# NC — US graduated driver licensing requirements by state

For NC, learner minimum age is 15; mandatory holding period is 9 months; supervised driving hours is 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night; intermediate minimum age is 16; nighttime restriction is 9 p.m.-5 a.m, verified against its source on 2026-08-05.

- **State:** NC
- **Learner minimum age:** 15
- **Mandatory holding period:** 9 months
- **Supervised driving hours:** 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night
- **Intermediate minimum age:** 16
- **Nighttime restriction:** 9 p.m.-5 a.m.
- **Passenger restriction:** no more than 1 passenger younger than 21
- **Night restriction lifted:** licensed for 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)
- **Passenger restriction lifted:** licensed for 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)

## What the source says

> NC | 15 Footnote 53 , Footnote 54 | 9 months | 60 hours, 10 of which must be at night | 16 Footnote 55 , Footnote 56 | 9 p.m.-5 a.m. | no more than 1 passenger younger than 21 Footnote 57 | licensed for 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.) | licensed for 6 months or age 18, whichever occurs first (min. age: 16, 6 mos.)

## Source

- https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table

Last verified: 2026-08-05. Review by: 2027-08-05.
Part of [US graduated driver licensing requirements by state](https://referencesource.org/graduated-driver-licensing/).