A District of Columbia DMV driving test appointment is required for road skill exams for standard vehicles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. The DMV appointment system must be used as walk-ins are no longer accepted for driving test-related services. However, an appointment provides many benefits, as it will save you frustration and reduce the amount of time that you would otherwise be expected to wait at the DMV. Not only can you schedule an appointment for road tests, but you may also do so for vehicle inspections, new drivers license applications and new identification card applications.

The DMV online appointment manager provides customers with a greater level of convenience and flexibility when it comes to scheduling. The online system allows customers to set an appointment as well as make changes and cancel should the necessity arise. Appointments can also be made and changed over the phone.

Driving Test Appointments in the District of Columbia

A DMV driving test appointment is required by the District of Columbia DMV for any road skill exam. This includes road skill exams for:

It is important to make an appointment at a DMV as soon as you feel confident that you can successfully complete your road exam. Appointments fill quickly and you may sometimes experience a lengthy booking that will cause you to wait a period of time before you can take your exam. Therefore, it is important that you learn how to schedule an appointment and what you will need to bring with you when it comes to the day of your test.

Other Services Covered by the District of Columbia DMV Appointment System

You can make an appointment at a DMV in the District of Columbia for a number of reasons, saving you time and hassle during your visit to the DMV. While a road skill exam is required to have an appointment, all other drivers license and nondrivers license services that offer appointments are not on a mandatory basis. You may choose to complete a walk-in if you so choose to do so or if appointments are booked beyond the amount of time that you wish to wait.

A drivers license appointment can be made for:

  • The road skill exam of a drivers license, motorcycle endorsement or commercial drivers license.
  • The initial application for a DC drivers license.
  • The initial application for a DC identification card.
  • A vehicle inspection.

If you need to schedule DMV appointments for a drivers license or identification card application, then it is important to know that this service is only available on Tuesdays. Walk-ins are accepted Wednesday through Saturday for any service, while Tuesdays remain restricted to appointment only if you are seeking a license or identification card. This system provides customers with an even shorter wait time when visiting the DMV.

You can check DMV appointment availability for an initial drivers license or identification card online. Unlike road skill exams, these appointments are generally not booked out for weeks at a time. You can also learn about appointment availability by contacting the DMV that you wish to visit in person or over the phone.

Lastly, you can use the DC DMV appointment system to make an appointment for your vehicle inspection. Vehicles must pass inspection before it can be registered with the District of Columbia DMV and appointments are strongly recommended in order to shorten the amount of time that an inspection will take. Vehicle inspection appointments will generally only take between 15 and 30 minutes to complete.

How to Schedule a DMV Appointment in the District of Columbia

You can schedule a DMV appointment in the District of Columbia online or by contacting the DMV that you wish to schedule with over the phone or in person. When scheduling, it is important to know that appointments for some services are booked quickly. As mentioned previously, appointments related to applying for a drivers license or identification card can only be made on Tuesdays.

You can sign into the online DMV to view appointment availability and select the time and date that works best for you. A DMV appointment number will not be generated when you make an appointment, although you can review and make changes to your appointment online or over the phone by providing information about yourself, such as your name and date of birth. If you are scheduling a road skill exam, then you will be required to enter in your learners permit or commercial learners permit number in order to proceed.

What to Bring to Your District of Columbia DMV Appointment

If you have a DC DMV driving test appointment, then it is important that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time in order to avoid the potential rescheduling or cancelation of your appointment. In addition to arriving early, it is important to ensure that the vehicle that you bring to test with meets vehicle safety requirements. You must also be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age. To be able to take your road skill exam, you must provide the instructor with:

  • Your valid learners or commercial learners permit.
  • Your valid and current proof of District of Columbia auto insurance.
  • Your vehicle’s current proof of registration.
  • The appropriate fees.
  • Your 40-hour Certification of Eligibility for Provisional License form if you are younger than 21 years of age.

If you do not appear with a licensed driver, then it will be assumed that you drove yourself to your road skill appointment and you will be restricted from taking your test for a six-month period.

If you made an appointment at a DMV to apply for a drivers license or identification card, then there are a number of documents that you will be expected to bring to your appointment. When applying for a drivers license or identification card, you must be able to provide:

  • Proof of identity and date of birth.
  • Proof of your Social Security Number.
  • Two documents that provide proof of residency for the last six months.
  • The appropriate fees.
  • Proof of parental approval if you are between 16 and 17 years of age.

How to Cancel or Reschedule a DMV Appointment in the District of Columbia

Should you need to or cancel appointment DMV in District of Columbia, then you may do so by viewing your current appointment online and submitting a change. The online scheduling system provides customers with an ease of navigation, allowing changes to be made to an appointment without additional hassle. Alternatively, you can also contact the District of Columbia DMV to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

If you have a DMV driving test appointment, then it is very important that you submit rescheduling or cancellation requests at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment. Failing to do so will result in a fee that you will need to pay before you can schedule another appointment or complete additional DMV transactions.

Last updated on Monday, March 9 2020.