Teenage driving requirements shortened

Teenage drivers will be required to be at least 16 years old, log 60 hours of driving time, pass a road test and show printed proof of insurance in the teenage driver’s name.

The requirement to advance to Level 2 was a 12-month requirement that was on the books for the past 25 years since the graduated driver licensing program was put into place in 1997, Homan said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature temporarily shortened the requirement to six months. That provision lapsed at the end of 2022, leaving thousands of teenage drivers and their families in limbo.

“Now that this requirement has been changed back to six months, we look forward to helping these teen drivers through this process,” said Wayne Goddwin, Division of Motor Vehicles commissioners.

“We ask for your patience as we work to accommodate the thousands of teen drivers that are suddenly eligible to take a road test and receive their Level 2 provisional license.”

According to the new legislation, this six-month provision will again lapse at the end of the year. Beginning Jan. 1, the provision will permanently change to nine months.

Another change to the graduated driver licensing program will allow Level 2 permit holders to be able to drive one passenger under 21 that is not a family member, if they are being driven directly to or from school. This is in addition to the existing provision allowing one passenger under 21 that is a family member.

As a reminder, DMV schedule changes went into effect on May 1. After noon, all customer services statewide are now provided on a walk-in basis. Appointments are only available in the morning through the 11 a.m. hour and can be booked at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.

Road tests, which a teenage driver must successfully pass to achieve a Level 2 permit, are not available after 4 p.m.