Long lines at DMV License offices led lawmakers and the governor to allow some drivers an additional two years on expired licenses in the state.
Drivers with the most common type of license – Class C, for passenger vehicles – whose licenses expire between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2027, can drive for up to two years with no penalties. All licensees are still encouraged to update their licenses as soon as possible, the DMV said, but a number of changes should make it easier for drivers to at least cut their wait times.
For months, lines have been forming at 5 a.m. at license offices, including the one in Whiteville. Officials said it is a combination of the state’s exploding population and the requirement for a Real ID, which requires additional work by license office personnel. The Real ID is necessary for domestic flights and entry into some government facilities. North Carolina was one of the last states to put a Real ID program into place, causing a run on DMV offices statewide.
The grace period and new procedures at license offices should reduce wait times, the DMV said.
Drivers will be asked to check in at DMV offices when they arrive. DMV workers will help the driver ensure they have all the proper paperwork, then text or call the customer when a space opens up in the waiting room. DMV offices in Whiteville, Elizabethtown, Burgaw and Shallotte are now opening at 7 a.m.
Walk-in customers will also now be accepted all day during the week and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon in 20 locations across the state. All services except knowledge and written tests will be available during the expanded Saturday hours.
While it will be legal to drive with an expired license until 2027, DMV officials warn that valid licenses will still be required for many other everyday tasks, such as applying for a mortgage or bank account, renting a car or filling a prescription. Other states may not allow North Carolina drivers with expired licenses to drive, officials said.
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