General Rules

• Driving without a license is illegal — includes sitting in the driver's seat with the engine running, or steering a towed/pushed vehicle.
• Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Mon–Fri. Walk-ins accepted until capacity.

Learner Permits

Test Requirements

• Vision: must meet standard; corrective lenses → license restriction (driving without them = same penalty as no license)
• Traffic Signs: identify by color, shape, meaning
• Knowledge Test: traffic laws & safe driving (audio version available)
• On-Road Skills Test: required for first-time licenses & some renewals (NOT for learner permits). Graded on: intersections, quick stops, backing, stop/start/park, clutch use, signals/horn, turning, lane use, following, passing, yielding, posture, 3-point turnabout.

License Classes

Endorsements: Motorcycle (needs endorsement/permit); School Bus ("S" + "P" endorsements, age 18+, 6 months' experience, School Bus Driver's Certificate — sex offenders barred from S/P).

Graduated Licensing (Ages 15–18)

Supervising Driver: parent/grandparent/guardian, licensed 5+ years.

Provisional Licensee Rules (Under 18)

• Higher crash rate → closer DMV review
• No alcohol/drugs (1-yr revocation if convicted)
• No texting/reading email
• All occupants belted

Required Documents

Liability Insurance & REAL ID

• Insurance required for original licenses, restorations, Limited Driving Privileges (DL-123 valid 30 days)
• REAL ID: required for flights/federal facilities starting May 7, 2025; marked with a star; non-REAL ID marked "Not for Federal Identification"; no extra cost

Moving to NC & Renewals

• New residents: NC license within 60 days (30 days for CDL); sex offender registry check if <12 months residency
• Duration: Age 18–65 → 8 years | Age 66+ → 5 years
• Renewal: up to 180 days early; vision test required in person
• Renewal by Mail: out-of-state 30+ days, active military/spouses. Temporary — expires 60 days after return. Not for age 72+
• Veterans: free "VETERAN" designation at renewal with DD-214
• Address/name changes: notify DMV within 60 days

Fee Schedule

Other DMV Services

Voter registration, organ donor designation, Selective Service (males 18–25). Sex offenders must register with sheriff.

Key Facts

• Everyone impaired at 0.08% BAC; crash risk rises at 0.05%
• 38% of traffic fatalities involve alcohol
• Governed by the Safe Roads Act (1983)

Immediate Penalties

Proving DWI: appreciably impaired by alcohol/drugs, OR BAC ≥0.08% (≥0.04% CMV)

DWI Rules

• Roadblocks allowed
• No open containers in passenger area; no alcohol in CMV
• 2nd conviction requires jail time
• Repeat offenders/high BAC → alcohol assessment; lower BAC → safety school
• All convictions require substance abuse assessment before reinstatement

Conviction Penalties

BAC Restrictions

• 1st restoration: 0.04 max
• 2nd+ restoration: 0.00
• CMV / under 21 / felony death by vehicle: 0.00
• BAC 0.15+ or repeat within 7 yrs → ignition interlock required
• Vehicle seized/sold if DWI while revoked for prior DWI

Under 21

Points System

• 7 points → may be assigned to Driver Improvement Clinic ($83.50, removes 3 points)
• 12 points in 3 years → suspension
• 8 points in 3 years after reinstatement → 2nd suspension
• Suspension lengths: 1st = 60 days | 2nd = 6 months | 3rd = 12 months
• Reinstatement cancels all points

Point Values — Standard Vehicles

CMV point values are higher (e.g., passing school bus = 8 pts, rail crossing = 6 pts); fines/penalties can double.

No points for: overload/length/width/height, illegal parking, concealed weapon, improper plates/registration/muffler, no inspection cert.

Automatic Suspensions/Revocations

• 2 convictions of speeding >55mph in 12 months
• 1 speeding >55mph + 1 reckless in a year
• Willful racing
• Suspended court sentence
• Speeding >75mph (certain cases)
• 30 days: driving >15mph over a limit >55mph
• 60 days: 2nd speeding >55mph, or speeding + reckless

Suspension Table

Other Notes

• Out-of-state convictions treated as if in NC
• Failure to appear/pay → revocation until resolved (Motion for Relief AOC-CR-415 available)
• Provisional (under 18): 2nd moving violation/12 mo = 30 days | 3rd = 90 days | 4th = 6 months
• Restoration fee: $83.50 ($167.25 DWI); $50 service fee unless surrendered early

Driver Safety

Drowsy Driving — at 55mph, a car covers a football field in 3.7 seconds. Warning signs: drifting, hitting rumble strips, yawning, trouble focusing. Prevention: stop, nap 15–45 min, caffeine; limit 300–400 miles/day.

