How to get an appointment at an NCDMV office (+ know if you really need one)
Those who have visited a North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles office may have experienced long lines and delays.
Perhaps they’ve considered making an appointment, to try to skip the wait.
But making an appointment may prove to be a test of character as well, especially in the more crowded areas around the Triangle, Charlotte and Asheville.
Availability is already limited, because the DMV only takes appointments in the mornings and leaves afternoons open for walk-ins.
Plus, appointments can only be scheduled up to 90 days in advance. Those openings sometimes fill up fast.
Here are some tips for making your next trip to the DMV as smooth as possible.
What can you do online?
The easiest way to avoid the hassle of conducting business at the DMV is to avoid the office altogether.
Before making a trip or attempting to schedule an appointment, see if your business can be done online or at a DMV self-service kiosk, which are located in select Harris Teeter grocery stores.
Here are some of the services available online:
- Driver’s license and ID renewals
- Ordering duplicate license and ID cards
- Upgrading full provisional license
- Ordering driving record requests
- Renewing registration and paying property tax
- Ordering duplicate registration cards
- Ordering personalized and specialized plates
- Applying to register to vote
There is a $3 fee and 1.85% card processing fee for each online transaction.
Vehicle titles and registration are handled at the DMV’s license plate agencies, not driver’s license offices. License plate agencies only accept walk-ins and do not take appointments.
How to make an appointment at NCDMV
To make an appointment at a DMV office, visit skiptheline.ncdot.gov. New appointment times are added each day.
If seeking a Commercial Driver License road test or services requiring a language or ASL interpreter, call 919-715-7000 to schedule an appointment.
It may be easier to make an appointment outside urban areas or in a different county. North Carolina does not require that you get your license at any particular office.
Many of the DMV’s 115 offices across the state now (or will soon) open at 7 a.m. on weekdays. Find opening hours for each location at ncdot.gov.
Can you visit NCDMV offices without an appointment?
Yes, you can walk in to a DMV driver’s license office. However, you may be turned away.
Customers are helped on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you arrive later in the day, you may be told to return a different day.
Walk-in slots often fill up quickly at busy offices, especially during the summer.
How to check wait times at NCDMV locations
People who choose to visit a NCDMV office after noon can check wait times online at ncdot.gov.
One note: The tool shows the time people are waiting after they’ve checked in with someone at the DMV office and may not account for people standing in line outside the building. That means the actual wait time may be much longer.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 1:17 PM.
