To operate a motor vehicle in North Carolina, new residents must obtain a driver’s license and register their vehicle with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) within 60 days of establishing residency.
New residents should thoroughly review the North Carolina Driver’s Handbook to understand the state’s traffic laws and safety regulations.
To obtain a North Carolina driver’s license, new residents must visit an NCDMV driver license office and provide the following documents:
Names on documents must match the applicant’s name. If not, proof of name change such as a marriage license, divorce decree, or court documentation must be provided.
You can schedule an appointment online to reduce wait times at the driver license office. If a suitable appointment is not available, continue to check back as new appointments are added daily.
Written and driving tests may be waived for individuals holding a valid driver’s license from another state. Once a North Carolina driver license is issued, the out-of-state driver license is no longer valid and should be destroyed or mailed to: N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, Driver License Section, 3120 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27697-3120.
Additional requirements may apply depending on the type of license and individual needs. A valid driver license issued by a U.S. government agency or another country is required to legally drive in North Carolina. North Carolina law enforcement does not recognize International Driving Permits.
More information about obtaining a driver license for the first time can be found on the new drivers webpage.
After obtaining a North Carolina driver’s license, new residents must register their vehicle upon starting employment or when the reciprocity agreement between North Carolina and their previous state of residency expires (typically 30 days), whichever comes first.
To register a vehicle, bring the following documents to a local license plate agency:
- Certificate of title (or registration card if the vehicle is financed)
- MVR-1 Application for Certificate of Title
- MVR-180 Odometer Disclosure Statement (if the vehicle is less than 10 years old)
- North Carolina Driver License or a valid out-of-state driver license along with a North Carolina Limited Driving Privilege
- North Carolina vehicle insurance information.
While new residents can initially register a vehicle without an inspection, North Carolina requires a vehicle inspection prior to renewing the vehicle registration. There are several fees associated with registering a motor vehicle in North Carolina.
In addition to registration fees, Durham, Orange, Randolph, and Wake counties also collect a regional registration tax. The lapse in liability insurance penalty for out-of-state registered vehicles will be waived for individuals who meet all of the following requirements: the vehicle owner must provide a copy of the out-of-state registration reflecting that the vehicle was registered within 30 days of the North Carolina motor vehicle liability insurance cancellation or expiration; the vehicle owner must submit a copy of the current out-of-state registration card to the NCDMV; and the vehicle owner must surrender valid North Carolina license plates or submit an affidavit (MVR18A) stating that the North Carolina license plates have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
