District of Columbia · DMV

How to get your CDL permit in District of Columbia

In DC all CDL testing happens at the Deanwood Road Test/CDL Services Office, and written tests are in English only. You must hold your CLP for 30 days, longer than the federal 14, before your road test.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official DMV sources

Start the free District of Columbia permit classroom Official District of Columbia CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $78
Permit valid for: 1 year, not renewable
Wait before road test: 30 days
Knowledge test language: English only
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid DC non-commercial driver license with a good driving record.
2Complete DC's online Human Trafficking Awareness Training (about 15 minutes).
3Get a DOT medical exam and self-certify your type of driving.
4Go to the Deanwood Road Test/CDL Services Office and pass the written tests for your class.
5Pay for your permit. You leave with a 45-day paper permit; the permanent one comes by mail.
6Finish federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a school on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before you take the skills test.
7After 30 days with your CLP, book your road test online and bring a truck that fits your class.

What to bring

Your valid DC driver license
Proof of citizenship or lawful status: U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, naturalization or citizenship certificate, or green card
Proof of Social Security number, if your license is not REAL ID compliant
Two proofs of DC residency, if your license is not REAL ID compliant
For the road test: a vehicle for your class, with registration and insurance

Medical card

You self-certify your driving category when you apply. Your exam must be done by an examiner on the national registry, who sends results to DC DMV electronically; paper medical cards have not been accepted since June 22, 2025.

Fees

Commercial learner's permit	$78
Written testCharged whether you pass or fail.	$10 per test
Road skills testCharged whether you pass or fail.	$10
CDL	$117

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with DMV before you go.

The tests you'll take

General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (Class A and B)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests if you want them (Passenger, School Bus, Hazmat, Tank; Doubles/Triples for Class A)

Testing in District of Columbia

All written tests are in English only.
You have 90 minutes for General Knowledge and 60 minutes for each endorsement test.
Failed a written test? Retest on the 4th day. After six failures in 12 months, you wait 12 months from the first failure.
Failed the road test? Wait 3 days the first time, and at least 90 days after later failures.
Road tests need an appointment and take about two hours.

Study for these tests in the District of Columbia classroom

Good to know in District of Columbia

DC requires 30 days with your CLP before the road test, more than the federal 14 days.
Your CLP cannot be renewed. If it expires, you retake the written tests.
Canceling a road test with less than 48 hours' notice costs a fee.
Your road test companion must be 21+ with a CDL of the same or higher class.
DC's posted CDL manual is an older 2014 version.

Non-domiciled applicants

DC's site still says lawfully present applicants without permanent residency get a CDL marked non-domiciled. Federal rules in effect since March 16, 2026 limit eligibility to H-2A, H-2B and E-2 visa holders, so confirm with DC DMV.

Confirm with DMV before you go

We couldn't confirm these from official sources, so we left them out rather than guess:

Whether written tests need an appointment.
The vision standard for a CDL.
How long the CDL is valid and the road test cancellation fee amount.
How DC DMV currently handles non-domiciled applicants.

Federal rules that apply in every state(show)

Age: You can get a CLP at 18, but until you turn 21 you can only drive a commercial vehicle inside your own state. Hauling hazmat requires you to be 21.
Knowledge tests: Everyone takes General Knowledge. Class A adds Combination Vehicles, and anyone driving a truck with air brakes takes Air Brakes. You need at least 80% on each test.
14-day wait: You must hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the skills (road) test. Some states make you wait longer.
Driving on a CLP: A CDL holder with the right class and endorsements must sit in the front seat whenever you drive. Hazmat is never allowed on a CLP. With a passenger or school bus permit you can't carry passengers, and with a tank permit the tank must be empty.
Entry-Level Driver Training: You must finish ELDT with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before your Class A or B skills test. You do not need it to get the permit itself.
Medical card: You self-certify the kind of driving you will do. Most new drivers are 'non-excepted interstate' and need a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner, who now sends the results to your state electronically.
Clearinghouse check: Before issuing a CLP, your state checks FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. A 'prohibited' status blocks the permit until return-to-duty is complete.

Ready to study?

Short lessons with diagrams, a quick check after each one, and a practice test for every permit exam District of Columbia gives. Free.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with DMV before you apply.