How to Get Your Driver's License in North Carolina
Last verified: 2026-03
Here is how to get your driver's license in North Carolina. North Carolina uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system with 3 stages. You can get a full unrestricted license at age 16.5.
GDL Stages in North Carolina
Learner's Permit
Requirements
- Pass written knowledge test
- Pass vision screening
- Parental consent if under 18
Restrictions
- Must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older
Limited Provisional License
Requirements
- Hold learner's permit for at least 12 months
- Complete 60 hours supervised driving including 10 at night
- Pass road skills test
Restrictions
- No driving between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- No more than 1 passenger under 21 who is not family
Full Provisional License
Requirements
- Hold limited provisional license for 6 months
- No violations during limited provisional period
Restricted License Rules
- No driving between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless for work, school, or an emergency.
- Only 1 non-family passenger under 21 is allowed during the limited provisional period.
How restrictions lift: Restrictions lift after 6 months of violation-free driving during the limited provisional stage.
Road Test Overview
What Is Tested
- Vehicle control
- Turning and lane changes
- Parking
- Obeying traffic signals and signs
- Speed management
- Yielding right of way
Adult Licensing Pathway
If you are 18 or older, you do not need to complete the full GDL process. Drivers 18 and older are not subject to the provisional licensing system and may apply for a full license after passing knowledge and road tests.
North Carolina-Specific Information
North Carolina requires a full 12 months on the learner's permit, one of the longest holding periods in the country. The state also has a 9 p.m. curfew, which is earlier than most and tied with Kansas for the earliest start time.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 16.5 years old to get an unrestricted full driver's license in North Carolina.
North Carolina uses a 3-stage Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system: Learner's Permit, Limited Provisional License, Full Provisional License.
- No driving between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless for work, school, or an emergency.
- Only 1 non-family passenger under 21 is allowed during the limited provisional period.
Adults age 18 and older in North Carolina can apply for a license directly without going through the GDL stages. Drivers 18 and older are not subject to the provisional licensing system and may apply for a full license after passing knowledge and road tests.
Need your permit first?
Start with the learner's permit before your full license.
North Carolina learner's permit guideCheck drivers ed requirements
Find out if drivers ed is required in North Carolina.
North Carolina drivers ed requirementsPrefer to learn online?
Complete a state-approved driving course from home on your own schedule. Same certifications, same insurance discounts.
View Online CoursesThis information is based on North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles guidelines. Requirements can change. Visit the official North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles website for the most current information.