Bond, James Bond. He has a license to kill. But if you're reading this, you're only looking for a license to operate a motor vehicle. Which decidedly is not a license to kill. And we're here to teach you the basics so you don't even kill anyone by accident. 

If you drive on public roads and are 17 years of age or older, you have to have a Washington, D.C., driver's license. Period. If you don't need one, then you can stop reading right now.

And this makes sense, right? If it's a "public" road, it means everyone has paid for it with their hard-earned tax dollars. And if it's public, innocent people will be driving on it, walking on it, and biking on it. If you just want to drive up and down your parents' driveway, then hey, you're good. You don't need a license to do that. As long as Mom and Dad are cool with it, rock on.

Exceptions (Eligible for a Temporary Reciprocity Permit)

Military: If you're military personnel driving a United States government vehicle on official business—or in Afghanistan, Iraq, or somewhere where a Washington, D.C., driver's license really isn't a big concern—then you don't need a D.C. license, as long as you have a valid license from your home state. 

Students: If you're a nonresident attending college in Washington, D.C., then you don't need a Washington, D.C., driver's license. You'll just need a Reciprocity Permit and a license from your home state, obviously.

Congress Members and Staff/Presidential Appointees/Diplomats: Let's say you live in Georgia, but work in Washington, D.C. If you're in D.C. temporarily, you'll be able to get either a renewable or nonrenewable Reciprocity Permit, depending on your position and reason for being in the city.