Select Your Free 2023 North Carolina Practice Permit Test to Get Started

North Carolina requires teens to progress through its Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL) which gives them greater driving privileges as they gain knowledge and experience. The age requirements and levels of the program are:

• 14 ½ years old – driver’s education
• 15 years old – Learner’s Permit
• 16 years old – Provisional Driver’s License
• 6 months after Provisional License – Full Provisional Driver’s License
• 18 years old – Regular Driver’s License

• Driving eligibility certificate
• 2 proofs of identification
• Proof of Social Security Number
• $20 for Learner’s Permit fee

Visit the North Carolina Department of Transportation website for a complete list of documents that can be submitted as proof of identification and social security number.

You should file your application at a local NC DMV office.

Visit https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/locations.html for office locations, hours and contact information.

In North Carolina all teens under the age of 18 must complete driver’s education in order to receive their Learner’s Permit.

You have 60 days to transfer an out-of-state Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License to North Carolina. You will need to visit a NC DMV office and pass the written test, a road sign recognition test and a vision test.

The North Carolina written test includes questions on traffic laws and safe driving practices. In addition, you will need to pass a road sign recognition test. Questions for both tests are drawn from the North Carolina Driver’s Manual. Here are two examples of manual content that you could be asked questions about on the written test:

• Every vehicle in a funeral procession must have its headlights on, and the hazard warning signals must also be on, if so equipped
• At railroad crossings be prepared to stop for vehicles that must stop at those crossings, such as school buses, motor vehicles carrying passengers, for-hire vehicles or vehicles transporting explosives or hazardous materials (these vehicles are marked with placard signs)

The North Carolina written test is a multiple choice test.

No, the questions on the test are written to assess your knowledge of important traffic laws and safe-driving practices. None of the questions are written expressly to “trick” you into giving a wrong answer. Study your Driver’s Manual carefully and no question should be a surprise or be considered “tricky.”

There are 25 questions on the test and you must answer at least 20 of them correctly to pass.

You should read the North Carolina Driver’s Manual several times and study its content several more times. It’s important that you gain a thorough understanding of the traffic laws and safe driving practices that it presents. You should also memorize the signs it shows so that you know their meaning by sight. One way to ensure you have the knowledge needed to pass is to take practice tests online. These tests can show you what you know and what you need to study more.

You can get a free North Carolina Driver’s Manual on this website.

Try to memorize numerical information such as measurements, distances, lengths and various speed limits. Also, pay attention to safe driving practices, such as driving on snow and in other hazardous conditions. To assess your current driving knowledge, take a practice test online.

The best approach is do a light review of the Driver’s Manual, take – and pass – a practice test and then get a good night’s rest so that you are at your best on test day. Plan on giving yourself plenty of time to get to your test so that you are not feeling rushed. You should also eat a good meal before the test so that you are not distracted by hunger pangs.

Contact your DMV office to see if appointments are accepted and, if they are, it is recommended that you make one.

You will take the test at your local DMV office.

Bring all of the following:

• Driving eligibility certificate
• 2 proofs of identification
• Proof of Social Security Number
• $20 for Learner’s Permit fee

Visit the North Carolina Department of Transportation website for a complete list of documents that can be submitted as proof of identification and social security number.

You should be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who will need to give their consent for you to receive your permit.

Yes, you will need to pay a fee of $20.

On the written test you will be given 25 questions in all and you must answer at least 20 of the questions correctly to pass. The questions will cover traffic laws and safe driving practices. Prior to the written test you will also be given a road sign recognition test in which you will be asked to identify signs by sight. Assess your NC driving, road sign and safe driving knowledge by taking practice tests.

You will receive your Learner’s Permit and can begin supervised driving practice. You need to complete 60 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice in all, with at least 10 hours completed at night.

You can retake the test.

You can retake the test as soon as the next business day but it is recommended that you take time to get more familiar with the content of the driver’s manual before you sit for the test again.

You can now begin supervised driving practice. Your supervisor must have held his or her license for at least five years. You will need to complete 60 hours of driving practice with a minimum of 10 hours logged at night.

You can apply for a Provisional Driver’s License once you have met the following three requirements: you’ve held your Learner’s Permit for 12 months; you’ve completed 60 hours of supervised driving practice; and you’ve had a clean driving record for the last six months.

Yes, as long as you are accompanied by a driver who has had their license for at least five years, you can drive on any North Carolina public road or street.

No, you are required to complete at least 10 of your 60 supervised driving practice hours at night.

You must be accompanied by a licensed driver who has held their license for at least five years.

To replace a lost or stolen permit, visit your local DMV office with proper identification. You will also need $13 for the permit replacement fee.

You should study the state driver’s manual and apply what you learn to your driving and you should also try to get as much driving practice as possible. You should practice both maneuvers such as turns, parking and stopping along with driving safely in traffic. As you get more comfortable and knowledge behind the wheel your driving skills will improve and you will be ready to pass the test.

You should practice turns, passing, quick stops, parking, accelerating, defensive driving and changing lanes.

You should do both of the following:

• Practice maneuvers that are commonly tested for on the driving exam, such as quick stops, turns, including a three-point turnabout, and parking in a parking space

• Practice driving in traffic, where you will need to display good defensive driving skills, such as signaling on turns, checking mirrors when changing lanes and following at a safe distance.

Contact your local DMV office.

You will take the test a local DMV office.

• NC Learner’s Permit
• Completed Driving Log
• $15 for fee
• A properly functioning vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance

A licensed parent or legal guardian should bring you.

During the driving test you will be judged on all of the following: approaches to intersections, stop signs and traffic signals; quick stops; backing; stopping, starting and parking; use of the clutch (in vehicles with standard transmissions); turn signals and use of the horn; turning; use of lanes; following another vehicle; passing and being passed; yielding the right of way to pedestrians and other vehicles; driving posture; and performing a three-point turnabout.

Common reasons for failure include nerves, failing to listen to the examiner, causing an accident and driving distracted.

• Over-correcting during a turn
• Not coming to a complete stop
• Not checking the blind spot when changing lanes
• Going over the speed limit
• Hitting a cone or going over the line when parking

You will be allowed to retake the test.

You can retake the test in five days – use the time to practice your driving!

You will receive your Provisional Driver’s License.

Provisional Driver’s License restrictions include:

• Can drive unsupervised only during the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. unless for work or volunteer fire and rescue purposes

• Can only have one passenger under 21 unless they are immediate family members or you are accompanied by a supervising driver

Motor vehicle law in North Carolina requires drivers to carry auto insurance. Minimum coverage requirements are: $30,000 bodily injury for each person; $60,000 total bodily injury for all persons in an accident; and $25,000 for property damage.

North Carolina Driver’s License holders will receive a renewal notice approximately 60 days before their license expires. You can renew your license up to six months before its expiration date, however.

To replace a lost or stolen license, visit your local DMV office with proper identification. You will also need $13 for the permit replacement fee.

You can renew your North Carolina license online (every other time) or in person at the local DMV office.

When renewing in person, you will need to pass a vision test and a traffic sign recognition test.

During the vision test your sight will be checked to make sure you meet certain standards. If you need corrective lenses to bring your vision up to the required standards, you must wear the lenses at all times while driving and your license will indicate that you must wear corrective lenses.

The penalty for driving without the proper corrective lenses is the same as driving without a license.