The North Carolina Department of Transportation has some bad news for teen drivers hoping to get their Level 2 permits after completing six months at Level 1.

Anyone who got their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit after June 30 will be required to have their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for nine months before they can take the road test and get their Level 2.

The North Carolina legislature didn’t allow any extensions in the law passed in May that goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024 requiring nine months at Level 1 before moving up to Level 2.

North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wayne Goodwin in a press release explained, “The law doesn’t allow for grandfathering anyone in, so if someone has their six months of Level 1 in before the end of the year but doesn’t get in to take their road test by Dec. 29 they will have to wait until they hit nine months to take the road test and get their Level 2. Anyone who got their Level 1 after June 30 must wait nine months.”

To be eligible for a Level 1 Limited Learner Permit you must be 15 to 17 years old, have a Driving Eligibility Certificate and a Driver’s Education Certificate.

Drivers with a Level 1 permit are restricted to driving from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and must be supervised by a licensed driver who has been licensed for at least five years and is a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or other adult who has been approved by the parent or legal guardian.

Level 2 allows unsupervised driving from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and when driving to or from work or to any volunteer fire, rescue or emergency medical service. Use of cell phones is prohibited and there are some additional restrictions.

For 25 years teen drivers had been required to have a Level 1 permit for 12 months before being eligible to advance to Level 2. However, during the COVID pandemic the legislature shortened that period to six months and then in May raised it halfway back to where it had been and settled on nine months.

About