North Carolina Drivers License

The State of North Carolina required a new driver to complete 2 steps before being able to obtain a Full Provisional Drivers License.

Level 1 (limited learner permit for operating vehicle requiring a Class C license)

1. You must be at least 15 years of age and completed a drivers’ education course. This course must be one that meets North Carolina Requirements.

2. You must also present a Driving Eligibility Certificate. This Certificate is issued by the public school system. You may also present a high school diploma or its equivalent instead of the Certificate.

3. You must present present proof of residency and your social security card or documentation issued by the United States Government indicating legal presence.

4. You must pass written, signs and vision tests.

5. All passengers in your vehicles must be restrained by seatbelt or child safety seat.

6. No one except the driver and the supervising driver* are allowed in the front seat.

7. You are only to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. while accompanied by your supervising driver* during the first six months of obtaining a Limited Learner Permit.

8. After six months, you are eligible to drive anytime with your supervising driver*.

*Supervising Driver: A supervising driver must be a parent, grandparent, guardian of the permit/license holder, or a responsible person approved by the parent or guardian. A supervising driver must hold a valid driver license and must have been licensed for at least five years.

Note: Before graduating to Level Two, you must keep this permit for at least 12 months and have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions within the preceding six months.

Level 2 (limited provisional license)

1. You must be at least 16 years of age but less than 18 years of age.

2. All passengers must always be restrained by seat belt or child safety seat.

3. Supervising Driver* must be seated beside the driver

4. You are only to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. or at any time when driving directly to or from work. You may also drive any time if you are a volunteer fire, rescue or EMS (emergency medical service) person. You may drive without supervision during these times and these instances.

5. You may not have more than one passenger under the age of 21 in the vehicle if you are not with your supervising driver*. The exception to this rule is that you may have any number of passengers as long as they are members of the license holder’s immediate family or live in the same primary residents. The catch for this is that if any member of your immediate family (or who resides in the same primary residence) is under the age of 21 you may not have any other passenger in the vehicle that is under the age of 21.

Note: Before graduating to Level Three, you must keep this license for at least 6 months and have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions within the preceding six months.

Level 3 (full provisional license – provisional licensees are drivers under the age of 18)

1. Upon completion of six months of driving with no convictions of either moving violations or seat belt infractions, you are eligible to receive a Level Three license.

2. You must have a certificate that shows you have passed an approved driver education course that meets State of North Carolina requirements before you are able to take the test for a Learner Permit or License.

3. The Department of Motor Vehicles reviews the driving record of all Level 3 drivers more closely and may contact you if you have certain types of traffic violations or crashes.

4. It is unlawful for a Level 3 (provisional licensee) to drive a motor vehicle after or while consuming alcohol or drugs – a conviction of such a violation will result in a one-year license revocation.

5. A parent or legal guardian must sign for a minor.

North Carolina Drivers Education Requirements

North Carolina is one of many states requiring that young drivers complete a driver’s education course before they can get a driver’s license. This is a smart idea on the part of each state, and those that do not have this requirement should look at the information involving teens and automobile accidents. Teen drivers comprise many of the auto accidents recorded in the United States – and all over the world – each year, and driver’s education is a great way to help them learn what they need to know in order to begin their driver’s training.

You must be at least 14 years and 6 months to begin your driving studies. Driver’s education is also required before you can get your learner’s permit. You cannot begin behind-the-wheel studies until you have passed a minimum of 30 hours of classroom training and the necessary visual exam. Once you reach 15 years old, you may apply for a learner’s permit. You should still drive with a licensed adult over the age of 21 and, if they are not your parent/legal guardian, your parents should approve this person.

Like most states, North Carolina has mandated the number of hours that a learning driver may drive each day. Driving at night is much more dangerous than driving during the daylight hours, so many of these dark hours are off-limits for those with a learner’s permit. Those driving with a learner’s permit are also required by the state of North Carolina to wear a seatbelt at all times while driving.

Where you live

Tell us about drivers where you live! Share your experiences.

Have a funny story? Post it here!

Welcome to All Drivers Education Blog!

This blog is here to talk about the ins and the outs of getting your Drivers License. No matter what state you live in you’ll find someone here to share your frustrations, your successes and your challenges to getting your drivers license.

Share your stories!

Enjoy!