Learn about North Carolina's Graduated Licensing process.
LEVEL 1: LIMITED LEARNER PERMIT
The Limited Learner Permit allows you to drive a vehicle witth a supervising driver that has been licensed for at least five years.
Requirements
- Be 15 years of age but under 18 years of age
- Compeleted an approved driver education course of 30 hours class time and 6 hours driving time.
- Social Security Card (No Photo Copies)
- Original Birth Certificate or Certified Copy (No Photo Copies)
- School/Student Eligibility Form (Pick up at school office and valid for 30 days)
- Pass vision test, signs test, and written test
Restrictions
- While driving, a supervising driver must accompany you
- For the first six months, you may only drive from 5 AM until 9 PM with your supervising driver
- For the second six months, you may drive at any time with your supervising driver
- All passengers must be restrained by a seatbelt or child safety seat.
- No one except the permit driver and supervising are allowed in the front seat
- You are not permitted to use a mobile telephone or other additional technology associated with a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle in public vehicular areas
LEVEL 2: LIMITED PROVISIONAL LICENSE
The Limited Provisional License allows you to drive unsupervised from 5 AM until 9 PM, or when driving directly to or from work or any volunteer fire, rescue, or emergency medical service.
Requirements
- Having kept a Limited Learner Permit for one year or nine months whichever is applicable
- No convictions of moving violations or seat belt/mobile phone infractions within the preceding six months
- Be 16 years old but less than 18 years old
- Provide a NC DMV Teen Driving Log to be completed detailing a minimum of 60 hours of operation. Ten hours of the 60 hours must be night time driving. The driving log may be printed from the resources box located to the right.
- Pass an on-the-road driving test with a DMV Examiner using your own vehicle
Restrictions
- You may only drive unsupervised from 5 AM until 9 PM
- You may drive unsupervised outside of 5 AM until 9 PM when driving directly to or from work or any volunteer fire, rescue, or emergency medical service
- When driving unsupervised, there may be NO MORE than two passenger under 21 years of age in the vehicle that are NOT of the same household
- You are not permitted to use a mobile telephone or other additional technology associated with a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle in public vehicular areas
LEVEL 3: FULL PROVISIONAL LICENSE - Referred to as "After 9's"
The Full Provisional License allows you to drive unsupervised at any time.
Requirements
- Having kept a Limited Provisional License for six months
- No convictions of moving violations or seat belt/mobile phone infractions within the preceding six months
Restrictions
- You are not permitted to use a mobile telephone or other additional technology associated with a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle in public vehicular areas
