North Carolina DMV Permit Test 2026

Who Can Get a Learner's Permit

North Carolina has two paths to a learner's permit depending on your age. If you're 15 to 17 years old, you'll apply for a Limited Learner Permit through North Carolina's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. If you're 18 or older, you apply for a standard Learner Permit.

Teens (15–17): You must be at least 15 years old. You need to have completed an approved driver education course before you can apply. You also need a Driving Eligibility Certificate (DEC) from your school, which confirms you are enrolled, attending regularly, and making adequate academic progress. If you are homeschooled, your parent or guardian can sign a form in place of the DEC. A parent or legal guardian must sign your application to give consent.

Adults (18+): If you're 18 or older and have never held a license, you can apply for a learner permit directly. No driver education course is required, and no parental consent is needed.

Residency: You must be a North Carolina resident to apply for a permit. You'll prove residency with documents showing your North Carolina address. If you're moving to North Carolina from another state, you are expected to obtain a North Carolina license within 60 days of establishing residency.

The GDL Program (Teens 15–17)

North Carolina's Graduated Driver Licensing program has three levels. Understanding the full path helps you know what to expect:

This guide focuses on Level 1 — the Limited Learner Permit — since that's the stage where you take the written knowledge test at the DMV.

Fees and What You Pay For

The permit fee is $21.50. This is collected at the DMV after you pass the required tests. You do not pay before testing — the fee is only charged once you have successfully passed both the knowledge test and the road signs test.

If you fail the test, you are not charged for the failed attempt. However, if you need to retake the test, a reexamination fee may apply for subsequent attempts.

The NCDMV accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard).

Documents You Need at the DMV

North Carolina requires the following documents when you apply for a learner permit:

Teens (under 18): You also need a Driving Eligibility Certificate (DEC) from your school or, if homeschooled, a signed form from your parent or guardian. You must also bring your driver education completion certificate and have a parent or legal guardian sign the application (they may need to be present or have their signature notarized).

Non-U.S. citizens: You will need to provide proof of legal presence in the United States — such as a valid visa, employment authorization document (EAD), or I-94 arrival/departure record.

Do You Need an Appointment?

No appointment is required for the written knowledge test — you can walk into any NCDMV driver license office during business hours. However, wait times can vary significantly depending on the office and time of day.

The NCDMV offers an online Skip the Line appointment system that lets you reserve a time slot in advance. This is strongly recommended — it can save you a significant wait compared to walking in. Appointments are free.

What Happens at the DMV

Here's what a typical NCDMV visit looks like for a learner permit applicant:

The Vision Screening

The vision test is conducted at the service counter. You'll look into a vision testing device and read a line of characters. North Carolina requires a minimum visual acuity of 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.

If you wear glasses or contacts, keep them on during the test. If you pass with corrective lenses, your permit will include a restriction requiring you to wear them while driving.

If you don't meet the vision standard, you'll need to visit an eye doctor and bring back a completed vision form. The screening itself takes less than a minute.

The Written Knowledge Test

The North Carolina knowledge test has 25 multiple-choice questions covering traffic laws, right-of-way rules, safe driving practices, and North Carolina-specific regulations. All questions are based on the North Carolina Driver Handbook.

You must answer at least 20 out of 25 questions correctly to pass — that's an 80% passing score. You are allowed up to 5 wrong answers.

The test is taken on a computer at the DMV office. There is no time limit. The NCDMV offers the test in several languages including English and Spanish, and oral tests are available upon request.

Can you take the test online from home? No — North Carolina does not offer a remote or online option for the written knowledge test. You must take it in person at an NCDMV driver license office.

The Road Signs Test

Unlike many other states, North Carolina has a separate road signs test in addition to the written knowledge test. This test has 8 questions and requires you to identify traffic signs by their color, shape, and meaning.

You must answer at least 6 out of 8 correctly to pass. The signs test typically comes before the written knowledge test during your DMV visit.

The format is straightforward — you'll be shown a sign (or a description of its shape and color) and asked what it means. You need to know the standard shapes (octagon for stop, triangle for yield, diamond for warning, etc.) and color conventions (red for prohibitions, yellow for warnings, green for guide, blue for services, etc.).

You must pass both the road signs test and the written knowledge test to receive your permit. If you fail one but pass the other, you'll need to retake only the test you failed on your next visit.

