North Carolina Learners Permit
If you are planning to apply for a drivers license in North Carolina, getting a learners permit should be your first step. North Carolina drivers permit allows you to start your driving lessons and gain the essential driving skills you need to pass the driving exam. Although the learners permit allows for supervised driving only, it is still a big step on your way towards a full license.
North Carolina GDL
The North Carolina Graduated Driver License Program consist of three different stages, each one presenting the license applicants with different requirements.
At the first stage of the GDL process, all new drivers under 18 years of age must complete an approved North Carolina drivers education course and are required to hold the drivers permit for at least 12 months. At this point, the permit holder may only drive while being supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. Once this period is over, the licensee takes the driving skills test and receives the provisional license. At this point, the permit holder advances to the second level of the GDL program. The final stage of the program is upgrading the provisional drivers license to the unrestricted license, which happens automatically in 6 months after receiving the provisional license.
Learners Permit Exam
If you have already taken a drivers ed class and you are at least 15 years old, you can apply for the learners permit and take the permit test at your local drivers license office.
If you would like to prepare for the test, the DMV offers a great study resource the North Carolina drivers handbook. The book contains answers to pretty much every driving-related question and you should use it as the main source of information while preparing for the knowledge exam. Once done with the book, put your knowledge to the test with some practice exams, they will help you evaluate your level of preparation.
Before you can take the learners permit exam, you are required to show proof of residency, social security card and your birth certificate. You will need to present the certificate of 30 hours course completion. Please make sure that you also have the driving eligibility certificate, which can be obtained at your high school. If you are under 18 years of age, your parents need to sign the application form to confirm that they assume legal responsibility for the damages you may cause while driving. Finally, you must also pay the learners permit fee, which is $15 at the moment.
Once you pass a written DMV exam you will be issued the North Carolina learners permit. It is valid for a period of 18 months.
Learners Permit Restrictions
There are some restrictions for a driving with a Level One permit. You cannot use a wireless communication device. No passengers are allowed. You should be supervised by a licensed driver who is over 21 years old and you can only operate a vehicle from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Some of these restrictions will be lifted after 6 months.
Upgrading Permit to Drivers License
The next step towards the unrestricted driver license is passing your driving skills test. You are not required to make an appointment in order to apply for your provisional license or to take the road test. However some driver license offices can schedule a driving test for you and pre-scheduling the time will ensure that you do not have to wait in line. Please make sure you have all necessary documents for your driving exam.
Applicants between the ages of 16 and 18 are required to hold an instruction permit for at least 12 months before they can take the road test and graduate to the Level Two. If the permit holder does not receive any violations within this period he is eligible to take the road test and apply for the provisional license.
