North Carolina · all 117 driver license offices and CDL test sites
North Carolina DMV, in one trip.
Office hours, what to bring, and whether you can skip the line and do it online. In plain English.
Step 1 · Your state
North Carolina
Step 2 · What do you need?
Or find an office near you
- Free, no sign-up
- Every rule cites NCDMV or North Carolina law
- We never charge state fees
Start with the task
What are you here to do?
Renew a driver license
North Carolina lets you renew online every other time. Check in 4 questions.
Fee $6.50 a year: $52 for 8 years · 10 min online, or 1 visit
Check in 4 questionsReplace a lost or stolen license
Lost, stolen or damaged? Most people can order one online for $16.75.
Plan itGet a learner permit
Teens from 15 with driver ed, adults any time. Knowledge, signs and vision tests.
Plan itTake the road test
At a driver license office or a certified driving school. Check you're ready.
Plan itChange your address
North Carolina gives you 60 days, and a new card is required. $16.75 online.
Plan itMoving to North Carolina
License within 60 days, then title and plates at a license plate agency.
Plan itGet a REAL ID
Look for the star in the upper right. No extra fee at renewal time.
Check my card
Your car
Registration, titles and inspections
Renew car registration
Inspect within 90 days first, then pay the registration and property tax together. 2 questions.
Plan itBuy or sell a car
The seller keeps the plate. The buyer titles it within 28 days. 2 questions.
Plan itCar inspection
A yearly safety inspection everywhere, plus emissions in 19 counties. See what yours needs.
Plan itEvery fee in one place
Licenses, IDs, registration, titles and inspections, each linked to its official source.
See North Carolina fees
Who does what
How the DMV works in North Carolina
In North Carolina, NCDMV's driver license offices handle licenses, IDs and tests, walk-in or by appointment. Titles, registration and plates are done at license plate agencies, run under contract with NCDMV. Many renewals can be done online at myNCDMV or at a self-service kiosk. Here's how it works.
Driver license offices
Licenses, IDs and tests
Run by NCDMV. Walk in all day until the office is full, or book up to 7 days ahead. Most are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; some close for lunch.
NCDMV office locatorLicense plate agencies
Titles, registration and plates
Run by private businesses or local governments under contract with NCDMV, so hours differ. Walk-in only. They don't do driver licenses.
NCDMV: titles and registrationWhy people come back
No more second trips.
Most wasted DMV visits come down to a missing paper or the wrong office. We fix both before you leave home.
- 01
Answer a few questions
We tell you if you can do it online and skip the trip entirely.
- 02
Get your checklist
Only the papers your situation needs. Tick them off as you pack.
- 03
Go at the right time
Status based on published hours, and a straight link to book.
Near Downtown Raleigh
Driver license offices around Downtown Raleigh
Avent Ferry Shopping Center Driver License Office
NCDMV · Raleigh · 3.6 mi
Raleigh Central Services Driver License Office
NCDMV · Raleigh · 4.3 mi
Forest Hills Shopping Center Driver License Office
NCDMV · Garner · 4.6 mi
Offices by city
All citiesNorth Carolina rules worth knowing
- New residents: 60 days
- Get a North Carolina license within 60 days of setting up a permanent home here.
- Online every other time
- Renew online from 6 months before to 2 years after expiration, but not twice in a row.
- $6.50 per year
- A regular license is $6.50 for each year: 8 years ($52) at 18 to 65, 5 years ($32.50) from 66.
- Address changes: 60 days
- After a move inside North Carolina, get a replacement card ($16.75) within 60 days.
- Teens: 9 months on a permit
- A Level 1 permit (from 15) is held 9 months, with 60 logged hours, before the road test at 16.
- Walk in, or book 7 days ahead
- Driver license offices take walk-ins all day; plate agencies are walk-in only.
Source:NCDMV(opens official site)
Permit test practice
Pass the knowledge test the first time.
Real North Carolina rules, a clear explanation after every answer, and your weak topics called out at the end.
Sample question · Parking
How close to a fire hydrant may you park?
- ANo closer than 5 feet
- BNo closer than 10 feet
- CNo closer than 15 feet
Straight answers
Questions people ask
Still stuck? How NCDMV appointments work, or see how we check facts.
North Carolina office data from NCDMV's own office locator. Wait times on office pages are read live from NCDMV.