CPRPO News

North Carolina Travelers Without REAL ID or Another Acceptable ID Will Pay $45 Fee Starting Feb. 1

RALEIGH – Airline passengers who do not have a REAL ID driver license, state ID card, or another acceptable form of ID after Saturday, Jan. 31 will have to pay a $45 identity-verification fee before passing through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport checkpoints.

The fee covers the cost of a modernized alternative identity verification system, called TSA ConfirmID. The verification will cover a 10-day travel period, so travelers who plan their return flight within that 10-day period will pay once for both flights.

“North Carolina has been issuing REAL IDs for nearly nine years, and more than 5 million residents – about 58% – already have one,” North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Paul Tine said. “Our offices are making it easier than ever: every driver license office now accepts walk-ins from open to close (or until daily capacity is reached), and appointments can be booked up to seven days in advance with new slots added each weekday.”

Acceptable forms of ID include REAL ID driver licenses or state ID cards, U.S. passports and passport cards, and DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST). A full list of acceptable IDs can be found at TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.

North Carolina travelers without an acceptable ID are encouraged to visit the TSA ConfirmID program fee site and pay the $45 fee prior to travel on or after Sunday, Feb. 1. Take a printed copy or electronic copy of the receipt, along with another form of ID, and show it to the Transportation Security Officer verifying identification at the airport checkpoint. 

In North Carolina, about 90% of passengers already use their REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification. TSA expects that wait times will increase for passengers without a REAL ID driver license or state ID card when ConfirmID goes into effect. 

To find out if you need a REAL ID and to generate a customized document checklist with everything you need to bring, visit NCREALID.gov. Remember, your first NC REAL ID cannot be obtained online. It can only be issued at a driver license office. To find a DMV office near you, visit NCDMV.gov​.

​View TSA’s full press release​

***NCDOT***

CPRPO News

NCDMV Announces Moratorium on Driver License Expirations

Saturday service hours resume at 20 Locations this weekend

ROCKY MOUNT – The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) announces that, effective July 1, 2025, Senate Bill 391 has been signed into law by Governor Josh Stein, establishing a moratorium on the expiration of Class C driver licenses in North Carolina.

Under this legislation, Class C licenses (standard passenger vehicle licenses) expiring on or after July 1, 2025, will remain valid for driving purposes within the state for up to two years beyond the printed expiration date.

The moratorium, in effect through Dec. 31, 2027, applies only to Class C licenses and allows continued in-state driving privileges during the two-year grace period. Expired licenses will not be valid for any purpose other than establishing the license holder’s driving privilege, including identification purposes and air travel, and may not be recognized by other states or federal entities. The moratorium does not apply to commercial driver licenses, or any licenses that are suspended, revoked, or cancelled.

“Thank you to the Legislature and Governor for this temporary measure to provide flexibility for North Carolina drivers while we work to address the increased demand for our services,” said NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine. “Customers may present expired Class C licenses for in-state driving privileges only if the expiration date is July 1, 2025, or later. However, we advise our customers to renew their licenses to ensure they remain valid for identification purposes, including to fly, rent a car, get a bank loan, fill a prescription and have documents notarized.”

Saturday Service Hours Resume at 20 Locations

Beginning again this weekend, and through Aug. 23, NCDMV will offer walk-in services at 20 locations on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., no appointment needed. Available services include driver license and ID card renewals, duplicates, address changes, REAL ID issuance, and road tests for those who have completed knowledge and written tests.

Before visiting, check if your needs can be met online. NCDMV provides many services digitally, such as license and ID renewals, duplicates, address changes, and voter registration applications.

***NCDOT***

CPRPO News

NCDMV Warns of Fraudulent Text Scams

Urges caution of unsolicited or suspicious texts

ROCKY MOUNT – The N. C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) is alerting the public about a surge in fraudulent text message scams targeting residents. These scams falsely claim to request payment for fees, fines, or tolls and may appear to come from the NCDMV.

NCDMV does not and will never request payments via text message.

Citizens are urged to report any suspicious texts as spam and delete them immediately. Do not click on any links or provide personal information in response to these messages.
Protect yourself from scams:
  • Be cautious of unsolicited texts requesting payment or personal information.
  • Verify any NCDMV-related inquiries through official channels.
  • Report suspicious texts to your mobile carrier or the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint.

