HAMLET — If your driver license is about to expire and you’re concerned about long lines, the state is extending a grace period.
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles announced Tuesday that a law passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Josh Stein establishes a moratorium on the expiration of Class C licenses.
The law went into effect July 1 and will remain so until Dec. 31, 2027.
According to the DMV, expired licenses will only be valid for in-state driving privileges during the two-year grace period. However, they will not be valid for identification purposes or air travel, and may not be recognized by other states or federal agencies.
The moratorium also does not include commercial driver licenses or those that are suspended, revoked or canceled.
“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,” NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine said in a press release.
“Customers may present expired Class C licenses for in-state driving privileges only if the expiration date is July 1, 2025, or later,” Tine added. “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.”
NCDMV also has 20 offices with Saturday hours from 8 a.m.-noon through Aug. 23. The closest is the office in Monroe.
Several DMV services are available online, including: license and ID renewals; duplicates; address changes; and voter registration applications.
