Dealing with the NC DMV can be difficult. Here’s how being prepared can help.

No one looks forward to dealing with the Division of Motor Vehicles. And at a time when the agency is struggling to staff its driver’s license offices, it can be especially frustrating.

But there are some things you can do to try to minimize the hassle. Here is some advice and information to help you navigate the NC DMV.

Getting your first NC driver’s license

Q. I just moved to North Carolina. How long do I have to get a North Carolina driver’s license?

A. Once you’ve established North Carolina as your permanent home, you have 60 days to get a state-issued license and to title and register your car with the DMV. The driver’s license comes first and may take the most time. Don’t wait to get started, but make sure you have all the required documents (see below) before you go to a DMV office.

Q. Do I need to visit a DMV office to get a new license?

A. Yes, you’ll need to visit a driver’s license office in person and bring the required documents. You’ll find a searchable map of DMV license offices at ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/.

Q. Will I need to take a written or road test to get a new license?

A. If you have a valid driver’s license from another state, probably not. The DMV waives the road and knowledge tests if your previous license hasn’t been expired for more than a year and you have a clean driving record. But you will have to take a vision and signs test. For more information about tests, including sample test questions and signs you should know, go to bit.ly/3KANwuF

Getting your driver’s license renewed

Q. Do I need to visit a DMV office to get a license renewed?

A. Not necessarily. If you got your license in person at a DMV office last time, you should be able to renew online or at one of the new kiosks the DMV has placed in nine grocery stores across the state. If you renewed online last time, you will need to go to a DMV office to renew again, so the agency can take a fresh photo.

Q. When do I need to get my license renewed?

A. A standard driver’s license, called a Class C, is good for eight years for adults age 18 to 65 and five years for those 65 and older. You can renew the license up to six months before it expires. The DMV will send you a reminder card six months before expiration, so you can begin trying to make an appointment then.

Q. What other DMV business can I do online?

A. The Division of Motor Vehicles would like nothing more than for people to do their DMV business online when they can. The division now offers more than a dozen services online, for a $3 fee per transaction plus a card processing fee of 1.85% (compared to 1.22% for in-office services and 2% at kiosks).

For a list of online services, go to ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/.

Appointments vs. walk-in

Q. Do I need an appointment to visit a driver’s license office?

A. No, but the process will go more smoothly if you make one. Appointments are especially hard to get in the Triangle, Charlotte and Asheville areas, where you’re competing with lots of new residents who must visit an office in person.

To make an appointment, go to ncdot.gov/dmv/ and click on “Driver License Office Appointments” or call 919-715-7000. DMV makes appointments up to 90 days in advance. Try early in the morning; if none are available at an office near you, try again the next morning. The DMV makes a new set of appointments available each day.

Q. If I can’t get an appointment at the office nearest me, can I try outside the county?

A. Yes. North Carolina doesn’t require that you get your license in any particular DMV office, and sometimes it’s easier to get an appointment outside urban areas.

Q. Can I simply show up at a DMV office without an appointment?

A. Walk-ins are welcome, but you risk having to wait in a long line or even being turned away. The agency now limits appointments to mornings, leaving afternoons open for walk-in customers. But at busy offices, particularly during the summer, walk-in slots can get taken up by early afternoon, so late-day walk-ins are often told to come back another day.

Q. How can I tell the wait-time at a DMV office?

A. The DMV has an online tool that will show you the current wait time at driver’s license offices, embedded in the searchable map of offices, ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/.

One caveat: The tool shows the time people are waiting after they’ve checked in with someone at the DMV office and may not account for people standing in line outside the building. The actual wait time may be much longer.

What is the REAL ID?

The N.C. REAL ID is a driver’s license or ID card issued by the DMV that meets federal identification standards established by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The standards are meant to verify the identity of the person holding the card.

Q. Do I need to get a REAL ID?

A. No, neither the state nor federal government requires that you have a REAL ID.

Q. Then why would I get a REAL ID?

A. On May 7, 2025, the federal government will begin requiring stricter identification standards to board a commercial flight or to enter a federal facility, including courthouses and military bases, as well as nuclear plants. The REAL ID will be sufficient to board a plane or enter facilities where the public is required to show ID. (Note: Exceptions will be made for people who are called to federal court to sit on juries or testify.)

To fly, those without a REAL ID will be required to show another form of identification, such as a passport, Department of Defense ID or one of a dozen other IDs listed on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s website, tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification. Military bases require two forms of identification if you don’t have a REAL ID.

Q. Can I get a REAL ID online?

A. No, not the first time. You need to visit a DMV office to obtain a REAL ID. When you renew a REAL ID, you’ll be able to do that online.

For more information on REAL ID, go to dhs.gov/real-id or ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/nc-real-id/.

Documents, documents, documents

A key to a successful trip to a DMV office is making sure you have the documents and paperwork you need before you go.

Q. What documents are required for a new driver’s license?

A. Here’s what you’ll need:

▪ Your current out-of-state license or a document that proves your identify and date of birth, such as a passport, birth certificate or military ID. A full list is here: ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-identity.aspx.

▪ A Social Security card or another document that verifies your Social Security number, such as a W2 or 1099 tax form. A full list is here: ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-social-security.aspx.

▪ A document that verifies your physical address in North Carolina, such as a lease, a utility bill or any document issued by the state or a local government. You’ll need two of these documents if you’re seeking a REAL ID. A full list is here: ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-residency.aspx.

▪ If you were born outside the U.S., you’ll need a document proving your legal presence in the country. This could include citizenship, naturalization or permanent resident cards. Find a full list here: ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-legal-presence.aspx.

▪ And lastly, a document showing you have liability insurance from a company licensed to do business in North Carolina. More details here: ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-insurance.aspx.

Q. What documents are needed for a REAL ID?

A. If you already have a state driver’s license, you may only need an additional document that proves your date of birth and identity. This can include a U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport or any one of a half dozen other documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the Citizenship and Immigration Service. If your name is different than it appears on those documents, because of marriage or divorce, you will need to provide another document that shows the change, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree.

For a full list of documents that can be used to obtain a REAL ID, go to ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/nc-real-id/.

Registering your car in North Carolina

Q. How do I title and register my car? Can I do that at the same time I get my driver’s license?

A. One quirk of the North Carolina system is that vehicle titles and registration are handled at separate DMV offices called license plate agencies. All but two of these offices are run by private contractors following requirements set by the DMV. To find one, look for the “plate and vehicle” offices here: ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/.

Q. Can I make an appointment at a license plate agency?

A. No, they only take walk-ins.