Learn more about how to identify phishing texts and scams at https://ncdoj.gov/internet-safety/phishing/.

***NCDOT***

CPRPO News

NCDMV Already Preparing for Next School Year, Training Bus Drivers

Goodwin emphasizes modernized testing platforms

RALEIGH – As students, parents, teachers, and administrators wrap up the end of one school year, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is already focused on making sure school districts have the bus drivers they’ll need when the next school year starts again in the fall.

Speaking today at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) School Bus Driver Roadeo, Commissioner Wayne Goodwin highlighted NCDMV’s role in the training of school bus drivers. “The Division of Motor Vehicles has a long and rich history with school bus drivers in our state,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “Our employees have been training and certifying school bus drivers in North Carolina for nearly 40 years.”

Much has changed over the years, and NCDMV has changed the way it trains school bus drivers, increasingly incorporating the use of technology. During the pandemic, the division pivoted to provide a virtual training option when gathering in groups was restricted. NCDMV continues to offer the virtual class in addition to the traditional classroom option.

“Offering a virtual training option is just another example of how we’re working to modernize operations at the DMV to meet our customer needs,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “In this case, our customers are the students, parents and schools that rely on adequately trained and certified bus drivers to get our children to and from school safely.”

Additionally, NCDMV is one of just two jurisdictions in North America that will begin training to utilize a modernized testing platform provided by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

Since 2020, NCDMV has trained 19,201 bus drivers. In that same period, 7,091 bus drivers were trained virtually, with an 81.7% success rate.

“While NCDMV is not responsible for recruiting bus drivers, we continue to do our part training bus drivers,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “Over the last four years, we have trained and certified 15,494 new school bus drivers and renewed 36,542 school bus drivers. More than enough to fill every bus route in the state.”

For the 2023-24 traditional school year, which officially ends today, NCDMV trained and certified 3,754 school bus drivers, and recertified another 6,654 drivers to drive more than 12,000 school buses.

There are currently 29,225 certified school bus drivers in the state. According to DPI, there are approximately 11,400 public school bus routes in the state. 

***NCDOT***

CPRPO News

NCDMV Unveils State’s Most Secure Licenses, IDs Ever

These images depict the front and back of a new driver license for someone over 21 with Real ID, Veteran, and Organ Donor indicators.

ROCKY MOUNT – The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today announces it will begin issuing new driver licenses, permits and identification cards featuring the latest in card security design and construction specifically intended to combat fraud.

“I am proud to announce the implementation of the most secure credential in our great state’s history,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. “Our new licenses and IDs will be among the most secure identifying documents in the world.”

The state’s new credential is a 100% polycarbonate card that is personalized using laser engraving technology. Because of its composition, the card will not only look different, it will also feel and sound different.

The card will feel stiffer and have both embossed and debossed patterns and lettering on the surface of the card. When dropped onto a tabletop, it will make a unique metallic sound.

The new card design showcases imagery familiar to North Carolinians, with hints of blue and green specifically chosen to correspond with well-known state attributes such as its rolling hills and abundant nature.

The card front includes the state’s flower – the dogwood, the state flag, state border outline, a marbled salamander, and a lighthouse, all at the forefront of the rolling hills in the west. The card back includes the Colonial Spanish mustang grazing along one of North Carolina’s many beaches in the east.

These design elements are among more than 50 security features used to assist law enforcement in the deterrence and detection of fraud.

The new card design will be put into production later this week as the current design is being phased out by the end of June. Current licenses and ID cards will remain valid until their expiration date.

Editor’s note: More information and additional images of credentials can be viewed here.

***NCDOT***

CPRPO News

NCDMV Announces Latest Modernization Change

Customers must confirm appointments; will receive text, email reminders

ROCKY MOUNT – To combat folks not showing up for their scheduled appointments at driver license offices, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is now requiring new appointments to be confirmed.

“This confirmation process is necessary to address the high no-show rate for appointments we have been experiencing in our driver license offices,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

In the month of February, 33.5% of appointments were no-shows.

