Washington, DC · Driver License

Washington, DC Permit Practice Test

The Washington, DC permit test is administered by District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. This free practice test covers the 10 areas the DC DMV Driver Manual English teaches, from visual search driver fitness and distraction to sign shapes colors and pavement markings, with 100 questions written for Washington, DC and every answer explained. Pick 25, 50, or 100 questions and start; there is no sign-up.

Free practice test

Take the Washington, DC permit practice test

The Washington, DC bank holds 100 questions written for the DC DMV Driver Manual English, 6 of them illustrated with a sign, signal, marking, or road scene. Choose a Quick check of 25, a Practice run of 50, or the Full challenge of 100 on the next screen, then choose coaching mode, which explains every answer as you go, or exam mode, which holds the explanations until the end and still shows your running score. It is free, there is no sign-up, and a test in progress is saved on this device.

Start the Washington, DC practice test
Sample questions

Six questions from the Washington, DC bank, with the rule behind each answer

Sample 1 · Visual Search Driver Fitness And Distraction

You are angry after an argument and are about to drive across the District. What is the safest response?

  1. Wait until you are calm or have someone else driveCorrect
  2. Drive immediately but keep the radio off
  3. Drive faster so the trip ends sooner
  4. Ignore the emotion because it cannot affect driving

Why: A driver who is angry or emotionally upset should calm down before driving or let another person drive. Therefore, the supported response is "Wait until you are calm or have someone else drive".

Sample 2 · Speed Space Weather And Night Driving

Why should you be especially cautious when a light rain has just begun?

  1. Water can mix with roadway residue and make the surface unusually slickCorrect
  2. The pavement immediately becomes rougher than dry concrete
  3. Tire tread stops contacting the road at every speed
  4. Traffic signals automatically change more quickly

Why: Pavement can be especially slippery at the start of light rain because water mixes with oil and other residue before the road is washed clean. Therefore, the supported response is "Water can mix with roadway residue and make the surface unusually slick".

Sample 3 · Intersections Right Of Way And Pedestrians

You are leaving a private driveway to enter a District street. Who has priority?

  1. Approaching roadway users and pedestriansCorrect
  2. The driveway vehicle in every situation
  3. Only vehicles approaching from the left
  4. Only pedestrians who wave first

Why: A driver entering a public street from a private road or driveway must stop and yield to approaching vehicles and pedestrians. Therefore, the supported response is "Approaching roadway users and pedestrians".

Sample 4 · Highways Roundabouts Railroads And Emergencies

You are taking a right-side interstate exit. Where should you begin most of your slowing?

  1. On the shoulder before the exit signs
  2. Only after stopping at the end of the ramp
  3. In the deceleration lane after leaving the main travel laneCorrect
  4. In the main highway lane well before the exit

Why: A driver leaving an interstate should avoid slowing on the main roadway and begin reducing speed after entering the deceleration lane. Therefore, the supported response is "In the deceleration lane after leaving the main travel lane".

Sample 5 · Sharing The Road With Bicycles Motorcycles Trucks Buses And Streetcars

How much side clearance should you normally provide while passing a bicyclist?

  1. No clearance if the bicycle is inside a lane
  2. Only enough to keep the mirrors from touching
  3. About three feetCorrect
  4. A few inches

Why: When passing a bicyclist, a motorist should wait for a safe opportunity and leave about three feet of side clearance. Therefore, the supported response is "About three feet".

Sample 6 · Sign Shapes Colors And Pavement Markings

Which group of messages is associated with red traffic signs?

  1. Motorist services and hospitals
  2. Distance and destination guidance
  3. Stop, yield, do not enter, and wrong wayCorrect
  4. Recreation, parks, and cultural sites

Why: Red is used for stop, yield, do-not-enter, and wrong-way messages. Therefore, the supported response is "Stop, yield, do not enter, and wrong way".

What is on the test

The 10 topics the Washington, DC permit practice test covers

These are Washington, DC's own topic areas, from visual search driver fitness and distraction to sign shapes colors and pavement markings, each with 10 questions. Under each one are two questions from the bank, shown without their answers; the practice test explains every one of them.

