North Carolina Driver License: Your License, Permits and Graduated Licensing

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Your License, Permits and Graduated Licensing. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver's license has expired, but the person sits in the driver's seat of a parked car and starts the engine without intending to move it. Is this legal?

Yes, as long as it's on private property
No, sitting in the driver's seat with the engine running requires a valid license
Yes, since the vehicle stays parked
No, but only if the transmission is in gear

Answer: B — No, sitting in the driver's seat with the engine running requires a valid license

Sitting in the driver's seat with the engine running without a valid license is treated the same as driving without one, regardless of whether the vehicle moves.

2. A driver holds a license restricted to corrective lenses but drives without wearing them. How is this treated?

As driving without a license
As a minor infraction with a warning
As grounds for adding a special-equipment restriction to the license
Legal as long as vision isn't significantly impaired

Answer: A — As driving without a license

Driving without the required corrective lenses violates the license restriction and is treated the same as driving without a license at all.

3. A test asks a driver to identify road signs by their color and shape and explain what they mean. Which test is this?

Driving skills test
Traffic signs test
Knowledge test
Vision test

Answer: B — Traffic signs test

Identifying signs by color and shape and explaining them is specifically the traffic signs test.

4. An applicant is applying only for a learner permit. Which of these tests will not be required?

Signs test
Vision test
Driving skills (road) test
Knowledge test

Answer: C — Driving skills (road) test

The road test only follows the others and is never required to obtain a learner permit.

5. While performing a three-point turnabout starting from the far right side of the road, what is the correct first step?

Signal right and reverse immediately
Back slowly while steering right
Signal left and drive slowly forward while steering left
Drive forward steering left to complete the turn

Answer: C — Signal left and drive slowly forward while steering left

The maneuver begins by signaling left and moving forward while steering left toward the far edge, before reversing.

6. An 18-year-old holds a general learner permit and wants to practice driving a car. Who must be in the vehicle with them?

Any adult over 21
A parent or guardian only
A licensed driver, seated beside them, who is licensed for that class of vehicle
No supervision is required once the holder turns 18

Answer: C — A licensed driver, seated beside them, who is licensed for that class of vehicle

An adult learner permit requires a licensed driver for that vehicle class to sit beside the permit holder at all times.

7. A motorcycle learner permit holder wants to give a friend a ride on the back of the motorcycle. Is this allowed?

Yes, one passenger is allowed
Only if the friend is a household member
Yes, if the passenger wears a helmet
No, motorcycle learner permits do not allow passengers

Answer: D — No, motorcycle learner permits do not allow passengers

A motorcycle learner permit allows riding without passengers, regardless of helmet use or relationship.

8. A driver operates a single non-commercial vehicle weighing 24,000 pounds for personal use. Which license class applies?

Class B
Class A
Class C
A CDL is required

Answer: C — Class C

A non-commercial single vehicle under 26,001 pounds falls under Class C.

9. A vehicle combination rated at 26,001 pounds or more tows a unit weighing 10,001 pounds or more. What is required to drive it?

A hazardous materials endorsement alone
A Class C license only
A CDL
A Class A regular license without a CDL

Answer: C — A CDL

A combination of 26,001 pounds or more towing a unit of 10,001 pounds or more crosses into CDL territory, whether the driving is paid or volunteer.

10. A volunteer firefighter needs to drive the department's fire apparatus to a call. What license do they need?

A regular license
A Class B CDL only
A school bus endorsement
A CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement

Answer: A — A regular license

Volunteer fire, rescue and EMS members are permitted to drive their apparatus on a regular license, without needing a CDL.

11. A candidate wants to become a school bus driver at age 18 with six months of driving experience and holds a Class B CDL with S and P endorsements. What else is required?

A Driving Eligibility Certificate
A motorcycle endorsement
A School Bus Driver's Certificate
A hazardous materials endorsement

Answer: C — A School Bus Driver's Certificate

Beyond age, experience, and the CDL with S and P endorsements, a School Bus Driver's Certificate is also required.

