Before you start

DC residency
Proof of identity, DC residency and Social Security number, or Limited Purpose documentation
A valid foreign licence, with certified English translation if not in English
A registered, insured vehicle if a road test is required

Step-by-step

1
Decide which jurisdiction you will be a resident of
DC, Maryland and Virginia each license their own residents, and each has different vehicle taxes. Virginia levies an annual personal property tax on cars that DC does not; DC's residential permit parking is stricter. Settle where you live first, then license there.
OnlineWho: You
2
Check whether your country has a DC reciprocity arrangement
DC waives testing for licences from a short list of countries. Most foreign licence holders are not on it and will take the knowledge and road tests. Check before booking, because the answer determines how many appointments you need.
OnlineWho: YouBefore booking
3
Book a DC DMV appointment
DC DMV service centres run on appointments and can be booked out. Thirty days is workable if you start on arrival.
OnlineWho: You
4
Bring translated documents
A foreign licence not in English needs a certified translation. DC also requires two proofs of DC residency, and is strict about what counts.
In personWho: You
5
Take the knowledge and road tests if required
You must supply a registered, insured vehicle for the road test. Driving schools rent car and instructor together, which for a newcomer without a car is usually the only practical route.
In personWho: You
6
Understand residential permit parking before you buy a car
DC streets are divided into RPP zones; without a permit for your zone you are limited to two hours on most residential blocks, enforced by patrol. Some new buildings are excluded from permit eligibility entirely by their zoning approval — check before assuming you can park.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Foreign driver licence, with certified English translation if needed
Passport, visa and I-94
Social Security card, or proof of ineligibility
Two proofs of DC residency
A registered and insured vehicle for the road test

Things most newcomers don’t know

DC taxes vehicle registration by weight and fuel efficiency.

The District's excise tax on registering a vehicle scales with weight and inversely with fuel economy, so a large SUV costs materially more to register than a small or electric car. Newcomers shipping a big vehicle from another state are frequently surprised by the bill.

Source: DC DMV — vehicle registration

Some DC buildings are permanently barred from residential parking permits.

As a condition of zoning approval, many newer apartment buildings agreed that their residents would not be eligible for RPP permits. If you live in one and own a car, you cannot get a street permit at any price — you must rent a garage space. Ask specifically before signing.

Source: DC Department of Transportation — residential parking permits

Virginia's car tax is a real annual cost DC does not have.

Virginia localities levy a personal property tax on vehicles each year, assessed on value. On a newer car this runs into hundreds of dollars annually. It partly offsets Virginia's lower income tax, and it is routinely left out when people compare the three jurisdictions.

Source: Virginia Department of Taxation

Escalator etiquette is not a joke here.

DC has some of the longest escalators in the world, and standing on the left of a Metro escalator will get you told. It sounds trivial; it is the fastest way to mark yourself as new, and locals genuinely rely on the convention to make trains.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Licensing in the wrong jurisdiction because you moved before deciding where you live.
Shipping a large vehicle without checking DC's weight-and-efficiency excise tax.
Signing a lease in a building excluded from residential parking permits while owning a car.
Forgetting a certified translation of a non-English licence.
Turning up to a road test without a registered, insured vehicle.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

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