A new online upgrade is coming for teen drivers to try to reduce long wait times at North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles offices.
On Tuesday, officials with the DMV announced that teen drivers will be able to use its new online feature to upgrade from a Level 2 Limited Provisional License to a Level 3 Full Provisional License.
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The changes build on the recent expansion of online services under Senate Bill 245.
Officials said the online upgrade is a two-step process completed by both the parent and the teen driver completely online.
"Parents and teen drivers no longer have to take time off work or school for a simple upgrade,” said NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine. “It’s now available at their fingertips online.”
The parent or guardian begins step one by logging in to the online payment portal, entering their information, and giving consent for their teen driver to advance from Level 2 to Level 3.
For step two, the teen driver will log in their information to complete the transaction and then receive a temporary driving certificate to use until their new Level 3 Limited Provisional License arrives in the mail.
WRAL News has extensively covered the long wait times at North Carolina DMVs. In October, Tine said the average wait time at the DMV is about 90 minutes, down from the more than two hours reported in July.
It comes as the DMV filled 64 positions at offices statewide and what officials call a “successful implementation” of online renewals for non-REAL ID driver licenses and REAL ID licenses.
Officials said consecutive online renewals for state ID cards are expected to be launched by the end of the year, completing the remaining provision of Senate Bill 245.
The DMV also announced in September, teen drivers could take their road tests through certified private driver’s education schools.