Distracted Driving — includes texting, phone use, eating, grooming, radio. Unlawful to text/email while driving; under 18 = no phone use at all (except 911); bus drivers can't use phones.

Medications — may affect driving; minimize driving while on them.

Alcohol — depressant; slows brain, reduces judgment, false confidence, harder to multitask, affects balance, causes drowsiness. Only time sobers a person.

Protecting Yourself & Passengers

Seat Belts — all occupants must wear them; 1-in-3 lifetime chance of serious injury/death without. Exempt: medical conditions, rural mail carriers, newspaper delivery, frequent stops <20mph, agricultural vehicles, motor homes (4+ facilities).

Child Safety — #1 threat to children is auto accidents. Proper seats save 7 of 10 unrestrained children.

• Under 8 yrs AND <80 lbs → weight-appropriate restraint
• Under 5 yrs AND <40 lbs → rear seat if passenger airbag active
• Under 8 yrs (40–80 lbs) → lap belt only OK if no lap/shoulder belt available
• Booster seats must fit correctly (lap belt on hips, shoulder across chest)

Air Bags — deploy at 200mph. Kids 12 & under ride in rear seat. Infants in rear-facing seats: never in front of an airbag. Adults: sit as far back as possible.

Motorcycle Helmets — must meet FMVSS 218: thick inner liner, manufacturer-installed DOT sticker, manufacturer label.

Pickup Truck Law — kids under 16 can't ride in open bed; $25 infraction fine (no points). Exempt: adult supervising, parade, emergency, agricultural enterprise.

General Driving

Pedestrians — always yield right of way; extra care for blind pedestrians (white cane/guide dog); use horn if a pedestrian is in danger.

Motorcyclists — improper signaling causing a motorcycle crash = driver charged/fined.

School Buses — max speed 45mph.

Emergency Vehicles — yield, pull right, stop. Don't park within 100ft of an emergency vehicle, 1 block of a fire truck, or drive over a fire hose.

Stopped by Police — pull right, turn off engine, roll down window, hands on wheel. Don't exit unless instructed; don't reach for documents without permission. Resisting = Class 2 misdemeanor.

Farm Equipment — crashes typically happen on clear, dry days (sideswipes/angle crashes while passing turning equipment). Left-turn signal does NOT mean "pass me." Legal on all roads except interstates. Required lighting: 1 front white light, rear red light visible 500ft (or 2 red reflectors).

Funeral Processions — headlights/hazards on; lead vehicle obeys signals then all may proceed; never drive between procession vehicles.

Basic Driving Skills

• Stopping distance at 55mph: 211 feet
• Curves: slow before entering, accelerate gradually to maintain traction
• Following: use the Two-Second Rule
• Passing: horn creates a legal obligation for others to yield; pass ≥2 feet to the left. Illegal to pass at: intersections, RR crossings, curves/hills (<500ft visibility), solid yellow lines, where a vehicle is stopped for pedestrians
• Backing: check behind, steer with left hand, look over right shoulder, back at <10mph
• Parking — don't park: in intersections, within 25ft of intersecting curb, crosswalks, within 15ft of a fire hydrant, on paved highway (unless visible 200ft away), double-parked, within 1 block of fire truck, handicap spaces

Intersections

Most dangerous location — >1/3 of fatal crashes. Right-of-way order: vehicle already in intersection → vehicle to the right (if simultaneous) → straight-through traffic beats left turns. A 4-lane road divided by a median >30ft = treated as 2 separate intersections.

Roundabouts

Counterclockwise flow; yield to pedestrians/bikes. Right turn = 1/4 way around | Straight = 1/2 way | Left = 3/4 way | U-turn = full circle. Signal to exit; don't change lanes inside.

