DC · Drivers education
Washington, D.C. drivers ed guide
The District of Columbia does not make anyone take driver education; DC DMV shelved its planned mandatory course indefinitely in 2016. First-time drivers under 21 move through the GRAD program instead: six months on a learner permit, 40 hours of certified practice, then a road test. Moving violations are decided by DC DMV hearing examiners rather than a court, and an examiner can approve an online defensive driving course that keeps the points off your record.
Checked against District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles on 2026-10-23.
Teaching a Teen to Drive in Washington, D.C.: The GRAD Path
This page is for parents in the District whose teen is nearly 16, and for teens who want to know what the next two years hold. Most families first ask whether they must pay for driver education. They need not: DC DMV fro...
- Is a course required?No, the requirement is suspended indefinitely
- Approved course, if you want one30 classroom hours plus 8 at the wheel
- Youngest learner permit age16
D.C. for Adult Beginners: Permit, Road Test and the Age 21 Line
This page is for District residents 18 or older who have never been licensed. What you really need to know is which rulebook you fall under, and your birthday decides it. No one is required to take a course. If you are 2...
- Course required for adultsNo
- Ages covered by GRAD16 to 20
- Permit wait at 21 or olderNone before booking a road test
Defensive Driving in D.C.: How Traffic School Approval Works
This page is for anyone holding a District moving violation who wants to protect their record. Your decision is whether to pay or contest, and here it matters more than in most places. DC DMV has an approved online cours...
- Who approves the courseA DC DMV hearing examiner
- How you askContest by mail and request a points waiver
- Fine due after approvalWithin 15 calendar days