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SHELBY, N.C. — Teen drivers in North Carolina have a way to take an important step toward getting their license without having to go to the DMV office.
The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles announced in October that teens trying to advance to a Level 2 limited provisional license can now do so by taking their road tests with a certified private driving school.
Safe Lane Driving School in Shelby is one of at least 25 certified schools across the state.
“Pretty neat to be one of the first schools to be able to give those road tests,” owner Phillip Glover said.
The recent change made by the state DMV gives teens and parents a choice to skip the DMV office and gives them more flexibility since certified driving schools can do the test on nights and weekends.
“Also, it gives a relief to the DMV employees, that they don’t have to leave the office and do the work,” Glover said. “And they don’t have to be out of the office for 20 minutes to go do a road test.”
The NCDMV says the new initiative aims to lower wait times at driver’s license offices.
The change adds not only convenience but also comfort. Some teens may be able to take what may be a stressful test with a familiar face.
“Just talking to some of the teens already that have taken the road test through us, the stress level of coming here doesn’t exist for them,” Glover said. “They felt better about [the test].”
As more people learn about this change, Glover thinks demand will only increase.
“I think it was a great idea that the commissioner and the governor came up with, thinking outside of the box of how we can improve the DMV for the citizens of North Carolina,” Glover said. “And I think they’re going in the right step.”
This change comes as the state is making other improvements at the DMV. That includes the sign-in process, which now allows drivers to watch their place in line on their phones and receive a text when it’s their time to come back to the office.
They’ve also added nearly 65 examiners, thanks to the mini-budget passed by the legislature in the summer.
A new law also allows eligible North Carolina drivers without a Real ID to renew their licenses online, which a spokesperson with the NCDMV says about 4,000 drivers took advantage of on the first day.
For a full list of certified driving schools in North Carolina, click here.
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Nick Buffo
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