{
 "slug": "north-carolina",
 "importedOn": "2026-08-29",
 "verified": true,
 "agencyName": "North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles",
 "firstOffenseIidNote": "Under G.S. 20-17.8(a)(1), the interlock restriction on restoration applies to a first DWI (G.S. 20-138.1) conviction only when the person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more (also if a prior impaired-driving offense within seven years, or sentencing under G.S. 20-179(f3)). Separately, under G.S. 20-179.3(g5) a judge shall include an interlock requirement in any limited driving privilege order where the alcohol concentration was 0.15 or more.",
 "sr22Note": "North Carolina does not use the SR-22 form; the required filing is 'proof of financial responsibility' — in NCDMV practice the DL-123 certificate from a North Carolina-licensed insurer (or an insurance binder/policy). Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-19(k), before the Division restores a license suspended or revoked under any provision of Article 2 of Chapter 20 (the Uniform Driver's License Act, which includes the mandatory DWI revocation in G.S. 20-17), the person must submit proof that they have notified their insurer of the restoration and are financially responsible, in the form of an insurer's certificate or a binder/policy; that financial responsibility must be kept in effect for not less than three years after the date the license is restored, and failure to maintain it is grounds for a 30-day suspension of the restored license. NCDMV's License Suspension & Restoration page states that some suspensions require proof of insurance at the time of reinstatement, and its Proving Liability Insurance page lists the DL-123 as the acceptable form. Article 9A (G.S. 20-279.1 et seq.) separately requires proof of financial responsibility after unsatisfied judgments and accident-security suspensions.",
 "evidence": {
  "agencyName": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/default.aspx",
   "quote": "Official NCDMV: License Suspension"
  },
  "statuteCitation": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.8.html",
   "quote": "§ 20-17.8. Restoration of a license after certain driving while impaired convictions; ignition interlock."
  },
  "statuteUrl": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.8.html",
   "quote": "G.S. 20-17.8 § 20-17.8. Restoration of a license after certain driving while impaired convictions; ignition interlock."
  },
  "dmvVendorListUrl": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/default.aspx",
   "quote": "Ignition interlock providers Provider Phone Number Smart Start Inc. 866-418-6255 Monitech Inc. 800-345-8535 Intoxalock 888-205-1921"
  },
  "firstOffenseIid": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.8.html",
   "quote": "This section applies to a person whose license was revoked as a result of a conviction of driving while impaired, G.S. 20-138.1, and any of the following conditions is met: (1) The person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more."
  },
  "firstOffenseIidNote": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-179.3.html",
   "quote": "(g5) Ignition Interlock Required. - If a person's drivers license is revoked for a conviction of G.S. 20-138.1, and the person had an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more or is eligible for a limited driving privilege pursuant to subdivision (b)(3) of this section, a judge shall include all of the following in a limited driving privilege order:"
  },
  "iidDurationFirst": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.8.html",
   "quote": "(c) Length of Requirement. - Except as otherwise provided in subsection (g1) of this section, the requirements of subsection (b) shall remain in effect for one of the following: (1) One year from the date of restoration if the original revocation period was one year."
  },
  "iidDurationRepeat": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.8.html",
   "quote": "(2) Three years from the date of restoration if the original revocation period was four years. (3) Seven years from the date of restoration if the original revocation was a permanent revocation."
  },
  "reinstatementFee": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/driver-license-restoration.aspx",
   "quote": "Name of Fee Prior to July 1, 2020 July 1, 2020-June 30, 2024 July 1, 2024-Present Description DWI reinstatement fee $130 $140.25 $167.75 Required when a DWI suspension term is complete."
