Free North Carolina DMV Practice Test (2026)

North Carolina · Checked October 2026

Practice for the North Carolina permit test with a learning path built around the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles rules: a North Carolina-only module on the state's own laws and teen-license limits, core rules-of-the-road lessons, instant explanations and a timed exam simulation.

Start learning About the North Carolina test

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North Carolina permit test at a glance

QuestionsNot published

To pass80%

Min. permit age15 (after driver ed)

AgencyNCDMV

You take a computer knowledge test on traffic laws (80% correct needed to pass), a traffic signs test (identify at least 9 of 12 signs by color and shape), and a vision test. Tests are offered in different languages and an audio/oral version is available on request; if you fail the knowledge test you can retake it after seven calendar days.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles does not publish the exact number of questions, so our timed simulation uses a standard 25-question format with the official passing score of 80%.

Tip: Start with module 1, “North Carolina laws & permit rules”. These 12 questions cover rules that are specific to North Carolina, the part of the test that general study guides usually miss.

North Carolina traffic laws you will be tested on

Topic	North Carolina rule	Source
Under-21 alcohol rule	It is illegal for a driver under 21 to drive with any amount of alcohol or drugs in the body; a conviction means a one-year license revocation.	ncleg.gov
DWI and implied consent	A BAC of 0.08 or more (0.04 in a commercial vehicle) brings an immediate revocation of at least 30 days. Refusing a breath or blood test brings an immediate 30-day revocation plus at least a 12-month DMV revocation.	ncdot.gov
Texting and cell phones	No driver may text or read email or text messages while driving; the fine is $100 plus court costs. Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone at all while driving, except for emergencies.	ncleg.gov
Seat belts	Every occupant, front and back, must wear a seat belt. The penalty is $25.50 plus court costs for the driver or a front-seat passenger and $10 for a rear-seat passenger.	ncleg.gov
Child passenger safety	Every passenger under 16 must be buckled or in a child restraint. A child under 8 and under 80 pounds must be in a weight-appropriate child restraint, and a child under 5 and under 40 pounds must ride in the back seat if there is an active front air bag. A violation adds 2 license points.	ncleg.gov
Move Over Law	When an emergency or public service vehicle is stopped within 12 feet of the road with warning lights on, move to a lane not next to it if there are two or more lanes in your direction; otherwise slow down and be ready to stop. The fine is $250.	ncleg.gov
Default speed limits	Unless posted otherwise, the limit is 35 mph in cities and towns and 55 mph outside them; the maximum on interstates is 70 mph.	ncdot.gov
Headlights and wipers	You must use headlights whenever you use your windshield wipers because of bad weather, from sunset to sunrise, and whenever visibility is 400 feet or less.	ncdot.gov

North Carolina learner permit and teen license rules

Level 1 Limited Learner Permit (ages 15-17): you must hold it at least 9 months before applying for a Level 2 license.
Keep a driving log of at least 60 hours, with at least 10 hours at night; no more than 10 hours per week count toward the total.
Your supervising driver must be a parent, grandparent, guardian or an adult approved by them, licensed for at least 5 years, and seated beside you; no one else may sit in the front seat.
For the first 6 months of Level 1 you may drive only from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.; after that you may drive at any time with your supervisor.
Level 2 Limited Provisional License (16-17): you may drive alone from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and to or from work or volunteer fire, rescue or EMS duty; when unsupervised, only one passenger under 21 who is not a household member (plus one more student going directly to or from school).
Level 3 Full Provisional License: after 6 months on Level 2 with no moving violations, seat belt or phone convictions in the past 6 months, time and passenger limits end.
Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone at any level, except for emergency calls (for example to 911, police, a hospital, or a parent, guardian or spouse about an emergency).

How to get your North Carolina learner's permit

From age 14 and a half, enroll in an approved driver education course (30 hours of classroom and 6 hours behind the wheel) through your high school or a DMV-licensed driving school.
Gather one document proving identity and date of birth, proof of your Social Security number, one proof of North Carolina residency, and your Driver's Education Certificate. Since October 1, 2026, a Driving Eligibility Certificate is no longer required.
At 15 or older, visit an NCDMV driver license office with a parent or guardian (appointments at skiptheline.ncdot.gov are optional; walk-ins are accepted).
Pass the vision test, the traffic signs test and the written knowledge test.
Pay the $25.50 Level 1 fee; your permit is mailed to you within 20 business days.
Practice with your supervising driver, log at least 60 hours (10 at night) over at least 9 months, then take the road test at a DMV office or a certified driver education school for your Level 2 license.

Sample North Carolina-specific questions

Here are four of the 12 questions in our North Carolina module. Each one is based on the official North Carolina Driver Handbook or North Carolina law; open the answer to see the rule behind it.

1. How long must you hold a North Carolina Level 1 Limited Learner Permit before you can get a Level 2 license?

6 months
9 months
12 months
18 months

Show answer

Correct answer: 9 months. You must hold the Level 1 permit for at least nine months before applying for a Limited Provisional License. Source: ncdot.gov

2. What must your Level 1 driving log show before you can move to Level 2?

40 hours, with 5 at night
50 hours, with 10 at night
70 hours, with 20 at night
60 hours, with at least 10 at night

Show answer

Correct answer: 60 hours, with at least 10 at night. The log must detail at least 60 hours of driving, with at least 10 hours at night, and be signed by your supervising driver. Source: ncdot.gov

3. During the first six months with a Level 1 permit, when may you drive (with your supervisor)?

5 a.m. to 9 p.m. only
6 a.m. to midnight only
Any time
Daylight hours only

Show answer

Correct answer: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. only. For the first six months a Level 1 permit allows driving only between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. with a supervising driver; after that, any time with a supervisor. Source: ncdot.gov

4. How long must your supervising driver have been licensed?

At least 1 year
At least 3 years
At least 5 years
At least 10 years

Show answer

Correct answer: At least 5 years. A supervising driver must hold a valid license and must have been licensed for at least five years. Source: ncdot.gov

How this practice test works

Learn the North Carolina rules first: module 1 covers the state's permit test, teen-license limits and traffic laws.
Work through the core modules: signs, signals, right-of-way, speed, lanes, special situations, impairment and sharing the road.
Practice 5 questions at a time: every answer shows an explanation, and missed questions come back until you get them right.
Take the timed North Carolina exam simulation and review every mistake before your appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still need a Driving Eligibility Certificate from my school?

No. NCDMV says that effective October 1, 2026, under Session Law 2026-46, students no longer need a Driving Eligibility Certificate to get a limited learner permit. You still need your Driver's Education Certificate.

Does a parent have to come with me to get my permit?

Yes. A parent or guardian must be present for the written, sign and vision tests; anyone else needs written consent from your parent or guardian.

Where can I take my Level 2 road test?

At an NCDMV driver license office or at a certified driver education school. At the DMV, bring your permit, your 60-hour driving log, proof of liability insurance in your name and a vehicle with its original registration card.

What if I fail the knowledge test?

You can retake the knowledge test for a regular Class C license after seven calendar days.

Are these the real DMV test questions?

No. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles does not publish its exam. Our North Carolina module is written from the official handbook and state law, and the core modules cover the rules of the road taught in every state handbook.

Is this practice test free?

Yes. Every lesson, practice round and exam simulation is free, with no sign-up.

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Official North Carolina sources

Every North Carolina fact and question on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official handbook, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles website or North Carolina law. When an official source did not publish a detail (for example, the number of test questions), we say so instead of guessing. Rules change, so confirm with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles before your test. PracticePermit.us is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. How we write and check our questions.

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