DC DMV issues vehicle registration reciprocity privileges to people who are permanent residents in other jurisdictions, but who, by law, are allowed reciprocal residency privileges in the District. Reciprocity privileges are also issued to some District residents who are unable to obtain District tags. Reciprocity privileges are available to
- Full-time students attending a college or university in the District of Columbia
- Member of Congress or personal staff members of a member of Congress (and District resident spouses and dependents)
- Presidential appointees
- US military personnel on active duty
- Diplomats
- Part-time District residents
- District residents with take home company vehicles
If you qualify for reciprocity and you live on a street zoned for residential parking, you may obtain a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) for your vehicle for an additional fee. Reciprocity does not give you parking privileges in restricted areas. Streets zoned for residential parking will have street signs indicating a 2-hour parking limit for vehicles without a permit.
To qualify for a reciprocity permit, you must meet the criteria listed below for your category, present the documents required for your category) at a DC DMV service center, and pay applicable permit fees. You can also apply for an RPP if you need one.
Information on DC DMV service centers is available at the link below:
Information on permit fees is available at the link below:
Full-Time Student Attending a College or University in District of Columbia
Student reciprocity permits are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible you need:
- A statement from the registrar's office on the college's or university's letterhead stating that you are a full time student
- A valid out-of-state driver license
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration with your name on the registration
- Proof of Insurance with your name on the insurance, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction.
- Proof of District residency. You will need 1 document from the list of proofs available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
Note: DC law prevents students in Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) areas 2A and 2E; 3D01, 3D02, 3D07, 3D08, and 3D10 (near American University); and ANC 3D06 and 3D09 (near Georgetown University) from receiving RPPs. If you are a student living in one of these areas, you must get a DC DMV driver license and register your vehicles in the District to get an RPP and park without restriction. Information on ANCs is available at the link below:
Member of Congress or Personal Staff Member of a Member of Congress
This category includes members of Congress, their spouses, their dependents under 21 years of age, their personal staff members, and the personal staff members’ spouses and dependents.
Spouses and dependents must sign an affidavit stating that they reside at the same address in the District as the member of Congress or the personal staff member.
Note: The personal staff member must have a valid driver license and vehicle registration from the home state of the member of Congress for whom he or she works.
Reciprocity permits for Congress members, their families, and their personal staff are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- A statement on the Congress member's letterhead stating you are a Congress member, a personal staff member, a minor dependent, or a spouse
- A valid out-of-state driver license
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the Congress member’s, personal staff member’s, minor dependent’s, or spouse's name
- Proof of insurance in the Congress member’s, personal staff member’s, minor dependent’s, or spouse's name, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction
- Proof of District residency. You will need 1 document from the list of proofs available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
Presidential Appointee
A presidential appointee is an Officer of the Executive Branch of the United States Government who is not domiciled within the District of Columbia, whose appointment to the office was by the US President, subject to confirmation by the US Senate, and whose tenure of office is at the pleasure of the US President.
For DC DMV reciprocity purposes, this category includes any appointee of the US President, and the appointee’s spouse and minor dependents under 21 years of age, provided the appointee signs an affidavit stating the dependent or spouse resides at the same address in the District as the appointee.
Reciprocity permits for presidential appointees are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible, you need:
- A statement on White House or US Executive Branch letterhead stating you are a presidential appointment (or dependent or spouse), subject to confirmation by the US Senate, and your tenure is at the pleasure of the US President
- A valid out-of-state driver license
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the presidential appointee, dependent, or spouse
- Proof of insurance in the name of the presidential appointee, dependent, or spouse, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction
- Proof of District residency. You will need 1 document from the list of proofs available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
US Military Personnel on Active Duty
This category includes military personnel on active duty, their spouses, and their minor dependents under 21 years of age, provided the military member signs an affidavit stating the dependent or spouse resides at the same address in the District as the military member.
Reciprocity permits for active duty military personnel are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible you need:
Valid military identification or military orders for military member, dependent, or spouse
- A valid out-of-state driver license
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the active duty military member, dependent, or spouse
- Proof of insurance in the name of the active duty military member, dependent, or spouse, as required by the issuing registration
- Proof of District residency. You will need 1 document from the list of proofs available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
Temporary District Resident
Reciprocity permits for temporary District residents are valid for 6 months and are NOT renewable. To be eligible you need:
- A valid out-of-state driver license
- A valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the temporary District resident's name
- Proof of insurance in the name of the temporary District resident, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction
- Proof of District residency. You will need 1 document from the list of proofs available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
Diplomat
This category includes diplomats, their spouses, and their minor dependents under 21 years of age, provided the diplomat signs an affidavit stating the minor or spouse resides at the same address in the District as the diplomat.
Reciprocity permits for diplomats are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible you need:
- Valid US Department of State vehicle registration and driver license
- Proof of insurance in the name of the diplomat, dependent, or spouse
Additional information on diplomatic reciprocity is available at the link below:
Part-Time District Resident
Reciprocity permits for part-time District residents are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To qualify as a part-time resident you need:
- A valid out-of-state driver license
- Valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the part-time DC resident's name
- Proof of insurance in the name of the part-time DC resident, as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction
- Proof of DC property ownership with a home title or mortgage document in the part-time resident's name
- Proof of part-time DC residency in DC property with utility or cable bill in the part-time resident's name
District Resident with Take-Home Company Vehicle
This category includes District residents who work outside of the District and use a company vehicle at home. If the District resident works for a DC company and has a take-home vehicle, then he or she is not eligible for reciprocity. He or she must be added to the company's DC vehicle registration as the primary registrant. This will then allow the District resident to obtain an RPP, if needed.
Note: This excludes company vehicles with commercial tags.
Reciprocity permits for District residents with take-home company vehicles are valid for 1 year and are renewable. To be eligible you need:
- A valid DC DMV driver license
- Valid out-of-state vehicle registration in the name of the company
- Proof of insurance as required by the issuing registration jurisdiction
- Letter on company letterhead certifying that the District resident is an employee with permission to take the vehicle home
- Proof of District residency. You will need 1 document from the list of proofs available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency