Under 18:
In North Carolina, you can learn to drive at 15 years old if you have completed a DMV approved drivers education course. You are eligible to enroll in drivers education at 14½ years old. Online drivers education courses do not meet this requirement.

18 or Older:
If you are 18 or older, drivers education is not mandatory in North Carolina. However, it’s always a good idea for new drivers to take a North Carolina drivers education course. With quality drivers education, you can:

• Learn the rules of the road and essential safe driving skills
• Have a better chance of passing your learners permit test
• Qualify for an auto insurance discount (where applicable)

Take the DriversEd.com North Carolina drivers education course online at your own pace and on your own schedule.

Note: this course will not satisfy the North Carolina drivers education requirement for new drivers under18.

In order to get the learners permit and eventually the North Carolina drivers license, everyone regardless of age must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. Most people fail this test on their first try.

Apply for the learners permit at a DMV location near you.

In order to be eligible for the learners permit, you must:

1. Be at least 15 years old.
2. Submit proof of full legal name, date of birth, residency, and Social Security number. View acceptable documents.
3. Have parental/guardian consent.
4. Have completed an approved drivers education course (if under 18).
5. Present a Driving Eligibility Certificate issued by the Public School System (if under 18).
6. Pay any applicable fee.
7. Pass a vision test.
8. Pass a knowledge test.

Once you pass the knowledge test you will be issued a learners permit which allows you operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by a person who is licensed to operate the motor vehicle being driven and seated beside the permit holder.

Limited Learners Permit
If you are under 18, you will be issued a limited learners permit which must be held for at least 12 months. It has the following restrictions:

• All passengers must be restrained by seatbelt or child safety seat.
• No one except the driver and the supervising driver are allowed in the front seat. The supervising driving must have been licensed for at least 5 years,
• During the first 6 months, a Level One permit authorizes you to drive between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. while accompanied by your supervising driver.
• 6 months from Level One issuance, you are eligible to drive anytime with your supervising driver.
• The use of a mobile/cell telephone is prohibited. This includes the use of any features related to a mobile/cell telephone, such as a camera, electronic mail, music, games, or the Internet. This applies only when the vehicle is in motion while driving on a street, highway, or public vehicular area.

Practice driving under supervision according to the terms of your learners permit. If you are under 18, you must practice for at least 12 months.

DriversEd.com can help make this supervised driving period less stressful. Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide teaches important concepts and guides parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive. It also comes with a FREE Passenger Side Rear-View Mirror which allows you to see exactly what your teen sees when behind the wheel.

Schedule an appointment for the driving skills test at your local DMV.

In order to be eligible for the North Carolina drivers license, you must:

1. Be at least 16 years old.
2. Have held you limited learners permit for at least 12 months if you are under 18.
3. Have parental consent if you are under18.
4. Submit proof of full legal name, date of birth, residency and Social Security number. View acceptable documents.
5. Have no convictions of motor vehicle moving violations or seat belt/mobile telephone infraction in the preceding 6 months.
6. Pass the vision and knowledge test if you are 18 or older and do not have a learners permit.
7. Pay any applicable fee.
8. Pass the driving test.

Once you pass the driving test you will be issued a drivers license.

Limited Provisional License

If you are under 18, you will be issued a limited provisional license with the following restrictions:

• Drivers must be at least 16 years old, but less than 18.
• All passengers must be restrained by seat belt or child safety seat.
• Supervising driver must be seated beside the driver. A supervising driver must be a parent, grandparent or guardian of the permit/license holder, or a responsible person approved by the parent or guardian. A supervising driver must hold a valid driver license and must have been licensed for at least five years.
• You may drive without supervision from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. and at any time when driving directly to or from work or any volunteer fire, rescue or EMS (emergency medical service), if you are a member.
• When the license holder is driving the vehicle and is not accompanied by the supervising driver, there may be no more than one passenger under 21 years of age in the vehicle. This limit does not apply to passengers who are members of the license holder's immediate family or whose primary residence is the same household as the license holder. However, if a family member or member of the same household as the license holder who is younger than 21 years of age is a passenger in the vehicle, no other passengers under 21 years of age who are not member of the license holder's immediate family or members of the license holder's household, may be in the vehicle.
• It is unlawful for a provisional licensee to drive a motor vehicle after or while consuming alcohol or drugs - a conviction of such a violation will result in a one-year license revocation
• The use of a mobile/cell telephone is prohibited. This includes the use of any features related to a mobile/cell telephone, such as a camera, electronic mail, music, games, or the Internet. This applies only when the vehicle is in motion while driving on a street, highway, or public vehicular area.

Full Provisional License

Once you have had your limited provisional license for at least 6 months and have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions within the preceding six months you become eligible for a full provisional license.