How to Renew Your North Carolina Driver’s License: A Complete Guide
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To legally drive a vehicle, you need to keep your driver’s license current in the state where you reside. The renewal process is different from getting your original license and varies from state to state.
If you live in North Carolina, explore your options for North Carolina driver's license renewal and get tips to make the process go more smoothly with this helpful guide.
Validity Periods for North Carolina Driver's Licenses
The amount of time until your North Carolina driver’s license expiration depends on how old you were when you got the license. If you were between 18 and 65 years old when the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicle (NCDMV) issued your license, it’s valid for eight years. If you were 66 or older, the license is only valid for five years.
Check your license for the expiry date if you’re not sure how soon you need to renew it. The NCDMV will also mail you a reminder card six months before your license expires.
Renewal Methods: Overview
When it’s time for your North Carolina driver's license renewal, you have a few options:
- Online
- In person
- By mail
Note that you can renew a North Carolina driver's license online, but only every other time. If you renewed online last time your license expired, you have to renew in person at a driver license office now.
Renewing Online: Step-by-Step Guide
You can renew your license online up to six months before it expires by following these steps:
- Go to payments.ncdot.gov. This is where you can renew your license, registration, and ID cards.
- Click “Continue to myNCDMV Services.”
- Log into or create your account.
- Under Driver Services, click “Renew a License or ID Card.”
- Respond to the automatic prompts from Driver Services with the applicable information. You’ll need to enter your Driver License Number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Pay the renewal fees through PayIt with your credit or debit card.
Once you complete the online process, the NCDMV will mail you your new driver’s license within 20 days.
In-Person Renewal Process
In the following cases, you need to renew your license in person at an NCDMV office:
- You used the online system for your last renewal.
- You’re renewing a limited provisional license, commercial driver's license, or regular Class A or B driver's license.
- You have a suspended license or outstanding debt with the NCDMV.
- You have a U.S. government document indicating your legal presence.
- Your license has been expired for over two years.
How To Renew Your North Carolina Driver's License at the NCDMV
If you meet any of those cases or simply want to renew in person, follow these steps:
- Collect the documents needed to renew a driver's license in North Carolina. These are government documents that prove your identity, date of birth, and your Social Security number. You also need two documents to prove your current North Carolina address.
- Bring some form of payment for your renewal fee.
- Go to an NCDMV office or call ahead for an appointment.
- Present your current license, documents, and payment at the NCDMV office.
The NCDMV will give you a temporary license to use until your new permanent license arrives in the mail within 20 days.
Mail-In Renewal: What To Know
You can only renew your license by mail if you’re under 72 years old and either are on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces or are a North Carolina resident living outside the state for a minimum of 30 days.
To renew by mail, download and complete the Out-of-state renewal packet. Mail the application to the NCDMV with a check or money order covering your renewal fees. Renewing by mail will get you a temporary license that expires 60 days after you return to North Carolina.
Renewal Costs: Breakdown of Fees
Regular North Carolina licenses Class A, B, or C cost $6.50 per year. Therefore, if you’re between 18 and 65 when you’re renewing your license, the license lasts for eight years, and your renewal fee is $52 ($6.50 times eight years).
You can pay this fee in person at NCDMV offices with cash, money orders, personal checks, or most credit and debit cards. If you’re renewing your license online, the NCDMV uses a payment service called PayIt that charges an additional $3 fee per transaction plus a 1.85% card processing fee.
How To Renew an Expired License
If your license has been expired for more than two years, you no longer have the option to renew it online. You must renew it in person using the steps above. The NCDMV may also require you to pass certain driver's license tests, such as a traffic signs test.
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You need more than just a current driver’s license to legally drive a vehicle in North Carolina. You also need to meet the minimum North Carolina auto insurance requirements.
If you don’t have insurance or want to switch your plan, start your search for car insurance in North Carolina. Insurance prices change constantly and vary greatly by location, so shopping around is your best option for finding the right insurance.
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