New to NC? Getting a driver’s license can be a challenge. How to navigate the system.

You’ve just moved to North Carolina. Welcome. So much to worry about getting settled and to discover about your new home.

But don’t put off getting your new North Carolina driver’s license or registering your car, truck or motorcycle with the Division of Motor Vehicles. The process is probably different from where you used to live, and the DMV is especially short-staffed these days, which means everything may not go as smoothly as you want or expect.

For many, the main hurdle is getting an appointment at a driver’s license office. Appointments go fast, and one may not be available for weeks or months, so get started early.

Here’s our newcomer’s guide to navigating the NC DMV.

Get your NC driver’s license first

Q. How long do I have to get a North Carolina driver’s license?

A. Once you’ve established North Carolina as your permanent home, you have 60 days to get a state-issued license and to title and register your car with the DMV. The driver’s license comes first and may take the most time. Don’t wait to get started, though make sure you have all the required documents (see below) before you go to a DMV office.

Q. Do I need to visit a DMV office?

A. Yes, you’ll need to visit a driver’s license office in person and bring the required documents. You’ll find a searchable map of DMV license offices at www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/.

Q. Do I need an appointment?

A. No, but the process will go more smoothly if you make one. Appointments are especially hard to get in the Triangle, Charlotte and Asheville areas, where you’re competing with lots of other newcomers.

To make an appointment, go to www.ncdot.gov/dmv/ and click on “Driver License Office Appointments” or call 919-715-7000. DMV makes appointments up to 90 days in advance. Try early in the morning; if none are available at an office near you, try again the next morning. The DMV makes a new set of appointments available each day.

Q. If I can’t get an appointment at the office nearest me, can I try outside the county?

A. Yes. North Carolina doesn’t require that you get your license in any particular DMV office, and sometimes it’s easier to get an appointment outside urban areas.

Q. Can I simply show up at a DMV office without an appointment?

A. Walk-ins are welcome, but come early, because there are only so many walk-in slots available. And even then you may wait hours, as people with appointments get top priority. During its busy summer season, the DMV offers Saturday walk-in hours at some offices, but those ended Aug. 27.

Documents, documents, documents

Q. What documents are required?

A. Here’s what you’ll need:

▪ Your current out-of-state license or a document that proves your identify and date of birth, such as a passport, birth certificate or military ID. A full list is here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-identity.aspx.

▪ A Social Security card or another document that verifies your Social Security number, such as a W2 or 1099 tax form. A full list is here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-social-security.aspx.

▪ A document that verifies your physical address in North Carolina, such as a lease, a utility bill or any document issued by the state or a local government. You’ll need two of these documents if you’re seeking a REAL ID. A full list is here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-residency.aspx.

▪ If you were born outside the U.S., you’ll need a document proving your legal presence in the country. This could include citizenship, naturalization or permanent resident cards. Find a full list here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-legal-presence.aspx.

▪ And lastly, a document showing you have liability insurance from a company licensed to do business in North Carolina. More details here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-insurance.aspx.

Q. Will I need to take a written or road test to get a new license?

A. If you have a valid driver’s license from another state, probably not. The DMV waives the road and knowledge tests if your previous license hasn’t been expired for more than a year and you have a clean driving record. But you will have to take a vision and signs test. For more information about tests, including sample test questions and signs you should know, go to bit.ly/3KANwuF.

Q. How much will the license cost?

A. The standard driver’s license, called a Class C, costs $44 and is good for eight years. At that point, you’ll be able to renew online for another eight years, provided you haven’t had your license revoked or suspended in the meantime.

Registering your car in North Carolina

Q. How do I title and register my car? Can I do that at the same time I get my driver’s license?

A. One quirk of the North Carolina system is that vehicle titles and registration are handled at separate DMV offices called license plate agencies. All but two of these offices are run by private contractors following requirements set by the DMV. To find one, look for the “plate and vehicle” offices here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/.

Q. Can I make an appointment at a license plate agency?

A. No, they only take walk-ins.

Q. What documents will I need to bring?

A. It starts with the vehicle’s existing title or, if you’re still paying off the loan, a registration card from the previous state. You’ll also need proof of insurance and your new North Carolina driver’s license (or the temporary one they give you until the card comes in the mail).

Then you’ll need to fill out a title application, found here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/MVR-1.pdf.

If your car, truck or motorcycle is less than 10 years old, you’ll also need to submit an “odometer disclosure” form, reporting how many miles you have on it. You’ll find that here: www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/MVR-180.pdf.

Q. How much will this cost?

A. The title fee is $56. Annual registration fees vary by type of vehicle, but for a basic passenger car or truck it costs $38.75 except in Randolph County, where you’ll pay $1 more, and in Durham, Orange and Wake counties where you’ll pay $53.75.

You’ll also pay what’s called a one-time highway use tax, which is 3% of the vehicle’s value but no more than $250. The tax goes into a trust fund for highway construction.

Note that there are separate fees for a notary signature. These range from $2 to $7, depending on the office and number of signatures, and must be paid in cash.

And if you have an electric vehicle, you’ll pay another fee of $140.25. This annual fee is ostensibly in lieu of the gas taxes you won’t be paying in the year ahead.

Q. What kind of license plate will I get?

A. North Carolina has three basic plates, each with a different phrase and design: The classic “First in Flight,” commemorating the Wright Brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk; “First in Freedom,” referring to two milestones during the American Revolution; and one bearing the national motto “In God We Trust” and the state motto “To Be Rather Than To Seem.”

You can also choose from more than 100 specialty plates that allow you to show your support for various causes, organizations and sports teams for an extra fee, with some of the proceeds going to sponsoring groups.

You will receive only one plate, for the back of your car or truck.