Reviewed and updated October 22, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every fact on this page was read that day from the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles' own pages and its location directory and, where named, the other District agencies' pages and the DC Code, and the official page each fact came from is linked where it appears.
The Washington DC DMV in one place: who does what, license and ID fees, titles, the excise tax, registration, insurance, inspection and parking permits, the 10 DC DMV locations with their hours, and all 53 guides.
In this guide: Who does what in Washington DC, DC driver licenses, ID cards and REAL ID, Vehicle titles, registration, the excise tax and inspection, Offices, hours and holidays, Every Washington DC DMV guide on SearchSystems, Questions people ask about the Washington DC DMV
Who does what in Washington DC
The District keeps every driver and vehicle task under one agency. The Department of Motor Vehicles issues the REAL ID and limited purpose driver licenses, learner permits and ID cards, gives the knowledge and road tests, titles and registers vehicles, issues the tags and the residential parking permits, inspects vehicles at its own station and kiosks, and hears the parking, photo and minor moving violation tickets, at the locations on its All DC DMV Locations page and through its online services and mobile app. There is no county, no contract agent and no private inspection station; the vehicle excise tax is paid to the DC DMV with the title, and the Department of Public Works does the booting and towing.
Start with the DC DMV location list for the nearest open service center, the license guide for a first credential, the inspection guide for the station and the kiosks, the parking permit guide for a zoned block, and the new resident guide after a move.
DC driver licenses, ID cards and REAL ID
The DC DMV's driver license fee page, read October 22, 2026, prices a driver license at $47 for eight years, new or renewed, a learner permit, a provisional license, a duplicate, a temporary card or a motorcycle endorsement at $20, the knowledge test at $10 at a service center, $39.95 at the test proctoring center or $49.95 virtually, and the road test at $10 with a $30 charge for a test not cancelled two business days ahead; an ID card is $20 for eight years and free from age 65, a reinstatement $115, a driving record $7 or $13 by its length, and a commercial license $117 with a $78 learner permit.
A driver who lives in the District for more than 60 days converts the old license under the DC DMV's conversion page, surrendering it and retesting only when it has been expired for more than 90 days, with the identity, lawful presence and Social Security proofs its REAL ID page lists and two District address documents from different sources on its residency page; the paper license is good for 45 days and the card is mailed within 10 business days. A renewal runs online, by mail or in person under the DC DMV's renewal page, with a knowledge test after 365 days expired and both tests after 545. The license guide, the REAL ID guide, the ID card guide and the fee guide work through each of those for the District.
Vehicle titles, registration, the excise tax and inspection
A District title costs $30, new, transferred or duplicate, with $20 to record each lien and $7 for a title information request on the DC DMV's title and excise tax fee page, which also sets the excise tax: a percentage of the vehicle's fair market value by unladen weight and city miles per gallon, from 1.5 percent for a light car at 40 miles per gallon or more to 11.0 percent for a heavy one at 20 or less, and since February 17, 2025 from 1.0 to 3.0 percent for an electric vehicle, which is no longer exempt.
Registration follows the vehicle's weight on the DC DMV's registration fee page, with the fees in force since March 30, 2026: $70 a year for a passenger vehicle up to 3,499 pounds, $175 from 3,500 to 4,999, $300 from 5,000 to 5,999 and $550 from 6,000 pounds, $40 for the first two years of a new battery electric vehicle under 5,000 pounds, $52 for a motorcycle, $25 for a historic vehicle and nothing for a totally disabled veteran, plus $30 a year for the registration card and $12 to transfer a tag.
A vehicle passes the DC DMV's Inspection Station before its first registration and every two years after under its inspection page, with a brand new passenger vehicle, a motorcycle and an electric or diesel passenger vehicle excused from the lane, and a resident has 60 calendar days from moving in to register under its registration page, after converting the license. The title guide, the registration guide, the inspection guide and the tag guide set out the paperwork.
Insurance is checked at every registration under the DC DMV's insurance page: $25,000 a person and $50,000 a crash in liability, $10,000 in property damage, the same uninsured motorist bodily injury limits and $5,000 in uninsured motorist property damage with a $200 deductible, shown as a printed proof; a lapse suspends the registration and runs up fines until the tags are surrendered.
