NCDMV Expands Private Road Testing To Adult Drivers

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) has announced an expansion of its successful partnership with private driver education schools to include road testing for adult drivers.

Effective (today) March 16, certified private driver education schools across North Carolina will be authorized to administer the driving skills/road test for adults aged 18 and older seeking their first driver license (Class C). This builds on the program launched in 2025, which initially allowed certified schools to conduct road tests for teens upgrading from a Level 1 Limited Learner Permit to a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

The initiative gives adult applicants greater flexibility and convenience by providing an alternative to scheduling and taking the road test at a physical NCDMV driver license office. Adults who pass the road test at a certified school will complete the final licensing transaction at an NCDMV office, reducing overall wait times and office visits.

As with the teen program, the cost of the road test is set by each individual certified driver education school. Applicants can still choose to take the road test directly at an NCDMV office if preferred.

This expansion follows the positive results from the teen road test program, which has helped reduce congestion at driver license offices and provided more scheduling options for families.

“Extending this option to adult drivers is a natural next step in our efforts to modernize and streamline the licensing process,” said NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine. “By leveraging the certified private driver ed schools, we’re offering more choices, cutting down on wait times, and allowing our staff to focus on essential in-office services for all North Carolinians.”

A list of NCDMV-certified private driver education schools authorized to conduct road tests (now including for adults) is available on the NCDMV website at: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new-drivers/Pages/driver-schools-road-tests.aspx..