District of Columbia Graduated Licensing Program (GRAD)
What You Need to Know about the GRAD Program
If you are under 21 years and apply for your first learner permit, you will follow the D.C. Graduated Licensing Program, known as D.C. GRAD or GDL
The program is designed to let novice drivers safely gain a gradual driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. It has three steps for all young new drivers:
Step I: Learner Permit
Step II: Provisional License
Step III: Full Driver’s License
Before You Can Get a Permit
Before DMV issues the permit, you must pass a vision and 30-question GRAD knowledge tests. This test differs from the test that DMV gives applicants 21 years or older, and it has additional questions about the GRAD program.
After passing the knowledge test, DMV gives you a temporary permit on paper. This temporary permit is valid for 45 days, but you will receive the real learner’s permit in the mail after just a few days.
When You Have Your First Learner Permit
You can start practicing your driving skills with your first D.C. Learner Permit.
Remember, under no circumstances can you drive alone. You must always be supervised by a driver who is 21 years or older, has a valid full driver’s license, and sits beside you in the passenger front seat.
You must always carry the permit with you when you are driving. You must also make sure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.
When you hold a D.C. Learner Permit, you cannot:
Drive with other passengers than your supervising driver
Use a cell phone while driving
Drive between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Drive a vehicle for compensation
The learner permit is valid for two years and is non-renewable.
If you let your permit expire without applying for a license, you must start over with a new application and retake all tests.
D.C. Provisional License
A provisional driver’s license is the second step in the GRAD program.
To get a provisional driver’s license, you must:
Be at least 16 years and 6 months old
Had a learner permit for at least 6 months
Have no moving violation points on your driving record
Have logged 40 hours of driving experience
Pass a road skills test
The provisional license is valid for one year and can be renewed.
With the provisional license, you can drive alone, but you must still follow some restrictions. Just like before, you must always carry the license with you when you are driving. You must also ensure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up, and you cannot drive a vehicle for compensation.
There is also a passenger restriction that lets you drive only with a person who is your sibling, child, parent, or one person who meets the criteria of a supervising driver (see the law at the bottom of this page).
You are also restricted to daytime driving as follows:
- September – June:
Monday – Thursday, 6:01 a.m. – 10:59 p.m.,
Friday – Sunday, 6:01 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. - July and August:
Everyday, 6:01 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Exceptions exist if you drive to or from work, a school-sponsored activity, religious or athletic event, or related training session in which you are a participant, sponsored by the District of Columbia, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility, or if accompanied by the holder of a valid driver’s license who is 21 year or older.
D.C. Full Driver’s License
If you are under 18, night curfew and passenger restrictions still apply during this phase (17 to 18 years).
The restrictions are lifted when you turn 18 years.
When you turn 21 years old, you are released from the GRAD license program, regardless of your type of license or permit. If you have a learner permit, you may schedule a road test appointment immediately. You do not need to provide a driving certification form or wait until you have had the permit for six months. If you have a provisional license, you may immediately visit a DMV service center location to get a regular driver’s license.
Check Your Knowledge
See if you can answer these four random questions about the GRAD program. You may be asked similar questions on your D.C. permit examination.
Results
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Make sure you know all the facts regarding the GRAD program!
#1. The first time you violate any GRAD program restrictions during the provisional license stage:
During your provisional license stage, if you violate any GRAD program restrictions, you will be subject to a thirty (30), sixty (60) or ninety (90) days suspension of your provisional license depending upon whether it is your first, second, third or more violation of GRAD program restrictions.
#2. When driving with a D.C. learner's permit, you must:
You cannot drive alone. You must be accompanied by and under the instruction of a driver who is 21 years or older, has a valid full driver license, and is seated next to you in the passenger front seat.
#3. To obtain a learner's you must pass the knowledge test and vision test and be at least:
To obtain a learner permit you must be at least 16 years old, pass the knowledge test and vision test. If you are under 18, you must also have a parental consent form signed by your parent/guardian.
#4. Before a driver can qualify for a provisional license, the driver must hold a learner's permit for at least:
The learner’s permit must be held for a minimum of 6 months.
You can find a full 25-question test here: Free DMV Practice Test for District of Columbia
D.C. Provisional License § 50–1401.01.
No holder of a provisional permit shall:
(i) Operate a motor vehicle occupied by any passengers other than one holder of a valid motor vehicle operator’s permit who is 21 years of age or older, occupying the seat beside the permittee, and wearing a seat belt, and any other passenger who is a sibling or parent of the permittee; or
(ii) Operate a motor vehicle between 11:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. on the following day during any month except July or August and from 12:01 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. during July and August and on any Saturday or Sunday the rest of the year, unless driving to or from employment, a school-sponsored activity, religious or an athletic event or related training session in which the permittee is a participant, sponsored by the District of Columbia, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or unless accompanied by the holder of a valid motor vehicle operator’s permit who is 21 years of age or older, wearing a seat belt, and occupying a seat beside the permittee.