A residential parking permit, issued with the registration for a vehicle on a zoned block, costs $55 a year for a household's first vehicle since March 30, 2026, $80 for the second, $115 for the third and $175 for each one after, or $35 for one resident of 65 or older, on the DC DMV's parking permit fee page; the parking permit guide covers the zones.
Offices, hours and holidays
The DC DMV's locations page, read October 22, 2026, carries 10 locations: four service centers of which 3 are open, the Inspection Station, two self-service emissions kiosks, Adjudication Services and two road test facilities, 9 of them with a published week and 8 open on Saturday; the open service centers run Tuesday to Saturday from 8:15 am to 4 pm, starting at 9:15 am on Wednesday, and the kiosks never close.
The counters take walk-ins, road tests are by appointment and registration renewals are online or by mail only. Every location is on the DC DMV location list with its hours, Metro station and the DC DMV's 12 holiday closings for 2026.
Every Washington DC DMV guide on SearchSystems
Each guide below is written from the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles' own pages, the other District agencies' pages and the DC Code, and names the date its facts were read. There are 53 of them.
Licenses and IDs 12 guides
- Choosing and Maintaining a District of Columbia Driver LicenseMatch your DC license application to your identity documents, driving experience, age, and intended vehicle.
- Preparing a Complete DC Driver License ApplicationOrganize the District application around your legal identity, address evidence, prior driving privileges, and required examinations.
- Renewing a District License Before or After Its ExpirationChoose a DC renewal channel, prepare any medical or immigration updates, and account for tests triggered by a long expiration.
- Replacing a Missing or Damaged District Driving CredentialSelect the DC duplicate-license route that fits your existing credential, correct your mailing details, and prepare any required evidence.
- Applying for and Maintaining a District Identification CardChoose the DC REAL ID or Limited Purpose identification route and prepare the evidence required for issuance, renewal, or replacement.
- Understanding the District REAL ID Application and Evidence RulesBuild a DC REAL ID application around the specific documents accepted for identity, immigration status, Social Security verification, and residence.
- Using District Mobile Services and Understanding Electronic CredentialsUse the published DC app features for licensing and vehicle tasks while checking which electronic documents the agency has actually authorized.
- Updating a DC Credential After a Name Change or MoveCorrect your District licensing record through the required name-change evidence or address approval process and check related vehicle records.
- Assembling Status and Address Evidence for DC DMVSeparate legal-presence proof from District residence evidence, then select the documents accepted for your exact credential transaction.
- Managing a DC REAL ID License with a Shortened Validity PeriodUse the expiration tied to your immigration documents when planning a District REAL ID application or renewal.
- Managing District Credentials During Military and Foreign ServiceUse DC procedures for deployed residents, qualifying military reciprocity, veteran identification, and commercial skills-test waivers with the required supporting records.
- Adding and Maintaining the District Motorcycle EndorsementUse the DC motorcycle knowledge test and course-certificate process to obtain the endorsement appropriate for the vehicle you intend to ride.
Teens, seniors and testing 6 guides
- Starting Supervised Driving with a District Learner PermitPrepare the DC permit evidence, pass the required screenings, and observe the supervision and practice conditions before the road test.
- Moving Through the District GRAD Licensing StagesTrack the DC permit, provisional, and full-license conditions by age, practice history, driving record, and the credential actually issued.
- Preparing for District Written Examinations and Road AssessmentsChoose the correct DC testing channel, bring the required evidence, and prepare the vehicle and accompanying driver before road-test day.
- Choosing Instruction That Fits the District Licensing ProcessUse the DC-approved school list and distinguish voluntary beginning-driver education from required practice, testing, and approved point-removal courses.
- Planning a DC License Renewal with Mature-Driver CertificationCoordinate the District renewal, practitioner certification, vision review, and any individual driving restrictions before the credential expires.
- Handling a DC DMV Medical or Vision ReviewPrepare the correct practitioner reports, respond to review notices, and follow the restrictions attached to a District driving credential.
