Within 60 days of establishing residency in North Carolina, new residents intending to operate a motor vehicle must obtain a driver license and register their vehicle with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). As each state has different regulations, new residents should review the North Carolina Driver Handbook to understand the rules and regulations for road safety.
To apply for a North Carolina driver license, new residents must visit an NCDMV driver license office and bring the following documents:
The individual’s name must match the name on the above documents, otherwise, they must provide proof of name change such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or document from the court or Register of Deeds.
To avoid waiting in line at the driver license office, it is recommended to schedule an appointment online. If no appointments are available, please continue to check back as new appointments are added daily.
Written and road driving tests may be waived for individuals with a valid driver 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 Once a North Carolina driver license is issued, the out-of-state driver license is no longer valid and should be canceled or mailed to: N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, Driver License Section, 3120 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27697-3120.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 driver license and individual needs. A valid driver license issued by a U.S. state 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 applying for a driver license for the first time can be found on the new drivers webpage.
After obtaining a North Carolina driver license, new residents must also register their vehicle when they gain employment or when the reciprocity agreement between North Carolina and their previous state of residency expires (typically 30 days), whichever occurs first.
To register, bring the following documents to a local license plate agency:
- Vehicle title certificate (or if held by the lienholder, the registration card)
- Application for Certificate of Title MVR-1 form
- Odometer Disclosure Statement MVR-180 form (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 Temporary Driving Certificate
- North Carolina vehicle insurance information
While new residents may initially register their vehicles without an inspection, North Carolina requires a vehicle inspection before they can renew their vehicle registration.
In addition to registration fees, Durham, Orange, Randolph, and Wake counties also collect a regional registration tax.
Any monetary penalties or restoration fees will be waived for any individual who meets all the following requirements: The owner must provide a copy of their out-of-state registration reflecting that the vehicle was registered by the owner in their new state within 30 days of the cancellation or expiration of the North Carolina motor vehicle liability policy. The owner must submit a copy of their current out-of-state registration card to the NCDMV. The owner must surrender the valid North Carolina license plate or submit an affidavit (MVR18A) stating that the North Carolina registration plate has been lost, stolen or destroyed.
