District of Columbia DMV Practice Test 2026

1. Driving with the windows completely closed
2. Listening to talk radio instead of music
3. Starting a drive without enough sleep beforehand
4. Driving a newer vehicle instead of an older one

Correct answer: Starting a drive without enough sleep beforehand. One of the main causes of drowsy driving is simply not getting enough sleep before starting to drive. The best prevention is getting adequate rest before a trip rather than trying to push through tiredness once on the road.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Fatigued or Drowsy Driving, p.99 (2020 handbook PDF)

1. 100 feet
2. 250 feet
3. 600 feet
4. 300 feet

Correct answer: 300 feet. In the District of Columbia, dim your high beams to low beams within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following, so you do not blind the driver ahead with light reflected in their mirrors.

1. A hospital or urgent care center located nearby
2. A gas station or fuel stop located just off the road
3. An active road construction zone up ahead
4. A park, historic site, or other recreational area

Correct answer: A park, historic site, or other recreational area. Brown signs direct drivers to parks, historic sites, and other recreational or cultural destinations.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, PDF p.54, Brown: areas of public recreation, cultural and historical significance

1. 20 mph
2. 30 mph
3. 15 mph
4. 25 mph

Correct answer: 25 mph. The District's unposted default limit for city streets is 25 mph.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.63, Speed Restrictions

1. It is only required to signal at night.
2. Signaling has no real safety value at all.
3. It replaces the need to check for oncoming traffic entirely.
4. It warns others of the sudden change in direction.

Correct answer: It warns others of the sudden change in direction.. Signaling gives nearby drivers and pedestrians advance warning of a sudden reversal in direction, even on streets that seem quiet.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Turns p.62

1. 16 years old
2. 16 years and 6 months old
3. 17 years old
4. 16 years and 3 months old

Correct answer: 16 years and 6 months old. A District of Columbia provisional license requires the applicant to be at least 16 years and 6 months old.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.10, Types of Driver Licenses and Permits

1. Fines stay the same as anywhere else
2. Fines for that violation are doubled
3. Fines are cut down by half
4. Only a verbal warning is given

Correct answer: Fines for that violation are doubled. Many states double traffic fines for violations committed in active work zones, especially when workers are present, to help protect them.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.87, Double Fine Zones

1. Continue through, then pull over and stop once clear
2. Stop immediately, even though you are in the intersection
3. Reverse out of the intersection right away
4. Turn left quickly to get out of the way

Correct answer: Continue through, then pull over and stop once clear. Never stop inside an intersection. Continue through it, then move to the right and stop once you are clear.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Sharing the Road-Emergency Vehicles, p.86 (2020 handbook PDF): "never stop in an intersection...continue through, and then drive to the right"

1. No-fault insurance, where a driver's own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays for injuries regardless of fault
2. Zero-liability insurance, a system where no driver is ever held financially responsible for any damages caused
3. Shared-fault insurance, where both drivers always split all costs equally
4. Federal insurance, a national auto policy provided directly by the U.S. government instead of any private insurance companies

Correct answer: No-fault insurance, where a driver's own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays for injuries regardless of fault. Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), a no-fault coverage that pays for the policyholder's own injuries no matter who caused the crash, unlike the fault-based (tort) systems used in most other states.

Source: Florida Driver Handbook, Financial Responsibility-Insurance p.31 - 'have a minimum of $10,000 in PIP AND a minimum of $10,000 in PDL coverage...No-Fault Law.'

1. At least 25 feet
2. At least 10 feet
3. At least 5 feet
4. At least 60 feet

Correct answer: At least 25 feet. the District of Columbia's rule for parking near a flashing signal, stop sign, or yield sign uses the same 25-foot minimum as other roadside traffic controls.

1. 45 mph
2. 40 mph
3. 10 mph
4. 15 mph

Correct answer: 15 mph. Unless a lower limit is posted for a specific school, the general school zone speed limit in the District of Columbia is 15 mph.

