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The North Carolina Level 1 Limited Learner Permit fee is $25.50, paid in person at the driver license office. This covers the permit, vision screening, and up to three knowledge test attempts within 90 days.
The Level 1 Limited Learner Permit in North Carolina costs $25.50. This is the base NCDMV permit fee.
The current published learner-permit fee is $25.50. Age changes the licensing path and later fees, but not this base permit amount.
Does a North Carolina REAL ID learner permit cost extra? No extra REAL ID fee is added for first issuance. The difference is in the documents you must bring, including the additional residency proof required for REAL ID.
| Cost Category | Typical Cost | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Base NCDMV learner permit fee | $25.50 | Initial Level 1 permit application |
| Optional or separate costs | Varies | Card-processing charges, driver education, or a replacement permit if needed |
| Later licensing-stage costs | Varies | Level 2/provisional or full-license transactions occur after the learner-permit stage |
A lost or stolen permit can also create a separate replacement cost. Detailed replacement steps belong in the lost/stolen permit guide, while retake and refund rules are covered in the failed-test and refund guides.
You do not need Form DL-123 for a Level 1 learner permit. Liability-insurance proof is required later when applying for Level 2 and road-test licensing.
Beyond the $25.50 base fee, families may have separate costs for card processing, driver education, document services, or replacing a lost permit.
These are separate from the $25.50 base learner-permit fee, so compare only the costs that apply to your situation.
NCDMV accepts several payment methods, but the detailed rules for checks, cards, online transactions, kiosks, and processing charges belong in the dedicated Payment Methods guide.
Is the 1.22% card surcharge included in the $25.50 permit fee? No. The in-office card-processing charge is added to the underlying permit fee when you pay by card.
The learner-permit fee remains $25.50 statewide. If you are seeking financial assistance, review the separate Fee Waivers guide because general permit fees and targeted assistance programs are not the same thing.
The complete state fee schedule is available from NCDMV at ncdot.gov.
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