12. A 15-year-old with a Limited Learner Permit wants to drive to a friend's house at 10 p.m. during the first six months of holding the permit, with a supervising driver in the car. Is this allowed?

Yes, but only on weekends
No, permit holders can never drive at night
No, driving is limited to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the first six months
Yes, since a supervising driver is present

Answer: C — No, driving is limited to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the first six months

During the first six months, driving is restricted to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. even with the supervising driver present.

13. A Limited Learner Permit holder has held the permit for eight months and logged 55 hours of driving, including 10 at night. Can they apply for Level Two?

No, the permit must be held nine months and at least 60 hours must be logged
Yes, eight months exceeds the minimum holding period
No, the permit must be held twelve months
Yes, as long as they are at least 16 years old

Answer: A — No, the permit must be held nine months and at least 60 hours must be logged

Advancing to Level Two requires holding the permit nine months and logging at least 60 hours of driving, including 10 at night; this driver falls short on both.

14. A Limited Learner Permit holder is convicted of a seat belt violation five months before their planned upgrade to Level Two. Does this affect their eligibility?

Yes, but only if it happened in the last three months
Yes, seat belt convictions in the previous six months block advancement
No, only moving violations matter
No, only cell phone convictions matter

Answer: B — Yes, seat belt convictions in the previous six months block advancement

Advancing requires no moving violation, seat belt, or cell phone convictions in the previous six months, so a conviction five months prior blocks advancement.

15. A 16-year-old Level Two driver wants to drive a 19-year-old friend who is not a household member and is not being driven to or from school, unsupervised. Is this allowed, and how many such passengers may be in the car?

Allowed only if the passenger is a household member
Allowed, up to three such passengers
Allowed, up to one such passenger
Not allowed at all until Level Three

Answer: C — Allowed, up to one such passenger

Unsupervised Level Two driving allows only one passenger under 21 who is not a household member.

16. A Level Two driver needs to drive directly to work at 4 a.m., alone. Is this permitted?

Yes, but only with a supervising driver present
Yes, driving directly to or from work is allowed at any hour
No, unsupervised driving is only allowed between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
No, this requires a special work permit endorsement

Answer: B — Yes, driving directly to or from work is allowed at any hour

Level Two drivers may drive unsupervised at any hour when going directly to or from work.

17. Who qualifies as a supervising driver for a Limited Learner Permit holder?

Any driver with a clean driving record
A sibling who has held a license for two years
A parent, grandparent, guardian, or approved responsible adult who has held a valid license at least five years
Any licensed adult over 21

Answer: C — A parent, grandparent, guardian, or approved responsible adult who has held a valid license at least five years

A supervising driver must be a parent, grandparent, guardian, or approved responsible adult, licensed at least five years.

18. A 17-year-old holds a Full Provisional License. Are they allowed to make a phone call while driving, other than an emergency call?

No, but only during the first six months at this stage
Yes, all restrictions end at this stage
Yes, but only hands-free calls
No, drivers under 18 still may not use a cell phone except for emergency calls

Answer: D — No, drivers under 18 still may not use a cell phone except for emergency calls

Even after time, supervision, and passenger limits end, drivers under 18 still cannot use a cell phone except for emergency calls.

19. A 17-year-old provisional licensee drives after consuming a small amount of alcohol. What is the consequence?

A one-year license revocation, since any alcohol or drug use before driving under 18 leads to this
No penalty, since the amount consumed was small
A six-month suspension
A warning only, for a first offense

Answer: A — A one-year license revocation, since any alcohol or drug use before driving under 18 leads to this

For drivers under 18, driving after or while consuming any amount of alcohol or drugs results in a one-year revocation.

20. A high school student under 18 is suspended from school for 14 consecutive days for a disciplinary violation. What happens to their license?