Railroad Crossings

• NC has 5,000 miles of track, 6,800 crossings
• A train at 55mph needs >1 mile to stop
• Trains ALWAYS have right-of-way (even over emergency vehicles)
• Stop if: gate lowers, flagger signals, lights flash, or train is visible/audible
• If stuck on tracks: GET OUT, find the Blue ENS Sign, call the number (1-800-232-0144 for missing signs)

Interstate Driving

Safer: separate lanes, no signals/RRs/curves. Use acceleration lane to merge; keep right except to pass. Stop every 100 miles. Use deceleration lane to exit; missed exit → go to the next one. Wrong-way on interstate: pull to right shoulder, stop, turn around.

Vehicle Equipment

Defensive Driving

Scan 10–15 seconds ahead; check mirrors every 10 seconds. Blind spots: left/right rear corners. Signal 100ft before a turn (200ft if traveling >45mph). Hand signals: Left = arm straight out | Right = forearm up | Stop = arm down.

Hazardous Conditions

Emergencies

Crashes

Stop immediately; move vehicles if no injuries/minor damage. Report if anyone is killed/injured or damage exceeds $1,000. Must exchange: name, address, DL#, registration#, insurance info.

Traffic Signals

Sign Shapes & Colors

Pavement Markings

• Yellow lines = opposite directions of travel (broken = pass with care; double solid = no passing)
• White lines = same direction (solid = right edge)
• Solid yellow on your right = you're going the wrong way (it marks the left edge of a divided highway)
• Two-way left-turn lane = cannot be used for passing/merging
• Pavement markers: red = wrong way, blue = fire hydrant location

Traffic Officers

Their hand signals override signs/lights. Hand up = stop; motioning = go.

Warning Signs — Full Reference

Yellow diamond, pentagon, and circle signs alert you to conditions ahead — curves, crossings, hazards. Study the shapes and icons below.

Regulatory Signs — Full Reference

Red and white/black signs tell you what you must or must not do — stop, yield, turn restrictions, parking rules.

Bicycles

Legally considered vehicles — same laws apply, including DWI. Can use the full lane; pass with care (changing lanes is safest). Required: front light (visible 300ft), rear red light/reflector (200ft). Riders <16 must wear a helmet. Kids <40 lbs/<40 inches must be in a restraining seat.

Pedestrians

2 of every 5 city crash deaths, 1 of 10 rural. Walk facing traffic (on the left side). Wear white / use a flashlight at night.

Trucks

Slow to accelerate, need wide turning room, brakes get hot on downhills. No-Zones (blind spots): 20ft in front, along both sides, 200ft behind. Rule of thumb: if you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you.

RVs / Trailers

Longer/wider, slower to accelerate/stop, large blind spots. Passing requires about 1/2 mile of clear roadway.

Motorcycles & Mopeds

2/3 of motorcycle crashes involve a car (driver usually at fault — "didn't see them"). Entitled to a full lane; watch for sand/gravel.

Mopeds: ≤50cc, no external shifting, top speed ≤30mph, rider must be 16+ with valid NC DL/ID, helmet required, annual registration ($29.50 + local transit taxes), must have MCO or MVR-58 form.

Littering

Illegal — attracts wildlife. Fine: $250–$1,000 (1st); $500–$2,000 (2nd within 3 years).

Driver Records

Vehicle Registration

Must have an NC DL first. Out-of-state: valid OOS DL + NC TDC required. Registration card must stay in the vehicle. No plastic license plate covers (GS 20-63g).

Insurance Minimums

Continuous coverage required — no grace period. Surrender your plate before canceling insurance to avoid a fine.

Registration Renewal & Inspection

• Safety/emissions inspection required within 90 days prior to expiration (staggered system over 12 months)
• Transfer of vehicle: notarized reassignment on title; current inspection (within 12 mo) needed if requesting a plate; plates transferable between same-category vehicles/same owner
• Tag & Tax Together: one combined payment for registration renewal + property tax. Exemptions: exempt vehicles, manufactured homes, mobile classrooms, multi-year semi-trailers, public service vehicles, park model trailers, mopeds. Instant title service available same/next day.

Vehicle Inspections

Annual requirement. Emissions exemption: vehicle <3 years old AND <70,000 miles in one of the 19 emissions counties → safety inspection only. Window tint: must allow ≥35% light transmittance ($10 extra inspection fee).