North Carolina driver's license
Get your first license in North Carolina after moving to the US.
The short answer
A first North Carolina driver license means passing a road test given by the Division of Motor Vehicles.1 The fee is $6.50 for each year the license covers, so the total depends on the length of the license you are issued.2 If you hold a valid license from another state, the written and road tests can be waived, unless the examiner decides you need the driving test.3 While you drive on a learner permit, a driver licensed for that vehicle must sit beside you in the front seat, and no one else may sit there.4
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to North Carolina and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- 5Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
If you just arrived in the US
Your immigration status
You receive a driver license of limited duration, with a distinguishing mark on its face clearly showing the limited duration.5
Documents you need
- Documents that are still validA North Carolina Limited Driving Privilege must be issued by a North Carolina court and cannot be expired more than one year.6
- A foreign passport must be valid and unexpired and come with an affixed valid, unexpired U.S. visa and an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.7
- Documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must be valid and unexpired, but an expired document may still count if it comes with a USCIS letter extending its expiration date, such as an I-797.8
Your Social Security Number
Giving your number, and who may see it
Your Social Security number is not a public record, and the DMV may not disclose it except as federal law allows, including to administer driver license laws, enforce child support, and verify taxpayer identity.9
Tests you take
Eye test
You need vision of 20/40 or better in at least one eye for an unrestricted license. If your vision is less than 20/40 in either eye or both eyes together, your license is restricted to require corrective lenses.10
Drive test
The road test may be waived if you have a valid license from another state.3
You must pass a road test given by the Division; this is waived if you are a new resident with a valid driver license from another jurisdiction that requires a road test.1
Practice questions for the written test
Study from the Driver's Handbook published by the Division of Motor Vehicles.11
Practising with your permit
Who can sit with you while you practise
A supervising driver must sit beside you in the front seat while the vehicle is moving, and no one other than the supervising driver may be in the front seat.4
While driving on the highways, you must be accompanied by a person who is licensed to drive the vehicle you are driving, seated beside you.12
Where to go
Booking an appointment
North Carolina driver license office appointments are made at https://skiptheline.ncdot.gov/Webapp/Appointment/Index/a7ade79b-996d-4971-8766-97feb75254de, up to seven days in advance.13
Office locations
The DMV Office Locator at https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/Pages/dmv-offices.aspx?office=driverlicense shows whether an office is open, its current hours, and the services it offers.14
Other states
U
Sources
Every numbered fact above is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
- 1
“Successfully passes a road test administered by the Division. This requirement is waived if the applicant is a new resident of North Carolina who has a valid drivers license issued by another jurisdiction that requires a road test.”
ncleg.gov/…/Article_2.pdfChecked June 5, 2026
- 2
“The fee for a regular drivers license is the amount set in the following table multiplied by the number of years in the period for which the license is issued: Class of Regular License Fee for Each Year Class A $6.50 Class B $6.50 Class C $6.50”
ncleg.gov/…/GS_20-7.htmlChecked July 28, 2026
- 3
“Written and road tests may be waived if you have a valid license from another state.”
ncdot.gov/dmv/help/moving/Pages/new-residents.aspxChecked July 28, 2026
- 4
“A supervising driver must be seated beside the permit holder in the front seat of the vehicle when it is in motion. No person other than the supervising driver can be in the front seat.”
ncleg.gov/…/Article_2.pdfChecked August 2, 2026
- 5
“a drivers license of limited duration issued under this section shall bear a distinguishing mark or other designation on the face of the license clearly denoting the limited duration of the license.”
ncleg.gov/…/GS_20-7.htmlChecked July 28, 2026
- 6
“North Carolina Limited Driving Privilege Must be issued by a North Carolina court Cannot be expired more than one year”
ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-identity.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 7
“Valid, unexpired foreign passport Valid, unexpired passport from any nation Must be accompanied by an affixed valid, unexpired U.S. visa and I-94 Arrival/Departure Record”
ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-identity.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 8
“Valid, unexpired documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services An expired immigration document may be valid if accompanied by a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services extending the expiration date (e.g., I-797)”
ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-identity.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 9
“The social security number of an applicant is not a public record. The Division may not disclose an applicant's social security number except as allowed under federal law.”
ncleg.gov/…/Article_2.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 10
“The Visual Acuity Test, which examines an applicant's visual ability to identify letters or symbols from a specific distance. The applicant's vision shall be 20/40 or better in at least one eye to receive an unrestricted license. A license shall be restricted to require corrective lenses if acuity is less than 20/40 in either eye or both eyes together.”
reports.oah.state.nc.us/…/chapter%2003%20rules.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 11
“a copy of the Driver's Handbook published by the Division for each student”
reports.oah.state.nc.us/…/chapter%2003%20rules.pdfChecked July 28, 2026
- 12
“The permit holder must, while operating a motor vehicle over the highways, be accompanied by a person who is licensed to operate the motor vehicle being driven and is seated beside the permit holder.”
ncleg.gov/…/Article_2.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 13
“The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles offers appointments at driver license offices. Appointments can be made up to seven days in advance”
ncdot.gov/…/default.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
- 14
“To confirm whether a specific office is open today, view current hours, and see services offered, use the DMV Office Locator below.”
ncdot.gov/…/dmv-offices.aspxChecked August 1, 2026
Applying for a driver's license in North Carolina?
Answer a few questions and see the steps that apply to you.