1. Construction companies collect the fine money directly
2. Doubled fines fund the construction project itself
3. There is no real reason; it is simply a tradition
4. It gives drivers a stronger reason to slow down and protect workers

Correct answer: It gives drivers a stronger reason to slow down and protect workers. Doubling fines in work zones is meant to discourage risky driving and help protect road workers, who have little protection from passing traffic.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.87, Double Fine Zones

1. Because yellow paint tends to last much longer out on the road
2. Because white paint is only required on highways
3. There is no real reason; it is simply a tradition
4. So drivers know which side may have oncoming traffic

Correct answer: So drivers know which side may have oncoming traffic. The color coding gives drivers an instant visual cue about which side of a line may have opposing traffic, helping them avoid head-on conflicts.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.41, Line Colors

1. A posted 'No Turn on Red' sign
2. Rainy weather
3. Rush hour traffic alone
4. Having any passenger riding along

Correct answer: A posted 'No Turn on Red' sign. A posted sign that reads 'No Turn on Red' removes the normal right to turn right on that red light.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.63, Turns

1. Nothing additional is needed at all if your hazard flashers are already turned on and working
2. Stand out in the middle of the road behind the vehicle, waving both arms wildly at oncoming traffic
3. Set out warning devices like flares or triangles, and make sure it can be seen from a distance
4. Turn off all of your lights completely so you do not distract other passing drivers

Correct answer: Set out warning devices like flares or triangles, and make sure it can be seen from a distance. Place emergency flares or warning triangles behind the vehicle to give approaching drivers time to react, and try to position the vehicle so it can be seen from a distance in both directions.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Horn, Headlights, and Emergency Signals, p.75 (2020 handbook PDF): "Place emergency flares or triangles 200-300 feet behind the vehicle"

1. Nothing wrong; this is a safe and very common practice
2. Only your own light turning green means you may go
3. This is required in order to prevent a traffic jam
4. This is only allowed when using a navigation app

Correct answer: Only your own light turning green means you may go. A driver must wait for their own signal to turn green; the cross traffic's light turning yellow does not give you permission to move.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.41-42, Traffic Signal Lights

1. Yes, a vehicle with airbags does not need seat belts
2. Yes, but only for front-seat passengers
3. No, airbags and seat belts should never be used at the same time
4. No, airbags are meant to work together with seat belts, not replace them

Correct answer: No, airbags are meant to work together with seat belts, not replace them. Airbags are designed to work together with seat belts, not to replace them. A seat belt keeps an occupant properly positioned so the airbag can protect them correctly, and together they offer far more protection than either one alone.

Source: New York Driver Handbook, Ch8 Seat Belts, Child Safety Seats, and Air Bags, p.49

1. Traffic already on the street
2. You, if you signal first
3. Whichever vehicle is moving faster
4. The vehicle behind you in the driveway

Correct answer: Traffic already on the street. A driver entering a road from a driveway, alley, or parking lot must yield to vehicles and pedestrians already on the road.

Source: California Driver Handbook, PDF p.46, Right-of-Way Rules

1. 25 questions
2. 30 questions
3. 35 questions
4. 20 questions

Correct answer: 30 questions. GRAD applicants, ages 16 through 20, take a longer computerized exam consisting of 30 questions.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.5, Driver License Examination Process

1. 65 mph
2. 75 mph
3. 55 mph
4. 85 mph

Correct answer: 75 mph. District of Columbia Interstate highways are posted between 55 and 75 mph, with 75 as the top of that range.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.63, Speed Restrictions

1. No, it must be paired with another violation
2. Only for the driver, not passengers
3. No, seat belt use is not enforced
4. Yes, this alone is grounds for a stop

Correct answer: Yes, this alone is grounds for a stop. An unbuckled occupant is, by itself, a lawful reason for an officer to pull a vehicle over in the District — this is called primary enforcement.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.72, Safety Belt Use is Required by Law

1. 10 mph
2. 15 mph
3. 35 mph
4. 45 mph

Correct answer: 15 mph. In the District of Columbia, the school zone speed limit is 15 mph while the warning lights are flashing or children are present.

1. 5:00 a.m.
2. 6:00 a.m.
3. 4:00 a.m.
4. 2:00 a.m.

Correct answer: 6:00 a.m.. the District of Columbia's GDL nighttime restriction generally lifts at 6:00 a.m., after which the teen driver can drive again without needing an exception.

1. The driver and passengers, as defined by the state's seat belt law
2. Only the driver behind the wheel, no matter who else is riding along
3. Only front-seat occupants, never anyone riding in the back seat
4. Only passengers under the age of 12 sitting anywhere in the vehicle

Correct answer: The driver and passengers, as defined by the state's seat belt law. Seat belt laws generally require both the driver and covered passengers to buckle up, though the exact scope (all seats vs. front only) can vary by state.

Source: California Driver Handbook, Occupant Protection-Seat Belts p.27 - 'You and your passengers must wear seat belts...You can get a ticket if you do not.'

1. 8 or more
2. 12 or more
3. 16 or more
4. 25 or more

Correct answer: 12 or more. Once a driver's record reaches 12 or more points, the license is revoked rather than merely suspended.

Source: District of Columbia Driver Handbook, p.16, Important Things to Know