  1. Visual Search Driver Fitness And Distraction10 questions
    • A driver misses an exit and cannot remember the last few miles. What should the driver do?
    • When should a driver enter a destination and review an unfamiliar route?
  2. Vehicle Readiness And Occupant Protection10 questions
    • Which preparation belongs before the vehicle starts moving?
    • Who should be properly belted before a passenger vehicle is driven?
  3. Speed Space Weather And Night Driving10 questions
    • During a District downpour, the vehicle starts hydroplaning and feels almost disconnected from the pavement. Which immediate control inputs are appropriate?
    • Water covers the roadway ahead, and you cannot judge its depth. What is the proper decision?
  4. Turns Backing Lane Changes And Passing10 questions
    • What is the best sequence when preparing for a turn in traffic?
    • Before reversing from a parking space, how should you check the path behind the vehicle?
  5. Intersections Right Of Way And Pedestrians10 questions
    • Your light turns green while people and a vehicle are still clearing the intersection. What should you do?
    • A pedestrian in a crosswalk is one lane away and approaching your vehicle's lane. What is required?
  6. Highways Roundabouts Railroads And Emergencies10 questions
    • You realize you have taken the wrong interstate exit. What should you do?
    • After entering a District roundabout, in which direction does traffic circulate around the center island?
  7. Parking Curbs And Stopping Restrictions10 questions
    • Which actions are required when leaving a vehicle parked on a District street?
    • How close to the curb must a parallel-parked vehicle be on a two-way District street?
  8. Sharing The Road With Bicycles Motorcycles Trucks Buses And Streetcars10 questions
    • Which technique helps you see a bicyclist before opening a door into the street?
    • A motorcycle shifts from one side of its lane to the other around surface defects. How should you interpret this movement?
  9. Signals Work Zones And Lane Controls10 questions
    • What color commonly identifies a temporary work-zone warning sign?
    • A work-zone flagger holds a STOP paddle even though the lane ahead looks open. What must you do?
  10. Sign Shapes Colors And Pavement Markings10 questions
    • What message can you identify from an octagonal sign even when its lettering is obscured?
    • A five-sided warning sign appears beside the road. What type of area should you expect?
How to prepare

A study plan for the Washington, DC permit test

1

Find out where you stand

Take a Quick check of 25 in coaching mode. Read each explanation, including the ones you got right; it tells you the rule Washington, DC tests, not just the answer.

2

Study the topics you missed

Your account's Study tab ranks the 10 topics by your results. Read that chapter of the DC DMV Driver Manual English, then take another Quick check to confirm the gap has closed.

3

Rehearse the real thing

Take the Full challenge of 100 in exam mode. Aim for 80 percent or better twice in a row; at that point you are answering from the rules, not from memory of the questions.

Questions

Washington, DC permit practice test questions

Is this the official Washington, DC permit test?

No. DMV Exam Pass is an independent study service and is not affiliated with District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. The questions are written in the style of the exam to prepare you for it; the official test is taken with the agency.

What does the Washington, DC permit practice test cover?

The 100 questions are spread evenly across 10 topics: Visual Search Driver Fitness And Distraction, Vehicle Readiness And Occupant Protection, Speed Space Weather And Night Driving, Turns Backing Lane Changes And Passing, Intersections Right Of Way And Pedestrians, Highways Roundabouts Railroads And Emergencies, Parking Curbs And Stopping Restrictions, Sharing The Road With Bicycles Motorcycles Trucks Buses And Streetcars, Signals Work Zones And Lane Controls, and Sign Shapes Colors And Pavement Markings. Every test you take draws from all of them, so a weak area shows up quickly.

How many questions are in the practice test, and how long does it take?

The Washington, DC bank holds 100 questions. A Quick check of 25 takes about ten minutes, a Practice run of 50 about twenty, and the Full challenge of 100 about forty. You can pause any time.

Are these the real questions from the Washington, DC exam?

No. Nobody outside the agency has the real questions, and we do not use, claim, or advertise leaked or exact exam questions. These are independently written questions that test the same rules, so what you learn transfers to whatever the real test asks.

Which handbook should I study for the Washington, DC permit test?

The DC DMV Driver Manual English, published by District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Every question here is written for it, and each explanation names the rule, so when you miss a question you know which chapter to read.

What is the difference between coaching mode and exam mode?

Coaching mode shows whether each answer was right, and why, before you move on; it is for learning. Exam mode holds the explanations and the correct choices until the end and still shows your running score; it is for checking readiness. Both draw from the same bank, and scoring happens on our servers, so no answer key is loaded in your browser.

Does the practice test include road signs and pictures?

Yes. 6 of the 100 questions are illustrated with a sign, signal, marking, or road scene, the way the permit test presents them.

Is the Washington, DC practice test free, and do I need an account?

It is free, with no sign-up. An optional account saves your progress across devices and shows which topics need work.

Can I pause and come back later?

Yes. A test in progress is saved on this device and offered again when you return. With an account, it is saved to your account as well, so you can continue on another device.

What score should I aim for before test day?

Aim for 80 percent or better on a Full challenge in exam mode, more than once. The official passing score is set by the agency; scoring consistently above 80 here means you are answering from the rules rather than from luck.