Now, when appointments are reserved online at SkipTheLine.ncdot.gov, customers will receive a text message and email with a confirmation link and they will need to confirm their appointment by clicking either link within 15 minutes, or the appointment will be canceled. Upon confirming their appointment, customers will receive a text and email notification letting them know the appointment was successfully confirmed.

Four days before the appointment, customers will receive a reminder text and email with a confirmation link. Within 24 hours, customers will need to again confirm their appointment. Once confirmed, another email and text will be generated confirming the appointment.

For appointments booked less than four days out, the second confirmation link will not be sent.

“Folks are used to having to confirm their medical and other appointments in this way,” said Commissioner Goodwin, “so we’re applying this standard from the private sector to our business model and expecting good results and increased appointment availability.

”This latest technological improvement comes on the heels of the DMV Express self-service kiosk pilot that was announced two weeks ago and other modernization efforts including, adding more online services, launching the Walk-In Wait Time Tool and implementing Q-Anywhere.

***NCDOT***

CPRPO News

NCDMV Launches Self-Service Kiosks at Harris Teeters

RALEIGH – In an effort to shorten lines and wait times at offices across the state and provide services outside of typical office hours, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is piloting the use of self-service kiosks in grocery stores.

NCDMV Express self-service kiosks are now available at the following Harris Teeter locations:
  • The Corners at Brier Creek (4221 Corners Parkway, Raleigh)
  • Riverbend Village (4701 Smith Farm Road, Charlotte)
  • Highland Centre (2800 Raeford Road, Fayetteville)

“I am excited to announce the launch of this kiosk pilot,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. “This is another example of the work we are doing to shorten lines and wait times by using technology to modernize our customer service and provide more options for customers to get what they need in a timely manner.”

At the kiosks, customers can renew their driver license or state ID card (unless they renewed online last time); order a duplicate or change the address on their driver license, permit or state ID card (you must know your driver license/ID number to complete this transaction); and apply/update their voter registration (only as part of a driver license/ID transaction listed above).

At the end of a transaction, the kiosk will print a Temporary Driver/Identification Certificate (TDC/TIC) just like one received at an in-office visit, to be used for up to 60 days until the official driver license or ID card arrives in the mail.

“Harris Teeter is always seeking new ways to enhance our shopping experience for our customers. We are thrilled to partner with the DMV to provide this additional service and offer added convenience to our customers’ everyday lives,” said Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs at Harris Teeter. “We look forward to the pilot being successful and expanding to more stores soon.” 

NCDMV plans to add seven additional kiosks in the first half of 2024, and more kiosks are to be added as certain transaction thresholds are achieved.

Additional transaction types are also being developed for the kiosks, including vehicle registration renewals and paying property tax on a new vehicle. The kiosk will print license plate stickers at the completion of these two transactions. Customers will also be able to order duplicate registrations and change their address or insurance information as part of a duplicate or renewal transaction.

Intellectual Technology, Inc. (ITI) is NCDMV’s private partner for the kiosk pilot. ITI has partnerships with several states and grocery store chains to deploy kiosks for DMV transactions.

The kiosk pilot comes at no cost to the state. ITI is compensated via a $4.95 fee per transaction. Customers will also be charged a 2.35 percent credit/debit card processing fee.

This effort is among several recent initiatives aimed at improving the DMV customer experience:

  • Hiring more than 250 new driver license examiners across the state (release)
  • Extending office hours
    • 45 offices now open an hour early at 7 a.m. (release)
    • 16 offices with Saturday morning walk-in hours during summer “peak” season (release)
  • Partnering with Department of Adult Corrections to provide IDs to offenders leaving prison (release)
  • Adding more online services (release). Recent additions include:
    • Renew State ID within one year of expiration
    • Upgrade Level 3 Full Provisional License to regular Class C License
    • Renew Permanent Disability Placard
    • Exchange Specialty License Plate for a Standard Plate
  • Launching Walk-in Wait Time Tool (release)
  • Increasing walk-in availability, moving appointments to the morning only (release)
  • Implementing Q-Anywhere so customers no longer have to wait in line (release)

“These recent operational and technological changes have collectively resulted in improved customer service at DMV over the last two years,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “While we have made great strides, we recognize there remains more work ahead as the state grows in population and the agency further modernizes.”