North Carolina Driver's Handbook, Section 1: Your License

Tests for an original license, the three levels of North Carolina's graduated licensing, required documents, renewals and changes of address.

Key rules

1. You are tested on vision, traffic signs (by color and shape) and traffic laws; the road test comes last. p. 9
2. Level One permit (from 15, after 30 hours of class and 6 behind the wheel): 5 a.m.–9 p.m. for six months, always supervised. p. 12
3. Hold it nine months and log 60 hours, 10 at night; the supervising driver must have been licensed five years. p. 12
4. Level Two (16): alone from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., one non-household passenger under 21, for at least six months. p. 13
5. Under 18: no cell phone at all, and a school suspension of more than 10 days costs the license for 12 months. p. 15
6. New residents have 60 days; address and name changes must be reported within 60 days too. p. 25
7. Licenses last 8 years if issued at 18–65 and 5 years from 66; you can renew up to six months early. p. 28