How to Take a Drivers Education Course in Washington D.C.
District of Columbia drivers ed is not required to obtain a learner’s permit or driver’s license within the state, regardless of the age of the applicant. However, this educational course is still strongly encouraged to anyone who would like to learn how to operate a motor vehicle safely and learn about District of Columbia traffic laws and regulations. Courses can provide numerous benefits, even if not required, including safe driving knowledge and skills, collision avoidance techniques and a new driver auto insurance discount through participating auto insurance agencies.
Drivers ed online is not recognized within the state and most insurers will not accept a completion certificate from one of these programs. Instead, prospective students are encouraged to enroll in a District of Columbia DMV approved classroom course. To learn more about driver’s education in the D.C. area, review the sections that have been provided below.
Who needs to take drivers ed in DC?
District of Columbia drivers ed classes are never required in the D.C. area to obtain a drivers license or learner’s permit, regardless of age, after the DMV’s mandatory education program was suspended indefinitely in May of 2016. However, these courses still offer numerous benefits to adults and teens who have never been previously licensed within the United States.
Types of Drivers Ed Classes in Washington DC
Adult and teen driving school in Washington DC must take place in a classroom setting that includes the minimum curriculum, classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. A number of schools for both adults and teens have been approved within the state as well as outside of the D.C. area.
What will you learn in a DC drivers ed school?
In DC teen and adult drivers ed, you can expect to learn how to operate a motor vehicle safely as well as information regarding:
- Safe driving knowledge and skills.
- Collision avoidance techniques.
- District of Columbia traffic laws.
- C. auto insurance types and requirements.
- The dangers and laws surrounding driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Defensive driving skills.
A drivers ed test must be completed at the end of most courses in order to successfully complete a class in most cases. This test will cover the information that you learned through classroom instruction throughout the course.
Washington DC Driver’s Education Requirements
To attend a driver education course in DC, you must be at least 16 years of age. Most courses will require you to obtain a learner’s permit before enrolling in a class and, in most cases, strict attendance policies are enforced throughout the course. To be certified by the D.C. DMV, the course must consist of at least 30 hours of classroom instruction and at least eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
Benefits of a Washington DC Driver Education Course
While a drivers ed course is not required in DC, there are a number of benefits provided to students that complete the course, including:
- Safe driving knowledge and skills.
- Crash avoidance techniques.
- Weather-driving techniques.
- Auto insurance discounts for new drivers through participating insurers.
How to Enroll in a Washington DC Driver Ed School
To enroll in drivers ed school in DC, you must contact the provider that you wish to attend a course with. When searching for providers in your area, you are strongly encouraged to review the D.C. DMV certified providers before making a decision. Once you have selected a provider, you can generally enroll online through the provider’s website or by contacting the provider by phone or in person.
Washington DC DMV Drivers Ed Certificates
The Washington DC driver education classes provide students with a certificate of completion after successfully passing the course. If you are seeking an auto insurance discount, your insurance agency will more than likely require you to submit the certificate to them before a discount can be applied to an account. Depending on the insurer, this can typically be done online, by fax, over the phone or in person.
Drivers Ed for New DC Residents
If you took drivers ed outside of DC you may not be required to complete the course a second time within the state. As the D.C. DMV does not require course completion, the only agency that may need a copy of your certificate of completion would be your auto insurer.
Therefore, it is best to check with your insurance agency to determine whether or not you would need to complete an additional course in the D.C. area to obtain or maintain auto insurance discounts.
Washington DC Drivers Ed vs. Traffic School
Washington DC drivers ed is designed to teach teens and adults how to drive a vehicle safely while remaining in accordance with state and local laws. It is a beginner course that provides numerous benefits to individuals who have not yet held a driver’s license within the United States.
Traffic school is a different type of program that provides different benefits, such as potential driving record points reductions and traffic ticket dismissals. It is a refresher course for licensed and experienced drivers who would like to learn how to drive more safely.
Washington DC Driver Education Fees
Washington DC drivers ed prices can vary greatly from on provider to another and several providers will charge an amount based on the amount of classroom and behind-the-wheel training included in the course. If you are interested in obtaining the best price for the level of instruction that you need, you are strongly encouraged to review several providers in your area in order to select the best one for you.
Sources
- Driver Education from DC.gov