRAD test

Exam Fee

$10 per attempt at a DC DMV Service Center (DC Department of Motor Vehicles)

DC DMV Permit Test Exam Content Outline

Core topic

Road Signs, Signals & Pavement Markings

Sign colors and shapes, regulatory and warning signs, traffic signals, lane-use signals, and pavement markings from the DC Driver Manual

Core topic

Rules of the Road

Right-of-way, DC speed limits, lane use, turns and signaling, passing, and parking rules

Core topic

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, large trucks, streetcars, school buses, and emergency vehicles

Core topic

Safe Driving & Adverse Conditions

Following distance, night and winter driving, rain and fog, skid recovery, emergencies, and collision duties

Core topic

Alcohol, Drugs & Impaired Driving

DC BAC limits, the implied consent law, distracted driving rules, and impaired-driving penalties

Core topic

Licensing & the GRAD Program

Learner permits, provisional and full licenses, and Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers requirements

How to Pass the DC DMV Permit Test Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80% — 20 of 25 on the standard test, or 24 of 30 on the GRAD test
  • Exam length: 25 questions
  • Time limit: 40 minutes (standard) or 50 minutes (GRAD test)
  • Exam fee: $10 per attempt at a DC DMV Service Center

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

DC DMV Permit Test Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the entire DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual — every test question is drawn from it and you cannot use it during the exam
2Memorize DC-specific numbers: the 25 mph default city limit, 15 mph in alleys and school zones, the 0.08 BAC DWI threshold, and the ban on left turns on red
3Master sign colors and shapes so you can identify a sign by its appearance alone, even in poor visibility
4Learn the GRAD program stages — learner permit, provisional license, and full license — and the age, holding-period, and supervised-hours requirements for each
5Take timed practice tests and aim for 90% or higher before booking, giving yourself a comfortable buffer above the 80% pass mark

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the DC DMV knowledge test?

The number of questions depends on your age. Applicants 21 and older take a 25-question standard test with a 40-minute time limit. Applicants ages 16-20 are in the GRAD program and take a 30-question test with a 50-minute limit. Both versions are computerized, touch-screen exams.

What is the passing score for the DC DMV permit test?

You must score at least 80% to pass. On the 25-question standard test that means 20 correct answers, and on the 30-question GRAD test that means 24 correct answers. The same 80% standard applies to both versions of the exam.

How much does the DC DMV knowledge test cost?

The knowledge test costs $10 per attempt when taken at a DC DMV Service Center, and the fee is charged whether you pass or fail. Other options are available at higher fees, including testing at a Test Proctoring Center and virtual testing. Check dmv.dc.gov for current fees before you go.

What happens if I fail the DC DMV knowledge test?

If you fail, you must wait at least 72 hours (three days) before you can retest, and you must pay the fee again. If you fail six consecutive times, you cannot retest until 12 months from the date of your first failed attempt. Studying the DC Driver Manual thoroughly helps you pass on the first try.

What is the GRAD program in the District of Columbia?

GRAD stands for Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers. It is DC's graduated licensing program for novice drivers ages 16-20, who progress through a learner permit, a provisional license, and a full license, each with its own restrictions. GRAD is mandatory for drivers under 21 and does not apply to applicants 21 and older.

Can I turn right on red in the District of Columbia?

A right turn on red is allowed only where it is not prohibited by a sign, and you must first come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other traffic. DC law now requires no-turn-on-red signs at red-light intersections, and a left turn on red is never allowed anywhere in the District.

What study material should I use for the DC DMV permit test?

All test questions come from the DC DMV Automobile Driver Manual, available free on dmv.dc.gov. The manual covers signs and signals, rules of the road, sharing the road, safe driving, impaired driving, and the GRAD licensing process. You cannot refer to the manual during the test.