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North Carolina driver handbook guide

North Carolina driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 24 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s North Carolina course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 52 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
24
Source PDF pages
55
Companion lessons
52
Licensing agency
DMV

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Welcome and DMV Services Online Source p. 2
  2. Chapter 1: Your License Source p. 6
  3. Graduated Licensing Source p. 8
  4. Required Documents Source p. 9
  5. REAL ID and Moving to North Carolina Source p. 14
  6. Renewal and Duplicate Licenses Source p. 15
  7. Chapter 2: Alcohol and the Law Source p. 17
  8. Chapter 3: Your Driving Privilege Source p. 19
  9. Suspensions Source p. 20
  10. Chapter 4: Your Driving Source p. 22
  11. Protecting Yourself and Your Passengers Source p. 23
  12. General Driving Source p. 25
  13. Basic Driving Skills and Rules Source p. 28
  14. Railroad Crossing Safety Source p. 32
  15. Vehicle Equipment Source p. 34
  16. Defensive Driving Source p. 36
  17. Hazardous Driving Source p. 37
  18. Emergencies and Crashes Source p. 39
  19. Chapter 5: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings Source p. 42
  20. Traffic Signs Source p. 43
  21. Chapter 6: Sharing the Road Source p. 46
  22. Motorcycles and Mopeds Source p. 48
  23. Chapter 7: How DMV Serves You Source p. 50
  24. Vehicle Emissions and Safety Inspection Source p. 52

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 2

Welcome and DMV Services Online

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Handbook
  • Save time, go online! MyNCDMV.gov
  • MyNCDMV.gov
  • Duplicate Driver License/ID Card on the Web
  • Online Renewal
  • Transportation Alternatives
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 6

Chapter 1: Your License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Your License
  • Office Hours
  • Learner Permit
  • Motorcycle Learner Permit
  • Vision
  • Traffic Signs
  • Knowledge Test
  • Driving Skills
  • Health Requirements and Restrictions
  • Regular Licenses
  • Turnabout
  • Commercial Driver License (CDL)
  • Endorsements
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 8

Graduated Licensing

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Graduated Licensing—Licensing for Drivers 15–18 The Provisional Licensee
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 9

Required Documents

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Thinking Of Dropping Out?
  • Lose Control/Lose Your License
  • Restrictions
  • Table (6) – DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS
  • Liability Insurance Requirement
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 14

REAL ID and Moving to North Carolina

This chapter’s sections include:

  • North Carolina's REAL ID
  • Moving to North Carolina
  • Identification Card
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 15

Renewal and Duplicate Licenses

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Renewal
  • Renewal By Mail (Temporary License)
  • Military
  • Veterans
  • Identification Cards
  • Schedule of Fees (subject to change)
  • Duration and Renewal of License
  • Duration
  • Duplicate
  • Address Changes
  • Name Changes
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 17

Chapter 2: Alcohol and the Law

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Alcohol and the Law
  • Driving While Impaired
  • Voter Registration Application
  • Organ Donor Program
  • Selective Service System Registration
  • Requirements for Sex Offender Registration Program
  • Blood Alcohol Concentration Restrictions
  • Alcohol and the Young Driver
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 19

Chapter 3: Your Driving Privilege

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Driver License Points
  • Point Value
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 20

Suspensions

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Insurance Points
  • Suspension Time
  • Out-of-State Conviction
  • Failure to Appear and/or to Pay a Fine
  • Provisional Licensee (under age 18)
  • Driver License Restoration
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 22

Chapter 4: Your Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Your Driving
  • Driver Condition
  • Drowsy Driving
  • Distracted Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 23

Protecting Yourself and Your Passengers

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Seat Belts
  • Child Safety
  • Child Seats
  • Booster Seats and Seat Belts for Children
  • Children and Air Bags
  • North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Helmet Law
  • Back of a Pick-up Truck
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 25

General Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Weather Risk The Driver and Pedestrian
  • Protecting Motorcyclists From Unsafe Movements
  • School Buses
  • Emergency and Law Enforcement Vehicles
  • Move Over
  • Safe Driving Around Farm Equipment
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 28

Basic Driving Skills and Rules

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Funeral Processions
  • Driving on Your Side of the Road
  • Adjusting Your Speed to Driving Conditions
  • Maximum Speed Limits
  • Rounding a Curve
  • Turning
  • Following
  • Changing Lanes The Two-Second Rule
  • Passing
  • Parking
  • Special Driving Situations
  • Interchange
  • Roundabouts
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 32

Railroad Crossing Safety

This chapter’s sections include:

  • X-Ing 999 999 Z
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 34

Vehicle Equipment

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 16 · source p. 36

Defensive Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Scanning
  • Communicating
  • Hand Signals
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 17 · source p. 37

Hazardous Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Work Zones
  • Night Driving
  • Sun Glare
  • Rain
  • Hydroplaning
  • Driving in Flood Conditions
  • Fog
  • Snow and Ice
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 18 · source p. 39

Emergencies and Crashes

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Wildlife
  • Emergencies
  • Brake Failure
  • Wet Brakes
  • Gas Pedal Sticks
  • Blowouts
  • Breakdowns
  • Unusual Emergencies
  • Skids
  • Crashes
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 19 · source p. 42

