Learner's Permits

All information listed on this page is in addition to the requirements found on the main Licensing Services page. Documents required for a learner's permit are the same as the documents required for a standard driver's license.

The new Learner's Permits are available to District residents ages 13 and up. Testing is not required; however, any person over the age of 21 must certify that the learner's permit applicant has been behind the wheel at least 8 hours during the day and 3 hours at night.

Additionally, any person over the age of 21 must also sign a document stating that the applicant has not stolen a car in the past ninety (90) days and that the applicant is enrolled in some form of schooling. The DC DMV Learner's Permits feature a green bar at the top and an invisible red box around the photo to alert any police officers and store clerks that the identification card belongs to someone under 18. On cases of learner's permits or driver's licenses for persons under 21, the box and bar become a shade of yellow flint mica.

Learner's Permits are available at the age of 13 due to the large number of car crashes involving youths aged 13-15. Former DC DMV Director Shae Kims implemented the Young Drivers Act of 2006 to help educate young drivers and reduce the amount of fatalities connected to stolen cars in The District.

Non Driver ID Cards

Non Driver ID Cards are available to any resident of The District of Columbia ages 12 and up. DCDMV currently does not verify social security numbers for applicants of Non Driver ID Cards. These IDs are not valid for employment or air travel.