It is suspended for exactly 10 days
It is revoked for 12 months or until a new certificate is obtained
Nothing, school discipline does not affect DMV records
It is downgraded to a learner permit

Answer: B — It is revoked for 12 months or until a new certificate is obtained

A suspension of more than 10 consecutive days costs the license for 12 months or until a new eligibility certificate is obtained.

21. How many documents proving North Carolina residence does an adult applicant need for a standard license, compared to a REAL ID?

One for a standard license, two for a REAL ID
Two documents for both
One document for both
Two for a standard license, one for a REAL ID

Answer: D — Two for a standard license, one for a REAL ID

Adults need two residence documents for a standard license but only one for a REAL ID.

22. An applicant tries to show proof of liability insurance by displaying a photo of the insurance card on their phone. Is this accepted?

No, only a DL-123 form is accepted; policies and cards are not
Yes, digital images are accepted
No, printed proof is required
Yes, but only for renewals

Answer: C — No, printed proof is required

Printed proof of liability coverage is required; phone images are explicitly not accepted, though a policy or card in printed form is fine.

23. A driver owns no registered vehicle and never drives anyone else's private car. How can they satisfy the liability insurance requirement?

By providing a bank statement instead
They cannot get a license without a policy
By paying the $16.75 duplicate fee instead
By signing an exemption (DL-123A) restricting them to fleet vehicles only

Answer: D — By signing an exemption (DL-123A) restricting them to fleet vehicles only

Someone who owns no vehicle and drives no one else's private car can sign a DL-123A exemption restricting them to fleet vehicles only.

24. A traveler wants to use their driver's license to board a domestic commercial flight after May 7, 2025. Their card has no star and is marked "Not for Federal Identification." What does this mean for them?

They cannot fly under any circumstances
The card is invalid for driving purposes
They must exchange it for a REAL ID before driving
They need additional documentation to fly commercially

Answer: D — They need additional documentation to fly commercially

Since May 7, 2025, a card marked "Not for Federal Identification" requires extra documentation to fly commercially or enter certain federal facilities.

25. A person moves to North Carolina and wants to keep driving legally. How long do they have to obtain a North Carolina license or permit?

90 days
180 days
60 days
30 days

Answer: C — 60 days

A new resident has 60 days to get a North Carolina license or permit (commercial license transfers get 30 days instead).

26. A college student from another state attends school in North Carolina but intends to return to their home state after graduation. Do they need a North Carolina driver's license?

No, but they must get a North Carolina learner permit
Yes, but only if they own a car
No, out-of-state students intending to return home are not required to get one
Yes, after 60 days of residence

Answer: C — No, out-of-state students intending to return home are not required to get one

Out-of-state college students who intend to go home are listed among nonresidents who do not need a North Carolina license.

27. A driver is 67 years old and renewing their license. How long will the new license be valid?

4 years
8 years
10 years
5 years

Answer: D — 5 years

Licenses issued at age 66 and older last 5 years, compared to 8 years for those issued between 18 and 65.

28. A licensed driver's card is lost. What must they do to get a duplicate?

Provide two identification documents, in person or online with their license number
Provide a certified birth certificate only
Retake the knowledge test
Wait 60 days for a new card to be mailed automatically

Answer: A — Provide two identification documents, in person or online with their license number

A duplicate for a lost or stolen card requires two identification documents, obtainable in person or online with the license number.

29. A driver moves to a new address within North Carolina. Within how many days must they report the change and get a duplicate license?

60 days
90 days
180 days
30 days

Answer: A — 60 days

An address change must be reported within 60 days, along with obtaining a duplicate license.

30. A driver license is restored after being revoked for an alcohol-related offense. What is the restoration fee?

$16.75
$167.25
$83.50
$6.50

Answer: B — $167.25

The standard restoration fee of $83.50 rises to $167.25 when the revocation followed an alcohol offense.