North Carolina DMV Handbook 2025

In North Carolina, you must be at least 15 years old and pass three official tests (and meet some other requirements) for a learner’s permit: a vision test, a traffic signs test, and a knowledge (permit) test on driving theory. You must take the knowledge and signs tests at a DMV office, not online.

If you’re under 18, you must obtain a learner’s permit before applying for a provisional license (the next step in graduated licensing for teens). Furthermore, you must meet the following additional requirements: You must have completed an approved driver education course before you may take the knowledge test. You must also present your high school diploma (or the equivalent) or a Driving Eligibility Certificate proving that you’re currently attending high school. Finally, your application for a permit must be signed by a parent or guardian.

If you’re at least 18 years old, none of these requirements apply. For you, a learner’s permit is optional (should you need supervised driving practice before taking the driving skills test), and so is a driver education course.

All questions on the official knowledge and traffic signs tests are based on the official North Carolina DMV driver’s 2025 handbook (North Carolina DMV Handbook (NC Driver's Manual) 2025). The DMV currently publishes versions of this manual in English and Spanish, both of which can be easily downloaded from this webpage in PDF format.

Unfortunately, in 2020 – 2023, 43.6% of applicants failed the official North Carolina DMV knowledge test on their first attempt. In contrast, our permit test preparation program is guaranteed to help you pass on your first try – or your money back!

We have also created an audiobook of the official driver’s handbook. It’s formatted as a series of MP3 files, one for each section of the manual: Your License, Alcohol and the Law, Your Driving Privilege, and so on. You can download each chapter file individually. The longest file is Chapter 4: Your Driving, whose running time is 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 40 seconds. The audiobook has a total running time of 3 hours, 2 minutes, and 9 seconds, so you should be able to go through it in a couple of days.

However, what of the official tests themselves? Afraid you might forget something or freeze up? That’s why we created our own permit test study guide to supplement the official state manual. It covers how to prepare yourself mentally and physically for the tests, what documents you must take with you, what fees you may have to pay, and frequently missed test questions – plus a couple of tips on taking multiple-choice tests.