Eng Esp

Apply for North Carolina Drivers License

Apply for North Carolina Drivers License

Have you decided to apply for a North Carolina drivers license and don't know where to start? We have to admit that applying for a North Carolina driver license may be an overwhelming experience, especially for those who have never been licensed before. Drivers license applicants under the age of 18 years will need to meet all North Carolina graduated driver's license requirements prior to applying for an unrestricted driver's license. As part of the application procedure, you will be required to take a DOT permit test and a North Carolina drivers license test, so you better study before you visit the DOT and file your application.

Driving License - Under 18 Years of Age

Teenagers are in a high-risk group when it comes to driving. Traffic accidents is the number one cause of death for persons between 15 and 20 years of age. Teenage drivers tend to be more careless and ignore even basic safety precautions while driving, which amounts to these grim statistics that we see.

In order to lower the number of teenagers getting hurt on the road, the state has developed a set of additional drivers license requirements that must be met by everyone who chooses to apply for a North Carolina driver license before the age of 18 years. These requirements are combined under the name of North Carolina graduated license system.

You have to be at least 15 years of age in order to be able to enter the program. You will need to start by signing up for and completing a DOT-approved North Carolina drivers education program. Once the program is completed, you may visit the DOT, take a permit test and a vision exam and be issued with a limited learner permit.

You will be required to hold a permit for at least 12 months and during this period you must observe all North Carolina permit restrictions during this period. You are not allowed to drive alone and must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is seated in the front seat next to you.

Once these 12 months are up and you are at least 16 years of age, you can take a drivers test and apply for a North Carolina level two provisional drivers license. This is the first license that will allow you to drive alone, without a supervising driver in the vehicle, however it is not called a limited license for no reason. You have to make sure to follow all North Carolina provisional driver's license restrictions if you want to keep your driving privileges. A provisional drivers license must be kept for at least six months and you must keep a clean driving record before you can graduate to the next level and receive a level three full provisional license. No further testing is required for upgrading to a level three license and you will only have one restriction on it - no cell phones while driving.

Drivers License - 18 Years of Age and Older

Applying for a North Carolina drivers license is much easier when you are at least 18 years of age, since you don't have to follow the graduated license program. You should start by learning the state driving rules, either by taking a drivers education class (not mandatory, but highly recommended), or by reading the North Carolina drivers license manual. Take a few North Carolina practice drivers tests to see if you missed any rules while studying.

When you learned the rules, visit the DOT and submit your application for a North Carolina learners permit. You will be required to take a drivers permit test and a vision exam at this point. Once you pass the tests, you are issued with a drivers permit and you can start your driving practice.

Keep in mind that this is not a full license yet and you must have another licensed driver supervise you whenever you are behind the wheel. There is no minimum amount of time that you need to hold your permit for, you can go ahead and schedule a driving test as soon as you feel that you are ready.

Taking a drivers test is the final step in the process of applying for a North Carolina drivers license. Once you pass the road skills exam, you are issued with a full unrestricted driver license.

Tests Required

You will have to take a number of tests as part of the license application process. You have to understand that driving is a very serious matter and you can injure yourself and others if you are unable to control the vehicle or don't know the state driving rules. At certain points of the application process, the DOT will conduct a vision examination, a written knowledge test and a driving test.

Vision Examination

When applying for a drivers permit, you have to meet certain vision standards. Since vehicles travel at high speed, you must have good sight to be able to identify and prevent any potentially dangerous situation. When you submit your application for a North Carolina learner's permit, you vision will be checked. If you wear contact lenses during the vision exam, you will be required to wear them all the time while driving, a special restrictions will be placed onto you North Carolina drivers license.

DOT Permit Test

A drivers permit test that that covers the state driving rules, traffic signs and safe driving practice is conducted when you submit your application for a North Carolina drivers permit. Although the North Carolina permit test is not hard, a very large proportion of first-time applicants fail it, mostly due to the fact that they do not study. You should learn the driving rules and traffic signs from the drivers manual before you visit the testing station.

Drivers License Test

Taking a North Carolina driving test is the final step of the process for most of the drivers license applicants, since this is the last test that you take. This is the part where you actually get into the vehicle with a DOT drivers license examiner and prove that you learned the rules and you are able to control the vehicle. Contrary to the common belief, the drivers license examiner will not only look at how well you can control the vehicle, he will also check your knowledge of the state driving rules. That's why it is always a good idea to brush up on those driving regulations before you visit a testing station.

Paperwork Required

When you are applying for a North Carolina drivers license, you are required to present certain documents that confirm your identity and allow the DOT to verify that you are eligible to receive a drivers license. In the course of the application procedure, you may be required to present the following paperwork:

  • proof of identity
  • proof of North Carolina residency
  • proof of birth date
  • proof of US citizenship or legal presence

If you are under 18 years of age when you are applying for a drivers license, you must also furnish:

  • a drivers education certificate
  • proof of school attendance or completion
  • parental consent

In certain cases, the DOT may request additional paperwork, such as a health evaluation report from a medical practitioner.

As you may see, applying for a North Carolina drivers license is not hard, provided you take it one step at a time. Remember that the Department of Transportation is there to assist you, if there is a question you need answered, don't hesitate to contact them by all means available.