Can you take the North Carolina permit test online?

Why it has to be in person

NCDMV’s permit pages describe an office visit for the tests, the photo and the paperwork. The handbook also says the online system can’t be used to get a first-time license or ID card, or a first-time REAL ID.

Your permit is mailed to you from a central location, usually within 20 business days.

What you can do online

• Book, change or cancel a driver license office appointment
• Order a duplicate license or permit ($16.75), if NCDMV has your photo and Social Security number on file
• Change your address on your license
• Order your driving record
• Renew your license every other time, up to six months before it expires
• Upgrade a Level 2 license to Level 3, and a full provisional license to a regular Class C at 18

Practicing online is fine

You can study online for free. The North Carolina Driver Handbook and NCDMV’s sign sheets are PDFs on the NCDMV site, and our 20-question practice test follows the same rules. Practice tests from apps and websites are unofficial and don’t count toward your permit.

Watch out for look-alike sites

The official NCDMV website is on ncdot.gov, and appointments are booked at skiptheline.ncdot.gov. Other sites with DMV in their name aren’t run by the state, so start from ncdot.gov when you book or pay for anything.