The DC Learner's Permit Log Is a Required Record of Your Supervised Driving Hours

The DC Learner's Permit Log is a document you must complete and carry with you every time you drive with a supervising adult. It records the date, time, location, and conditions of each supervised driving session. The District of Columbia requires this log as proof that you have completed the minimum supervised driving hours before you can take the road test for your Class D (regular passenger vehicle) license.

You do not need to purchase a special log book — the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides a free printable version on its website, or you can request one in person at any DC DMV office. Some driving schools also provide their own versions, which are acceptable as long as they contain all the required fields.

The log must be signed by both you and your supervising adult after each driving session. If the log is incomplete, unsigned, or shows fewer than the required hours, the DMV will not allow you to schedule a road test, and you will have to continue driving under supervision until the hours are met.

Key Takeaways

  • You must complete at least 40 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours at night) and record every session in the DC Learner's Permit Log before you can take the road test.
  • The log must be signed by both you and your supervising adult after each drive, and the supervising adult must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid driver's license.
  • You can read the free DMV log from the DC DMV website or pick up a printed copy at any DC DMV office; driving school logs are also acceptable if they include all required fields.
  • Bring the completed and signed log to your road test appointment — the DMV will review it before allowing you to test, and an incomplete log will delay your test date.

Minimum Supervised Driving Hours Required in DC

DC law requires a minimum of 40 hours of supervised driving before you can take the road test for a Class D license. Of those 40 hours, at least 10 hours must be completed between sunset and sunrise (night driving). These hours must be logged in your permit log and verified by your supervising adult's signature.

The supervising adult must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid, non-suspended driver's license. They can be a parent, guardian, driving instructor, or any other licensed adult. Each entry in the log should record the date, start time, end time, location or route, and weather or road conditions (for example, "rain" or "heavy traffic"). The supervising adult signs to confirm the information is accurate.

Hours completed during a professional driving school course may count toward the 40-hour requirement if the school is licensed by the DC DMV. However, you still need to log those hours in your permit log with the instructor's signature, and you must complete any remaining hours with a supervising adult outside the school.

How to Fill Out Your DC Learner's Permit Log Correctly

Each row in the log represents one driving session. You must record the following information for every drive: the date (month, day, year), the time you started driving, the time you finished, the total number of hours and minutes, the location or route you drove, and the road or weather conditions. After you finish the drive, both you and your supervising adult must sign and print your names in the designated spaces.

Common mistakes that delay road test scheduling include leaving fields blank, writing illegible entries, forgetting to have the supervising adult sign, or not calculating the hours correctly. If you make a mistake, do not cross it out or use white-out — request a new log from the DMV and start over, or ask the DMV whether you can make a correction with a note and both signatures.

Keep your log in a safe place and bring it with you every time you drive. The DMV will not accept a log that is torn, water-damaged, or missing pages. If your log is damaged before you complete all 40 hours, contact the DC DMV to request a replacement and explain what happened — you may be able to transfer your hours to a new log with documentation.

Where to Get the DC Learner's Permit Log

The official DC DMV Learner's Permit Log is available for free read on the DC DMV website (dmv.dc.gov). You can print as many copies as you need. The form is also available in Spanish. If you do not have access to a printer, you can visit any DC DMV office and request a printed copy at no cost.

If you are enrolled in a licensed DC driving school, the school may provide its own log form. These school logs are acceptable as long as they include all the required fields (date, time, location, conditions, and signatures). Do not use a log that is missing any of these fields, because the DMV will not count those hours toward your requirement.

Some learner's permit holders use a digital log app or spreadsheet instead of a paper log. The DMV does not officially endorse digital logs, so confirm with your local DMV office before relying on one. If you use a digital log, you will still need to print it out and have your supervising adult sign each entry before your road test appointment.

What Happens at Your Road Test Appointment

When you arrive for your road test, bring your completed and signed learner's permit log along with your learner's permit, proof of identity, and proof of residency. The DMV examiner will review your log before the test begins. They will check that all entries are complete, that both signatures are present on each line, that the total hours meet the 40-hour minimum, and that at least 10 hours are marked as night driving.

If your log is incomplete or does not meet the hour requirement, the examiner will not allow you to take the road test that day. You will be told to go home, complete the remaining hours, and schedule a new test appointment. This can delay your license by several weeks, so it is important to finish your log before your test date.

If your log is in order, the examiner will keep it on file as part of your road test record. You will then proceed to the driving portion of the test. Passing the road test and the written knowledge test allows you to move forward in the licensing process.

Night Driving Hours and How to Log Them

DC requires that at least 10 of your 40 supervised hours be completed between sunset and sunrise. This means you must drive during evening and night conditions to meet the requirement. You can find sunset and sunrise times for Washington, DC on the National Weather Service website or through a straightforward online search.

When you log a night driving session, write the actual start and end times (for example, 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM) and note in the conditions column that it was night driving. The DMV will count the hours only if the times you recorded fall between sunset and sunrise on that date. If you record a time that is clearly during daylight (such as 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM), the DMV will not count it as night driving, even if you write "night" in the conditions field.

Night driving hours do not have to be consecutive. You can complete them over several weeks as long as each session is recorded with the correct times and both signatures. Many learner's permit holders complete their night hours on weekends or during evening practice sessions with a parent or instructor.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most frequent errors on DC learner's permit logs are incomplete entries (missing start time, end time, or location), unsigned rows, incorrect hour calculations, and failure to distinguish night driving hours. Another common mistake is having the supervising adult sign the log days or weeks after the drive, which can raise questions about whether the information is accurate. It is best to have both you and the supervising adult sign when ready after each session while the details are fresh.

Some learner's permit holders also forget to bring their log to the road test appointment, which means the test cannot proceed. Keep your log in your vehicle or in a folder with your other driving documents so you do not lose it or leave it at home.

If you need to replace a damaged log or transfer hours from an old log to a new one, contact the DC DMV office where you obtained your learner's permit. Bring the damaged log and any documentation of the hours you completed. The DMV can issue a new log and may allow you to transfer verified hours with a note from the office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I count driving school hours toward my 40-hour requirement?

Yes, if the driving school is licensed by the DC DMV. However, you must still record those hours in your permit log with the instructor's signature. Any remaining hours must be completed with a supervising adult outside the school. Contact your driving school to confirm it is DC-licensed before enrolling.

What if my supervising adult will not sign my log?

The supervising adult's signature is required by law — the DMV will not count hours without it. If the adult refuses to sign, you cannot proceed with your road test. If you are having difficulty finding a supervising adult, ask a parent, guardian, or trusted family member, or consider enrolling in a professional driving school where an instructor can supervise and sign your log.

Do I have to use the official DMV log, or can I use a different form?

You can use a driving school log if the school is DC-licensed and the form includes all required fields. You can also use the free official DMV log. Any other form or digital log should be confirmed with the DMV office first. The safest option is to use the official DMV form to avoid delays at your road test.

What if I lose my log before I finish all 40 hours?

Contact the DC DMV office where you obtained your learner's permit and explain what happened. Bring any documentation of the hours you completed (such as notes or emails from your supervising adult). The DMV may issue a new log and allow you to transfer verified hours. You will then need to complete any remaining hours in the new log.

Can I take my road test if my log shows only 38 hours?

No. The DMV will not schedule or allow you to take the road test unless your log shows at least 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night. You must complete the remaining hours, record them in your log, and have them signed before you can test.