Driver's License Revocations, Restorations, and Limited Driving Privileges in North Carolina, 2025 Edition

There are more than 8 million licensed drivers in North Carolina, and there are more than 1 million people whose licenses have been revoked by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV). Approximately 6,000 of these revokees have been issued limited driving privileges by the courts authorizing them to drive during the period of revocation, subject to certain limitations. A person whose license has been revoked may have it reinstated at the end of the revocation period, but in certain circumstances, restrictions may be placed on the reinstated license. More than 100,000 drivers licensed by NC DMV have alcohol restrictions on their licenses, and more than 30,000 are permitted to drive only a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. 

The 2025 edition of Driver’s License Revocations, Restorations, and Limited Driving Privileges in North Carolina lists triggering events and convictions that may result in the revocation of a person’s driver’s license. For each event, this publication covers how long the license can be revoked, whether a limited driving privilege may be issued, the limitations of any such privilege, and the mandatory conditions that apply when the license is restored.