North Carolina learner’s permit requirements
Everything here comes from North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (N.C. Department of Transportation) pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where North Carolina doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.
Last checked September 22, 2026.
At a glance
- Minimum age
- 15 years
- Fees
- $25.50 total
- Supervised driving
- 60 hours (10 at night)
The knowledge test and your permit
- Time limit
- None published
- Permit and test fees
- $25.50 totalThe Level 1 limited learner permit costs $25.50, the same as the adult (18+) learner permit; there is no separate knowledge-test fee.Sources 123
- Minimum age for a permit
- 15 yearsLevel 1 limited learner permit at 15 (must be under 18) after completing an approved driver education course (30 hours classroom + 6 hours behind the wheel). Adults 18+ may apply directly for a learner permit. From Oct. 1, 2026 (S.L. 2026-46), teens no longer need a Driving Eligibility Certificate from their school, and the 'Lose Control/Lose Your License' school-discipline revocation is repealed.Sources 356
From permit to full license
- Level 1 limited learner permit (15-17): supervised only, 5 a.m.-9 p.m. for first six months, then any time with supervisor; must be held 9 months and a 60-hour driving log (10 hours at night) submitted before Level 2. Level 2 limited provisional license (16-17): unsupervised 5 a.m.-9 p.m. (any time to/from work or volunteer emergency service), passenger limits (one non-household passenger under 21), held at least 6 months.
- Level 3 full provisional: time/supervision/passenger restrictions lifted; cell phone ban continues under 18.
- Regular Class C at 18.
Before you go
Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (N.C. Department of Transportation) website: ncdot.gov.