Proof of residency includes providing your name and current address. You will need one document from this category. A few examples of documents you can use to prove your residency are:

• Any document issued by the State of North Carolina or any of its political subdivisions (county, city, tax district, etc.) or by the federal government;
• An apartment lease, housing contract, or mortgage statement;
• A utility bill (ie. power bill, cable bill, water bill, etc.);
• Matricula Consular issued by the Mexican consulate.

For the complete list of documents that may be used to provide proof of residency visit the Driver's Handbook: Chapter 1 - Requirements.

Proof of age and identity includes providing your full name (including your middle name or initial) and date of birth. You will need a total of two documents from this category, one of which must show your date of birth. It is required by law that you present DMV with a valid Social Security card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security card, you must provide documentation issued by the United States Government indicating legal presence. If you have just recently moved to North Carolina and are applying for your original North Carolina driver license your valid, unexpired "out-of-state" driver license with photo counts as one form of identification.

You may not use two documents from the same section. For instance, using a report card and school transcript would not qualify as two forms of identification because they both come from the "School Records" section.

1. Valid, unexpired Driver License or State-Issued Identification Card from another state, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, or a Canadian province.
2. Certified or original birth certificate.
3. Original Social Security card (may not be laminated)
4. Official North Carolina School Registration records signed by a school official and Diplomas issued by North Carolina schools, including secondary schools, community colleges, colleges and universities
5. Unexpired U.S. Military Identification, including DD-2, DD-214, Common Access Card, and U.S. Military Dependents Card
6. Valid, unexpired Passport from any nation
7. Certified marriage certificate from a Register of Deeds or appropriate government agency in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or Canada.
8. Limited Driving Privilege issued by North Carolina.
9. Valid, unexpired documents issued by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration Services (BIS) formerly known as Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS)
10. Court documents from U.S. jurisdiction, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or Canada.
11. U.S. Veterans Universal Access Card.

For the complete list of documents that may be used to provide proof of age & identity visit the Driver's Handbook: Chapter 1 - Requirements.

Proof of liability insurance includes providing insurance documents such as:

• DMV form DL-123;
• or an original liability insurance policy binder;
• or an insurance card with: your name, policy number, issue and expiration date.

The liability insurance documents must show your name, the effective date of policy, the expiration date of the policy, and the date the policy was issued.

Even if you do not own or drive a currently registered vehicle you may still apply for a license, but a restriction will be placed on your driver license. This restriction limits you to only driving "fleet vehicles" and costs $10.00 when you are ready to remove it from your license.

For the complete description of liability insurance visit the Driver's Handbook: Chapter 1 - Requirements.

When making application for an original identification card, learners permit or driver license, it is required by law that you present DMV with a valid Social Security card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security card, you must provide documentation issued by the United States Government indicating legal presence

Individuals may not be licensed if they suffer from a mental or physical problem that might keep them from driving safely. A handicapped person may be issued a restricted license provided the disability does not keep him/her from driving safely.

A learner permit authorizes the permit holder to drive a specified type or class of motor vehicles while in possession of the permit. The permit holder must, while operating a motor vehicle over the highways, be accompanied by a person who is licensed to operate the motor vehicle being driven and is seated beside the permit holder.

No matter what type of license you are applying for your vision will be checked to see that you meet certain standards. If you need corrective lenses to bring your vision up to the required standards, you must wear the lenses at all times while driving and your license will indicate that you must wear corrective lenses. The penalty for driving without the proper corrective lenses is the same as driving without a license.