PR I Mandatory District DMV Driver Education Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
April 7, 2016 Vanessa E. Newton (202)729-7020

Mandatory District DMV Driver Education Program
Effective May 1, 2016

(WASHINGTON, DC) – District of Columbia residents who are obtaining a driver license for the first time will be required to take mandatory driver education in order to be issued a driver license from the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) effective May 1, 2016. Any District resident who has never held a license and who does not have a learner permit issued before May 1st will have to enroll in driver education, which is being offered by driving schools that have been certified by DC DMV.

The agency has certified driving schools in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Schools offering the program will set the schedule and determine the cost. District residents who can show proof that they have held a driver license before will not be required to enroll in driver education.

DC DMV is a public safety agency with the mission to promote public safety by ensuring the safe operation of motor vehicles. The mandatory driver education program is a component to licensing safe drivers, which also ties into the Vision Zero goal of zero fatalities in the District of Columbia by 2024.

Obtaining a REAL ID learner permit and/or driver license is an in-person service. Customers must visit any DC DMV Service Center to complete this transaction and are encouraged to plan ahead and “Know Before You Go.” In order for residents to successfully complete their business in one trip, it is necessary for them to have all of their required documents at the time of service.

Additionally, DC DMV offers more than 45 services online at www.dmv.dc.gov, enabling customers to “skip the in-person trip.” They include:

· Renew vehicle registration (can only be done online or by mail; no in-person visit)
· Obtain duplicate vehicle registration
· Renew driver license
· Obtain duplicate driver license
· Renew identification card
· Surrender tags
· Obtain driver record

Also, with any online or in-person transaction in which DC DMV collects money, customers now have the option to make a donation to the DonateLifeDC organ donor registry to support organ and tissue donation for people located in the Washington, DC community.

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The District Department of Motor Vehicles promotes public safety to ensure the safe operation of motor vehicles. For more information, visit http://dmv.dc.gov/ Like DC DMV on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Vanessa E. Newton
Public Information Officer
D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles