District of Columbia · Permit testFree and paid study options
| Option | Price | Free to use | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official and free | |||
DC DMV Automobile Driver ManualOfficial · online flipbookDC DMV’s manual for the car knowledge test, on a page dated January 22, 2024, in English, Spanish, French, Amharic, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean. DC DMV says to study all of it. Printed copies are no longer handed out, and you can’t use it during the test. | Free | The whole manual, in 7 languages | |
DC DMV Practice Knowledge TestsOfficial · webDC DMV’s own practice test, hosted on ProProfs in English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Amharic, with Chinese and Korean listed as unavailable. DC DMV says it’s for information only and has no questions from the real test. In October 2026 all five linked versions said access was temporarily paused. | Free | 25 sample questions in 60 minutes, paused in October 2026 | |
DC DMV Teen Driver websiteOfficial · webDC DMV’s site for teen drivers sets out the three GRAD stages and driving hours, and links the parental consent form, the 40-hour and 10-hour certification forms and the manuals. | Free | GRAD rules, forms and tips | |
| Apps and websites | |||
ZutobiWeb and app · all statesSays it has 600+ DC questions set out as short, game-style lessons with videos, and that its course follows the District of Columbia Driver Manual. The app has 4.7 stars from about 239,000 App Store ratings. | Free start, then Zutobi PLUS (App Store prices from $4.99) | A free start on the DC course | |
DMV GenieApp · all statesSays it has 500+ questions for each state, based on that state’s manual, with car, motorcycle and CDL tests in one app. Pick DC when you start. It has 4.8 stars from about 184,000 App Store ratings. | Free to download, Premium in the app from $15.99 for 7 days (App Store listing) | Practice tests; some features need Premium | |
DMV-Permit-Test.comWeb · all statesHas numbered DC car practice tests, a Spanish version, motorcycle tests and CDL tests by endorsement. It describes the real test as 25 questions with 18 to pass, which isn’t what DC DMV’s testing partner lists (35 questions for ages 16 to 20, 30 for 21 and older). DC DMV’s knowledge test page and its testing partner’s FAQ don’t state a pass mark. | Free tests; a $15.99 one-time cheat sheet | DC car, motorcycle and CDL practice tests | |
| In person | |||
DC DMV-approved driver education schoolsDriver educationNot required in DC, but DC DMV encourages it. Schools certified before 2016 teach the approved course of 30 classroom hours and 8 hours behind the wheel. DC DMV lists five schools in the District, plus some in Maryland and Virginia, and marks the ones that teach in other languages. | Set by each school | Not listed | |
Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
Is there an official DC DMV practice test?
Yes. DC DMV links an online practice knowledge test, hosted on ProProfs, in English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Amharic, and lists Chinese and Korean versions as currently unavailable. In October 2026 all five linked versions showed a message saying access was temporarily paused. DC DMV’s testing partner lists 35 questions for the real GRAD test and 30 for the standard test, so the 25-question practice test is shorter than either.
A study plan for the DC knowledge test
- Read the whole Automobile Driver Manual once, in the language you’re most comfortable with.
- Go back over signs, signals and right-of-way, then the rules for pedestrians, school buses and railroad crossings.
- Write down DC’s own numbers: 20 mph wherever no limit is posted, 15 mph in alleys and in school zones from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., 15 feet from a stopped school bus.
- If DC DMV’s practice test is open again, take it, then an app’s tests, and reread the part of the manual behind every miss.
- Teens can use DC DMV’s teen driver site, dcdmvteens.com, for the GRAD rules and forms.
Choosing an app or website
Pick one written for DC, so the questions follow the District’s manual and laws rather than a state’s. Check what it says about the real test: some sites describe a 25-question test with 18 to pass, while DC DMV’s testing partner lists 35 or 30 questions and neither DC DMV’s knowledge test page nor its testing partner’s FAQ states a pass mark. Some app plans renew every week, so read the price before you subscribe.
Driving schools and driver education
Driver education isn’t required in DC, but DC DMV encourages it before the road test. Schools DC DMV certified before 2016 still teach its approved course of 30 classroom hours and 8 hours behind the wheel, and each school sets its own price. In the District, DC DMV lists CAS Driving School, DC Star Driving School, Dexterity Driving School, Ethio Star Driving School and Young’s Driving School. Dexterity and Young’s also teach in languages other than English.
Sources: DC DMV · TakeMyDrivingTest.com, DC DMV’s authorized testing partner and 4 more. Checked October 2026.
- DC DMV: Practice Knowledge Tests ↗
- DC DMV: Practice Knowledge Test (English), on ProProfs ↗
- DC DMV: Automobile Driver Manual ↗
- DC DMV: Driver Education ↗
- DC DMV: Teen Driver website ↗
- TakeMyDrivingTest.com, DC DMV’s authorized testing partner: FAQs ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.