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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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North Carolina has approved a change to make it easier for people to renew their driver's licenses online.
Democratic Governor Josh Stein signed a bill into law on Tuesday that aims to reduce the number of trips people in the state make to a Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office amid a backlog of applications.
Newsweek contacted the North Carolina DMV to comment on this story.
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Why It Matters
According to the Federal Highway Administration, there were more than 7.7 million motorists in North Carolina in 2021.
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Up to now, renewing a license has been difficult because of a large backlog at the state's DMV office. The law seeks to change this, and could therefore help streamline bureaucratic processes in the state.
What To Know
In North Carolina, standard driver's licenses are valid for eight years for those between 18 and 65 years old, and five years for those 66 years and older.
Until now, people with standard licenses had to renew their licenses in person at a DMV office every 16 years and every 24 years for people without a REAL ID.
REAL ID sets minimum security standards for state-issued IDs. The law governing the use of this ID was fully implemented in May 2025, almost 20 years after the act passed.
REAL ID-compliant cards feature a star marking on the upper right portion of the card, indicating federal compliance and proof of identity.
The new law also means that teenagers aged 16 or 17 seeking to obtain a provisional license now only have to visit the DMV twice to obtain permits. Previously, they had to visit the offices three times to provide logs about their driving training. The bill has also eliminated the requirement to provide this log to get their full license.
What People Are Saying
Stein said in a statement Tuesday: "This law will enable more people to renew their driver's license online, helping them avoid lines at DMV offices. It will also strengthen the state’s ability to protect against cyber threats."
What Happens Next
It will take about a month for the DMV to implement all the changes in the law. It remains to be seen how the implementation of the law affects motorists in North Carolina.
A copy of the law is available here.
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