Passing Score and Results

North Carolina uses the same test for both teens and adults — there is no difference in the number of questions or passing score based on age:

When the test ends, you'll be told whether you passed or failed. If you passed both tests, you'll proceed to have your photo taken and pay the permit fee.

Teens vs. Adults: How the Process Differs

The written test is the same for all ages, but the overall process and permit restrictions differ significantly:

After You Pass

When you pass both the knowledge test and the road signs test, the DMV will take your photo and collect the $21.50 permit fee. You'll receive a Temporary Driving Certificate — a paper document that serves as your legal permit until your permanent card arrives in the mail.

Your permanent permit card will be mailed from a central NCDMV facility and typically arrives within 20 days. Until it arrives, carry the Temporary Driving Certificate with you whenever you drive.

Can you start driving immediately? Yes — but only with a supervising driver. For teens, the supervising driver must be a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian who has been licensed for at least 5 years and must sit in the front passenger seat. No other passengers are allowed in the front seat.

For adults (18+), you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and seated beside you in the front seat.

If You Don't Pass

If you fail either test, you must wait at least 7 calendar days before retaking it. You cannot retake the test on the same day.

You are allowed up to 3 attempts within 90 days of your original application. A reexamination fee may be charged for retake attempts.

What if you fail all 3 attempts? If you don't pass within 3 attempts or if 90 days pass from your initial application without passing, your application is closed. You'll need to start the process over — new application, new documents, and new testing.

If you passed one test (e.g., road signs) but failed the other (e.g., knowledge), you typically only need to retake the test you failed. Study the North Carolina Driver Handbook thoroughly and take practice tests to improve your chances.

Learner's Permit Rules

The rules for your learner's permit depend on whether you're a teen or an adult.

International License Holders

If you hold a valid driver license from another country, you can drive in North Carolina as a visitor for a limited time. However, if you become a North Carolina resident, you must obtain an NC license.

Your foreign license does not transfer to North Carolina. You'll need to go through the full application process: documents, vision test, road signs test, written knowledge test, and behind-the-wheel driving test. There is no exemption from any of these tests for international license holders.

You must provide proof of legal presence in the United States as part of your application. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not accepted as a substitute for a North Carolina license if you are a resident.

Out-of-State Transfers

If you have a valid driver license from another U.S. state, you can transfer it to North Carolina without taking the written knowledge test or driving test. You'll still need to visit an NCDMV office, submit your documents, pass the vision screening, and pay the applicable fee.

You must surrender your out-of-state license. North Carolina will verify it with the issuing state. You have 60 days after establishing residency to obtain your NC license.

The Driver Handbook

The North Carolina Driver Handbook is the official study guide for both the knowledge test and the road signs test. Every question on the exam is based on information in this handbook. It covers North Carolina traffic laws, right-of-way rules, road signs and signals, safe driving practices, impaired driving laws, and special driving situations.

The handbook is available as a free PDF download from the NCDMV website. You can also pick up a printed copy at any NCDMV driver license office. It is available in English and Spanish.

Pay special attention to the road signs section — since North Carolina tests signs separately, you need to know them thoroughly. Focus on sign shapes, colors, and their specific meanings. Also study right-of-way rules, speed limits, and NC-specific laws like the Move Over law and school zone regulations.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare. They help you identify gaps in your knowledge and get comfortable with the question format.

Official NCDMV practice tests: The NCDMV offers sample test questions on their website. These give you a feel for the type of questions, though the actual test draws from a larger question pool.

DMV Question Bank practice tests: For more thorough preparation, you can take North Carolina DMV practice tests on DMV Question Bank. The question bank covers all topics from the North Carolina Driver Handbook — including dedicated road signs practice — and simulates the real test experience with instant feedback. Aim to consistently score above 90% before taking the real test.

A good study approach: read the handbook once, take practice tests to find weak areas, review those sections, and repeat until you pass consistently. Don't forget to practice road sign identification separately.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

After getting your permit, the next step is preparing for the behind-the-wheel driving test. The requirements differ between teens and adults.

GDL restrictions after getting a license (teens only): Once you pass the road test and receive your Limited Provisional License (Level 2), you'll be subject to these restrictions for the first 6 months:

Quick Reference

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