Vehicles, titles and plates 11 guides
- Establishing and Updating Vehicle Ownership in the DistrictPrepare the original DC title evidence, owner and lien information, tax documentation, and special-transfer records before requesting a new ownership document.
- Completing an Initial District Vehicle RegistrationCoordinate the DC credential, original title, insurance, inspection, owner evidence, and fees needed to place a new or used vehicle on the District register.
- Choosing, Transferring, and Maintaining District Vehicle TagsSelect a DC tag type, prepare the required registration and eligibility records, and complete any transfer, replacement, or cancellation through DMV.
- Completing the Seller Side of a District Vehicle TransferFinish a DC vehicle sale with an accurate title assignment, a documented tag decision, and the correct sequence for ending the seller insurance record.
- Documenting a District Vehicle Transfer After DeathChoose the DC procedure for a surviving joint owner, estate representative, trust, or previously named beneficiary and assemble the ownership evidence for that route.
- Choose a Supported District Route When Ownership Papers Are IncompleteMatch the missing document to the District procedure for duplicates, lender-held titles, temporary registration, or another documented ownership transaction.
- Document a District Garage Lien Sale Before Applying for TitleA garage lien auction requires a supported claim, notices, publication, a documented sale, and a complete purchaser title packet.
- Following the District Damaged-Vehicle Title ProcessIdentify the correct DC damaged-vehicle category, meet the title deadline, and complete the required inspection sequence before seeking rebuilt registration.
- Bring an Imported Vehicle into the District Registration SystemPrepare the foreign ownership, customs, safety, and District documents before arranging an imported vehicle inspection or registration.
- Prepare a Kit or Assembled Vehicle for District DMV ReviewEstablish the project vehicle identity, ownership history, compliance evidence, and applicable inspection route before expecting District road registration.
- Titling and Registering a Motorcycle in the DistrictIdentify the DC vehicle category, assemble the ownership and insurance evidence, and complete the motorcycle registration steps separately from the rider endorsement.
Registration, fees and inspections 9 guides
- Renewing a District Registration Before Its ExpirationCheck the DC vehicle record, inspection, insurance, address, and available renewal channel before paying for the next registration period.
- Replacing Missing or Damaged District Vehicle DocumentsIdentify which DC vehicle item is missing, collect the required ownership and incident evidence, and request the specific replacement service.
- Calculating Current District Licensing and Vehicle ChargesBuild a DC DMV cost estimate from the separate credential, vehicle, tax, inspection, tag, parking, and payment-service charges that apply to the transaction.
- Paying District DMV Charges and Documenting a Refund ClaimChoose the payment channel for the specific DC transaction, preserve its receipt, and submit any refund request with the required timing and evidence.
- Maintaining Insurance for a District Registered VehicleKeep required DC coverage active, provide the correct proof, respond to verification notices, and coordinate registration changes before ending a policy.
- Obtaining and Using District Disability Parking CredentialsChoose a DC disability placard or vehicle tag based on the applicant, expected duration, medical certification, and vehicle ownership requirements.
- Managing an Unused Vehicle in District Registration RecordsDecide whether a stored DC vehicle will retain active registration or have its tags canceled, then coordinate insurance, inspection, and the later return to service.
- Completing the Correct District Vehicle InspectionDetermine the DC inspection category, choose an eligible station or kiosk route, and track any failed-test repair deadline before renewing registration.
- Resolve the Correct District Tax or Ticket Issue Before Your TransactionIdentify whether you need an OTR Certificate of Clean Hands, a DMV ticket resolution, or review of a separate credential eligibility condition.
Suspensions, DUI and records 6 guides
- Managing District Driving Privileges After an Impaired-Driving ActionFollow the DC disposition, complete mandatory interlock enrollment when required, and keep treatment, insurance, and device records current.
- Responding to a District Proposed Revocation After an Impaired-Driving ChargeUse the deadline on the DC notice, request the correct hearing, and prepare the record needed for the separate licensing decision.
- Restoring a District Driving Privilege Through the Required ReviewIdentify the reason for the DC action, complete the case-specific requirements, and confirm the restored credential before driving.
- Understanding District Moving-Violation Points and Review OptionsRead the DC point values, track the disposition of each violation, and follow the approval rules for any traffic-school request.
