All you need to know to pass a North Carolina Permit Test

Driving is no doubt a big part of American culture. It’s hard to find a young person that isn’t excited to get on the road. This guide will help you prepare for your upcoming DMV driver’s permit test. We’re going to walk you through the necessary preparations and paperwork, and then you can take our online practice test. Unlike other tests, ours is completely free and sourced from previous North Carolina driver’s tests. To pass a test in North Carolina, you need to score at least 78% or more. North Carolina also created a useful handbook you can use to study NC traffic laws.

What documents are required for a DMV permit test in North Carolina

Before you’re allowed to take the test, you must submit a set of documents that satisfies the following criteria:

A document with your full name and date of birth
A document displaying your social security number
A document confirming your valid, physical address in North Carolina

If you’ve undergone a legal name change since the issuing of your birth certificate, you will have to present a document that states this (marriage certificate, for example).

Other than applying for learner’s permits, you must also provide one document proving liability insurance coverage, that has been issued a provider licensed to work in North Carolina.

Regular License vs REAL ID

We strongly recommend you apply for a REAL ID license. Although it won’t matter which one you use for driving, the latter will grant you some benefits the regular license can’t. To apply for a REAL ID, you will have to submit TWO documents verifying your physical address. Here’s an overview of the differences:

	Can be used for identification	Additional symbol	Entering federal buildings	Boarding planes inside the U.S.
Regular license	Yes	/	No	No (as of Oct. 2020)
North Carolina REAL ID	Yes	ID Star	Yes	Yes

What documents do non-citizens need to bring

Apart from the documents mentioned before, non-U.S. citizens will have to provide proof of legal presence. Some examples would be:

A valid foreign passport, with an unexpired U.S. visa
I-94 Arrival/Departure record
Valid permanent residency card (green card)
Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)

What documents do minors need to submit

The documents required to apply for minors are the same as adults, there’s no additional paperwork asking for consent from parents/guardians. In North Carolina, teens as early as 14 ½ may apply for a certified driver’s education course. Once completed, they will receive a Driving Eligibility Certificate, as long as they are:

Between 15 and 17 years old
Currently attending school
Actively working towards their diploma or GED

The Driving Eligibility Certificate can be used to apply for what’s known as a Graduated Licensing Program. Teen drivers without a provisional license may only operate the vehicle while actively supervised by:

A parent
A grandparent
A legal guardian
Any adult legally recognized by the parent and legal guardian

The person supervising the teen driver must:

Be a licensed driver
Have a license for at least five years
Be in the car while the minor is driving

There are 3 levels of licenses a teen can obtain:

Limited learner permit	Ages 15 to 17 Have a Driving Eligibility Certificate Can only drive between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. under legal supervision Can’t use mobile devices in any way while driving Can only operate a type C vehicle
Limited provisional license	Ages 16 to 17 years old Can drive unsupervised only between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. Must have a limited learner permit at least 12 months Has at least 60 hours of driving logged by the supervisor and approved by the DMV Had no moving violations in the last six months Pass an additional on-the-road driving test Can not drive more than one passenger under 21 when unsupervised, unless members of the same household Can’t use hands-free mobile devices when driving
Full provisional license	Ages 16 to 17 years old Can drive completely unsupervised Has a limited provisional license for at least six months Had no moving violations in the last 6 months Completed at least 12 hours of driving, 6 of which at night, logged by the supervisor and approved by the DMV Is not allowed to use hands-free mobile devices

If you want to practice, take our free, 50-question example test

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DoNotPay also helps you ACE your written exam

DoNotPay can also help you study for your written exam with a free practice test. Drivers that do well on our practice tests are guaranteed to do well on the written exam. If you have an upcoming practice test, make sure you pass by using our free DMV practice test.