Chapter 5: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Pavement Markings
  • Flashing Signals
  • (left and right turns)
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 20 · source p. 43

Traffic Signs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Hybrid Beacons
  • 1. Regulatory Signs
  • 2. Warning Signs
  • 3. Guide/Informational Signs
  • Regulatory Signs
  • Warning Signs
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 21 · source p. 46

Chapter 6: Sharing the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Pavement Markings
  • Traffic Officers
  • Sharing the Road
  • Bicycles
  • Pass with Care
  • Go with the Flow
  • Be Visible
  • Bicycle & Pedestrian Division
  • You as a Pedestrian
  • Trucks and Other Vehicles
  • No-Zones
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 22 · source p. 48

Motorcycles and Mopeds

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Recreational Vehicles and Trailers
  • Motorcycles
  • Mopeds
  • Keeping the Road Litter-Free
  • Adopt-A-Highway Program
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 23 · source p. 50

Chapter 7: How DMV Serves You

This chapter’s sections include:

  • How DMV Serves You
  • Driver Records
  • Raleigh Central Services
  • Huntersville License Plate Agency​
  • Driver License DR Unit
  • Vehicle Registration
  • Insurance and Financial Responsibility
  • Vehicle Registration Renewal
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 24 · source p. 52

Vehicle Emissions and Safety Inspection

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Transfer of a Motor Vehicle
  • Transfer of License Plates
  • Replacement of Lost Title or Registration Card
  • Tag & Tax Together
  • How do I pay?
  • Vehicle Emissions & Safety Inspection
  • Exemptions
  • Window Tinting
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The North Carolina course groups the source material into 10 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 8 lessons

Your License

Permits, GDL levels, classes, documents and renewal

  1. Learner permits & the license tests
  2. Motorcycle learner permit & endorsement
  3. GDL Level One: Limited Learner Permit
  4. GDL Levels Two & Three
  5. License classes, CDL & school bus drivers
  6. Provisional licensees, school eligibility & restrictions
  7. Documents, proof of insurance & REAL ID
  8. New residents, renewal, duplicates & ID cards

Unit 2 · 3 lessons

Alcohol and the Law

BAC limits, DWI penalties, underage drinking and impairment

  1. DWI laws, BAC limits & chemical tests
  2. DWI penalties & underage drinking
  3. How alcohol and medication affect your driving

Unit 3 · 5 lessons

Your Driving Privilege

Points, suspensions, hearings and restoring your license

  1. The driver license point system
  2. Commercial vehicle points, no-point offenses & insurance points
  3. Suspensions & revocations
  4. Hearings, out-of-state tickets & unpaid fines
  5. Provisional licensee suspensions & license restoration

Unit 4 · 4 lessons

Driver Safety & Protecting Passengers

Fatigue, distraction, seat belts, child seats and helmets

  1. Drowsy & distracted driving
  2. Seat belts & child restraint laws
  3. Booster seats, air bags & belt fit
  4. Helmets, pickup beds & heat or cold risks

Unit 5 · 5 lessons

General Driving Rules

Pedestrians, school buses, emergency vehicles, traffic stops and farm equipment

  1. Pedestrians & right of way
  2. School buses
  3. Emergency vehicles & the Move Over law
  4. When you're stopped by law enforcement
  5. Farm equipment & funeral processions

Unit 6 · 8 lessons

Basic Driving Skills & Rules

Speed, passing, parking, intersections, roundabouts and railroad crossings

  1. Speed limits & stopping distance
  2. Curves, turns, following distance & lane changes
  3. Passing & being passed
  4. Backing & parking
  5. Intersections & right of way
  6. Roundabouts & single-point interchanges
  7. Railroad crossings
  8. City, rural & interstate driving

Unit 7 · 7 lessons

Defensive Driving & Hazards

Scanning, equipment, weather, wildlife, emergencies and crashes

  1. Scanning, signaling & keeping a margin of safety
  2. Vehicle equipment: lights, brakes, tires & more
  3. Work zones, night driving & sun glare
  4. Rain, hydroplaning, flooding, fog, snow & ice
  5. Wildlife on the road
  6. Vehicle emergencies: brakes, pedal, tires & skids
  7. Breakdowns, crashes & your duties afterward

Unit 8 · 5 lessons

Signals, Signs & Pavement Markings

Traffic lights, sign shapes, warning and guide signs, and road markings

  1. Traffic signals
  2. Turn arrows, ramp meters & hybrid beacons
  3. Sign shapes & regulatory signs
  4. Warning signs
  5. Guide signs, pavement markings & traffic officers

Unit 9 · 4 lessons

Sharing the Road

Bicycles, pedestrians, trucks, motorcycles and mopeds

  1. Bicycles
  2. Pedestrians, trucks, RVs & trailers
  3. Motorcycles & mopeds
  4. Moped riding, registration & litter laws

Unit 10 · 3 lessons

Registration & DMV Services

Insurance minimums, Tag & Tax Together, titles and inspections

  1. Vehicle registration, insurance & driving records
  2. Renewal, Tag & Tax, transfers & titles
  3. Safety & emissions inspections