- Requesting and Reading a District Driver HistoryChoose the right DC record period and certification, satisfy the identity requirements, and interpret status and violation entries carefully.
- Obtain the District Crash Documents Needed for Your ClaimUse MPD for police crash reports and DC DMV for insurance-of-record searches, while keeping emergency response and insurer notification separate.
Commercial, trucks and special vehicles 7 guides
- Obtaining and Keeping a District Commercial Driver LicensePlan the DC commercial licensing sequence around eligibility, medical reporting, training, permit testing, and the vehicle class you intend to operate.
- Matching District Commercial Endorsements to the Intended VehicleSelect the DC commercial class and endorsement combination by the vehicle, cargo, and passengers, then complete the corresponding training and examinations.
- Keeping District Commercial Medical Information CurrentFollow DC electronic medical reporting from the certified examination through record matching, correction, and continued commercial licensing eligibility.
- Preparing a Truck Driver and Vehicle for District OperationsCoordinate the DC commercial driver credential with the separate registration, carrier, medical, and vehicle requirements that apply to the intended truck operation.
- Prepare District Commercial Vehicles and Trailers for Their Actual OperationChoose the appropriate District registration or interstate carrier process using vehicle weight, axle count, ownership, business use, and travel plans.
- Register a Boat for Principal Use on District WatersWork with the Metropolitan Police Department Harbor Patrol to establish vessel ownership, complete OVERS registration, and prepare for lawful operation.
- Understand Where ATVs and Dirt Bikes Fit in District Vehicle RulesDistinguish off-road machines from eligible street vehicles before purchasing, transporting, or applying for District motor vehicle credentials.
Offices, online services and new residents 2 guides
- Organizing District Driver, Vehicle, and Parking Records After a MoveBuild a DC moving checklist around the correct license deadline, identity and address evidence, vehicle ownership, inspection, insurance, and neighborhood parking rules.
- Matching a District Parking Permit to the Vehicle and AddressCheck DC block eligibility, the current household fee tier, and the correct resident, visitor, rental, or reciprocity parking product before applying.
Public records beside the Washington DC DMV
The Washington DC DMV holds licenses and titles, not court cases, arrests or deeds; those are public records kept by other offices, and SearchSystems covers them for the whole state: looking up a District of Columbia court case, District of Columbia arrest records, District of Columbia property records, the District of Columbia people search guide, the District of Columbia background check guide and the District of Columbia public records law, all from the Washington DC public records index.
Questions people ask about the Washington DC DMV
Who runs the DMV in Washington DC?
The District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles, for licenses, ID cards, tests, titles, registration, tags, parking permits, vehicle inspection and ticket adjudication, at its own service centers, station, kiosks and offices and online; there is no county office or private inspection station.
How much is a Washington DC driver license in 2026?
$47 for an eight year license, new or renewed, on the DC DMV's fee page, with $20 for a learner permit, a provisional license or a duplicate, $10 for the knowledge test at a service center and $10 for the road test.
How much does a Washington DC title cost?
$30 for a new, transferred or duplicate title, $20 to record a lien, plus the excise tax of 1.0 to 11.0 percent of the fair market value set by the vehicle's weight and city miles per gallon.
What is the registration fee in Washington DC?
$70 a year for a passenger vehicle up to 3,499 pounds since March 30, 2026, $175 to 4,999 pounds, $300 to 5,999 and $550 from 6,000, $40 for the first two years of a new battery electric vehicle, and $52 for a motorcycle, plus $30 for the registration card.
How long does a new Washington DC resident have?
More than 60 days of living in the District means the license must be converted, and a vehicle is registered within 60 calendar days of moving in, after the license and an inspection at the DC DMV's station.
Do I need an appointment at a DC DMV service center?
No. The counters and knowledge tests are first come, first served, Tuesday to Saturday; a road test is booked by appointment online or through 311, and renewals run online, by mail or on the mobile app.
Which DC DMV service center is closed?
Georgetown, closed to the public since the February 5, 2026 water main break until further notice; Benning Ridge, Rhode Island and Southwest are open.