In what could be a major convenience for teen drivers and their over-scheduled parents in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) is now working with private driver education schools to let young drivers take their road tests outside the confines of NCDMV offices, a change that could slash the notorious wait times at DMV locations across the state. According to a recent announcement by the NCDMV, with this new strategy, they aim to streamline the process, handing a part of the testing duties over to certified private entities.
Teens who hold a Level 1 Limited Learner Permit are now able to take their road test at certified private driver education schools which is a move expected to make obtaining a Level 2 Limited Provisional License less of a headache; while the cost for the road test will be set by each school, the initiative, however, clearly states that students can still opt to take their test at an NCDMV office if they prefer. The NCDMV Commissioner, Paul Tine, said in the briefing, "By outsourcing some road tests to certified private driver education schools, we're providing more options for teens and their families while increasing efficiency at our driver license offices." Once the road test is passed at a certified school, teens then will simply go to the NCDMV to finish up the paperwork, trimming down the time they need to spend at the DMV office.
The move is part of a broader push by the NCDMV to simplify the steps youngsters must navigate to become fully licensed drivers; following the passage of Senate Bill 245, for example, the DMV is working towards enabling teens to upgrade from a Level 2 Limited Provisional License to a Level 3 Full Provisional License online, further eliminating the need for in-person visits. These plans are still in motion, and the NCDMV is expected to update the public as they solidify.
For the present, the NCDMV is in the process of certifying driver education schools capable of conducting the road test for teens, effectively decentralizing a piece of the licensing process that has traditionally taken place at state-run DMV offices, which have long been synonymous with lengthy delays and cumbersome procedures; schools that pass the certification process will be listed on the NCDMV website as authorized road test providers. The full list of certified schools, once available, will be accessible to those interested in taking advantage of the new option. "This allows our driver license examiners to focus on in-office services, streamlining the process for everyone," Commissioner Tine pointed out regarding the initiative's benefits.
