{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-20-17.5","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17.5","heading":"Effect of disqualification.","body":"(a)\tWhen No Accompanying Revocation. - A person who is disqualified as the result of a conviction that requires disqualification but not revocation may keep any regular Class C drivers license the person had at the time of the offense resulting in disqualification. If the person had a Class A or Class B regular drivers license or a commercial drivers license when the offense occurred, all of the following apply:\n(1)\tThe person must give the license to the court that convicts the person or, if the person is not present when convicted, to the Division.\n(2)\tThe person may apply for a regular Class C drivers license.\n(b)\tWhen Revocation and Disqualification. - When a person is disqualified as the result of a conviction that requires both disqualification and revocation, all of the following apply:\n(1)\tThe person must give any drivers license the person has to the court that convicts the person or, if the person is not present when convicted, to the Division.\n(2)\tThe person may obtain limited driving privileges to drive a noncommercial motor vehicle during the revocation period to the extent the law would allow limited driving privileges if the person had been driving a noncommercial motor vehicle when the offense occurred. The same procedure, eligibility requirements, and mandatory conditions apply to limited driving privileges authorized by this subdivision that would apply if the person had been driving a noncommercial motor vehicle when the offense occurred.\n(3)\tIf the disqualification period is longer than the revocation period, the person may apply for a regular Class C drivers license at the end of the revocation period.\n(c)\tRefusal to Take Chemical Test. - When a person is disqualified for refusing to take a chemical test, all of the following apply:\n(1)\tThe person must give any license the person has to a court, a law enforcement officer, or the Division, in accordance with G.S. 20-16.2 and G.S. 20-16.5.\n(2)\tThe person may obtain limited driving privileges to drive a noncommercial motor vehicle during the period the person's license is revoked for the refusal that disqualified the person to the extent the law would allow limited driving privileges if the person had been driving a noncommercial motor vehicle at the time of the refusal. The same procedure, eligibility requirements, and mandatory conditions apply to limited driving privileges authorized by this subdivision that would apply if the person had been driving a noncommercial motor vehicle at the time of the refusal.\n(3)\tIf the disqualification period is longer than the revocation period, the person may apply for a regular Class C drivers license at the end of the revocation period.\n(d)\tObtaining Class C Regular License. - A person who is authorized by this section to apply for a regular Class C drivers license and who meets all of the following criteria may obtain a regular Class C drivers license without taking a test:\n(1)\tThe person must have had a Class A or Class B regular drivers license or a commercial drivers license when the person was disqualified.\n(2)\tThe person's license must have been issued by the Division.\n(3)\tThe person's license must not have expired by the date the person applies for a regular Class C drivers license.\nUpon application and payment of the fee set in G.S. 20-14 for a duplicate license, the Division shall issue a person who meets these criteria a regular Class C drivers license. The license shall include the same endorsements and restrictions as the former Class A regular, Class B regular, or commercial drivers license, to the extent they apply to a regular Class C drivers license. A regular Class C drivers license issued to a person who meets these criteria expires the same day as the license it replaces.\nG.S. 20-7 governs the issuance of a regular Class C drivers license to a person who is authorized by this section to apply for a regular Class C drivers license but who does not meet the listed criteria. In accordance with that statute, the Division may require the person to take a test and the person must pay the license fee.\n(e)\tRestoration Fee. - A person who is disqualified must pay the restoration fee set in G.S. 20-7(i1) the first time any of the following events occurs as a result of the same disqualification:\n(1)\tThe Division reinstates a Class A regular drivers license, a Class B regular drivers license, or a commercial drivers license the person had at the time of the disqualification by issuing the person a duplicate license.\n(2)\tThe Division issues a Class A regular drivers license, a Class B regular drivers license, or a commercial drivers license to the person.\n(3)\tIf the person's license was revoked because of the conviction or act requiring disqualification, the Division issues a regular Class C drivers license to the person.\nThe restoration fee does not apply the second time any of these events occurs as a result of the same disqualification. (1991, c. 726, s. 9.)","path":["Chapter 20. Motor Vehicles.","Article 2. Uniform Driver's License Act."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-17.5.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:58:08Z","sha256":"03c6c3a194af3e7da3cc19d0d9cffd7ea616ba26953ffbe08bbd2f96aff407dc","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-20-17.4","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-20-17.6"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}