Updated for 2026

North Carolina NCDMV (North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles)

Comprehensive study guide for the 2026 driver's knowledge exam. Everything you need to know about laws, fees, and requirements.

Total Questions

Passing Score

Standard Fee

$25.50 (Learner's Permit) / $52.00 (Class C License - 8 years)

Testing System

computerized touchscreen (25 questions)

Critical Failure Factors

A leading cause of failure in North Carolina is the confusion regarding the 'Wipers On, Headlights On' mandate and the specific 'Median Rule' for school buses (knowing exactly when you can keep driving versus when you must stop).

Legal Statutes & Driving Codes

North Carolina traffic laws are enforced under Chapter 20 of the North Carolina General Statutes. A pivotal component for new drivers is the 'Graduated Driver Licensing' (GDL) system. This multi-stage process begins with the Level 1 Limited Learner Permit at age 15. To obtain this, a teen must complete an approved Driver Education course (30 hours classroom, 6 hours behind-the-wheel) and pass a written test. A crucial legislative detail for 2025 is the holding period: historically 12 months, recent legislative adjustments (Senate Bill 157/House Bill 584) have temporarily fluctuated this requirement between 6 and 9 months to address backlogs, but standard law aims for a 9-month holding period before advancing to Level 2. During Level 1, the teen can only drive between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM with a supervisor. Level 2 (Limited Provisional License) allows unsupervised driving from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM but strictly prohibits it afterwards unless for work or volunteer fire/rescue. Cell phone use is completely banned for any driver under 18. Another unique and strictly enforced statute is the 'Fender Bender Law' (N.C.G.S. § 20-161). This law mandates that in the event of a minor collision where the vehicle is movable and no serious injury has occurred, drivers MUST move their vehicles to the shoulder or a designated investigation area to prevent impeding traffic. Failure to move your car can result in a $110 fine and court costs. Regarding school buses, North Carolina has strict stopping rules. You must stop for a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. The only exception—and a frequent test question—is if you are traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway with a physical median (concrete wall or grass strip). If the road only has a center turn lane (a 'suicide lane'), ALL traffic in both directions must stop. Penalties for passing a stopped school bus are severe: a minimum $500 fine and 5 points on your license, with no possibility of receiving a 'Prayer for Judgment Continued' (PJC). Additionally, the 'Move Over Law' has been expanded. It requires drivers to move over a lane or significantly reduce speed not just for police and ambulances, but for ANY utility vehicle, trash truck, or roadside assistance vehicle displaying flashing amber or white lights.

Statistical Realities

Driving in North Carolina requires navigating a diverse geography that ranges from the treacherous, winding mountain roads of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the west to the flat, sandy coastal highways of the Outer Banks in the east. A unique legal quirk specific to North Carolina's judicial system is the 'Prayer for Judgment Continued' (PJC). This is a legal mechanism where a judge accepts a guilty plea but delays entering a conviction, meaning no points are added to your license or insurance. It is essentially a 'get out of jail free' card for traffic violations, typically usable only once every three years per household. However, drivers should be aware that a PJC is NOT available for DWI or passing a stopped school bus. Another critical fact involves insurance: North Carolina is one of the few states where your driver's license is explicitly tied to proof of liability insurance. You must present form DL-123 (proof of liability insurance) just to take the road test. The minimum coverage limits are $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Environmentally, drivers must be hyper-aware of weather-related hazards; North Carolina frequently experiences hurricanes that can flood inland roads (like I-95) and sudden ice storms in the Piedmont triad. The DMV manual emphasizes that 'Headlights must be ON whenever windshield wipers are in use'—this is not a suggestion but a law. Failing to activate your lights during a summer thunderstorm is a common cause for being pulled over. Statistically, deer collisions are a major hazard, particularly in November and December. The state advises that if a crash with an animal is imminent, do not swerve. Swerving often results in running off the road or into oncoming traffic, which causes far more fatalities than the impact with the animal itself. Regarding the test format, the 25-question exam is short but unforgiving; you can only miss 5 questions. The questions are randomly selected from a pool that heavily favors regulatory signs (shapes and colors) and specific point values for infractions (e.g., passing a stopped school bus is 5 points, aggressive driving is 5 points). Finally, remember that North Carolina treats bicycles as full vehicles; drivers are allowed to cross a double yellow line to pass a bicyclist if it can be done safely with at least 4 feet of clearance.