  },
  "approvedVendors": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/default.aspx",
   "quote": "Ignition interlock providers Provider Phone Number Smart Start Inc. 866-418-6255 Monitech Inc. 800-345-8535 Intoxalock 888-205-1921"
  },
  "costNotes": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/driver-license-restoration.aspx",
   "quote": "Restoration fee $65 $70 $83.50 Required to restore driving privileges once the suspension term is complete. Not required if the license was taken for medical or health reasons following a medical evaluation. Service fee $50 $50 $50 Required unless the license was surrendered to the court or mailed to NCDMV before the suspension or revocation effective date."
  },
  "costNotesWaiver": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-179.5.html",
   "quote": "A person who is ordered by a court, or required by statute, to install an ignition interlock system in order to lawfully operate a motor vehicle, but who is unable to afford the cost of an ignition interlock system, may apply to an authorized vendor for a waiver of a portion of the costs of an ignition interlock system."
  },
  "costNotesWaiverAffidavit": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-179.5.html",
   "quote": "a statement (i) that the person's income is at or below one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty line or (ii) that the person is enrolled in any of the following public assistance programs: (1) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). (2) Supplemental Security Income (SSI). (3) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (4) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). (5) Medicaid."
  },
  "faqExpense": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/default.aspx",
   "quote": "Ignition interlock devices are installed at the expense of the driver."
  },
  "faqCredit": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.8.html",
   "quote": "If the person was eligible for and received a limited driving privilege under G.S. 20-179.3, with the ignition interlock requirement contained in G.S. 20-179.3(g5), the period of time for which that limited driving privilege was held shall be applied towards the requirements of subsection (c)."
  },
  "sr22Note": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-insurance.aspx",
   "quote": "DL-123 insurance form (provided by a North Carolina insurance company)"
  },
  "statuteFee": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-7.html",
   "quote": "A person whose drivers license has been revoked under G.S. 20-17(a)(2) shall pay a restoration fee of one hundred sixty-seven dollars and twenty-five cents ($167.25)."
  },
  "sr22Required": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-19.html",
   "quote": "(k) Before the Division restores a driver's license that has been suspended or revoked under G.S. 20-138.5(d), or under any provision of this Article, other than G.S. 20-24.1,"
  },
  "sr22Required_proof": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-19.html",
   "quote": "the person seeking to have the person's driver's license restored shall submit to the Division proof that the person has notified the person's insurance agent or company that the person is seeking the restoration and that the person is financially responsible."
  },
  "sr22Required_form": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-19.html",
   "quote": "Proof of financial responsibility shall be in one of the following forms: (1) A written certificate or electronically-transmitted facsimile thereof from any insurance carrier duly authorized to do business in this State"
  },
  "sr22Years": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-19.html",
   "quote": "The financial responsibility required by this subsection shall be kept in effect for not less than three years after the date that the license is restored."
  },
  "sr22Years_lapse": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-19.html",
   "quote": "Failure to maintain financial responsibility as required by this subsection shall be grounds for suspending the restored driver's license for a period of 30 days."
  },
  "sr22Note_dmv": {
   "url": "https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/default.aspx",
   "quote": "In addition to the requirements for getting a driver license, some suspensions require proof of insurance at the time of reinstatement."
  },
  "sr22Note_article2": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_20/Article_2.pdf",
   "quote": "Article 2. Uniform Driver's License Act. ... § 20-17. Mandatory revocation of license by Division. ... § 20-19. Period of suspension or revocation; conditions of restoration."
  },
  "sr22Note_article9A": {
   "url": "https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_20/Article_9A.pdf",
   "quote": "§ 20-279.13. Suspension for nonpayment of judgment; exceptions. (a) The Commissioner, upon the receipt of a certified copy of a judgment, which has remained unsatisfied for a period of 60 days, shall forthwith suspend the license"
  }
 },
 "approvedVendorNamesAsListed": [
  "Smart Start Inc.",
  "Monitech Inc.",
  "Intoxalock"
 ],
 "license": "CC BY 4.0",
 "methodology": "https://wheelsback.com/methodology/",
 "page": "https://wheelsback.com/north-carolina/"
}