Step 1: See if your service can be completed online
Before heading to a driver license office, see if your service can be completed online. Many customers can avoid an office visit entirely.
Common online services include:
- License/ID renewals
- Address changes
- Replacement licenses
Checking if your service can be completed online first may save you a trip to an office.
If your transaction requires an office visit, review the required documents before leaving home.
Step 2: Check current wait times online
If you do need to visit a driver license office, check current wait times before you leave at VisitDMV.nc.gov. Wait times change throughout the day and can vary significantly between offices.
Current wait times are usually a better predictor of how quickly you will be served than office size, location, distance traveled or appointment availability.
Frequently asked questions
Choose an office based on its current wait time and availability.
Do not assume an office will be faster because it is larger, smaller, rural, urban or farther from your location. Wait times can vary significantly throughout the day.
No. Appointments and walk-ins are both valid options. Depending on the office and time of day, a walk-in may be faster than waiting for the next available appointment.
Check current wait times and appointment availability before deciding.
Yes. Driver license offices accept walk-in customers all-day, or until an office reaches its daily capacity.
No. One of the biggest myths about visiting the DMV is that you need to arrive before opening to be seen. In reality, we serve customers throughout the day, and most customers who visit during business hours are able to receive service. Customers who arrive before opening often experience some of the longest waits of the day because many people arrive at the same time.
In some offices, customers who visit later in the day may have much shorter wait times than those who lined up before opening.
Yes. Before traveling to an office, check current wait times online at VisitDMV.nc.gov. Current wait times are usually a better predictor of how quickly you will be served than arriving early.
Not necessarily. This is another common misconception. Because many customers try to visit first thing in the morning, wait times are often longest near opening.
Rather than assuming morning is best, check current wait times online before leaving home at VisitDMV.nc.gov. In many cases, a midday or afternoon visit may be faster.
Not necessarily. Some rural offices have shorter waits, while others have limited staffing and longer waits. Likewise, some urban offices may have very short waits.
Current wait times are a better predictor than location.
Visit times vary based on the service you need, customer volume, staffing levels and office conditions.
Check current wait times at VisitDMV.nc.gov before leaving for the most up-to-date information.
Not always.
Many customers already keep important documents on their phones, and NCDMV can now accept many of those documents digitally through a secure upload process during your visit. Documents that can often be uploaded from your phone include:
You do not need to print these documents if they are already available on your phone and accepted for your transaction.
Some documents must still be presented in person. Federal law requires DMV staff to review original identity, citizenship and legal presence documents, including:
- Passports
- Social Security cards
- Birth certificates
- Immigration documents
- Marriage certificates
- Court-issued name change documents
Bringing the right documents can help avoid delays and repeat visits. If you are unsure what you need, review document requirements before your visit.
NCDMV has trained and certified private driver education schools across North Carolina to administer road tests, providing a convenient alternative to testing at the DMV.
Following these steps can help you complete your transaction as quickly as possible:
- Check whether your transaction can be completed online.
- Review the documents required for your transaction.
- Check current wait times online at VisitDMV.nc.gov.
- Choose a location based on current conditions.
- Bring all required documents and an accepted payment method.
Helpful resources