North Carolina NCDMV road test: what to expect

What the examiner checks

• Approaches to intersections, stop signs and traffic signals
• Quick stop (stopping as quickly and safely as possible when told)
• Backing
• Stopping, starting and parking
• Use of the clutch (standard transmission)
• Turn signals and use of the horn
• Turning (right and left turns)
• Use of lanes
• Following another vehicle
• Passing and being passed
• Yielding the right of way to pedestrians and other vehicles
• Driving posture
• Three-point turnabout

How it's scored

The driver license examiner scores the test. You pass or fail based on your ability to do the required maneuvers.

Your car

• Applicant provides the vehicle and a copy of its registration
• Vehicle must pass a pre-trip inspection
• Vehicle must be representative of the license class sought

After you pass

Drivers under 18 (Level 3 Full Provisional License after 6 months on Level 2; upgrade to regular Class C at 18) get a provisional or junior license first. Its restrictions:

• Level 2: unsupervised driving only 5 a.m.-9 p.m., plus driving directly to/from work or volunteer fire, rescue or EMS duty; supervising driver required 9 p.m.-5 a.m.
• Level 2 unsupervised: only one passenger under 21 who is not a household member (plus one more non-household student under 21 when driving directly to/from school); no limit if all passengers are household members; under-21 household members may not ride when under-21 non-household members are in the vehicle
• Level 2 must be held at least 6 months with no moving violation, seat belt or cell phone convictions in the prior 6 months before Level 3
• All passengers must be belted (Levels 1-2)
• Under 18: no cell phone use while driving (all levels), except emergency calls
• Level 3 Full Provisional: time, supervision and passenger limits no longer apply
• Provisional licensee driving after consuming any alcohol or drugs: one-year revocation
• Provisional licensee suspensions: 30 days for a 2nd moving violation, 90 days for a 3rd, 6 months for a 4th within 12 months
• Lose Control/Lose Your License: school suspension of more than 10 consecutive days (or alternative placement for discipline) causes license loss for 12 months

How to prepare

• Practise in the car you'll take the test in, including parking and backing up.
• Drive the kinds of roads near the test site with your supervising driver: intersections, lane changes, school zones.
• Check the car the day before: lights, signals, horn, brakes, mirrors, tires, seat belts, and current registration and insurance documents.
• On the day, signal every turn and lane change, check mirrors and blind spots visibly, and come to full stops behind the line.