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Motor Vehicles

Restoring driving privileges after a DWI conviction

Authority
N.C.G.S. § 20-19; N.C.G.S. § 20-17.8
Last reviewed
2026-02-27
Editors
MW / DOH
Reading grade
8.0
In short
A DWI conviction in North Carolina triggers a license revocation whose length depends on prior offenses and the sentencing level. Many people qualify for a limited driving privilege that allows driving for work, school, and household necessities during the revocation, and most first offenses now require an ignition interlock device to fully restore driving privileges.

Revocation periods

The length of a DWI-related license revocation depends on whether it is a first offense and, for repeat offenses, how recent the prior conviction was. A first offense typically carries a one-year revocation from the Division of Motor Vehicles, separate from and in addition to any court-ordered sentence.

Limited driving privileges

A limited driving privilege is a court order that allows driving during specific hours or for specific purposes — commuting to work or school, household maintenance, and medical appointments among them — while a revocation is otherwise in effect. Eligibility depends on factors including your prior record and the level of the offense; not everyone qualifies, and the privilege must generally be requested from the sentencing judge.

The ignition interlock requirement

For most DWI convictions with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or above, and for repeat offenders, North Carolina requires an ignition interlock device be installed before driving privileges are restored, even under a limited privilege. The device requires a breath sample before the vehicle will start and periodically while driving.

Restoring your license after the revocation period

Once your revocation period ends, you generally must:

  1. Complete any required substance abuse assessment and recommended treatment
  2. Pay a restoration fee to the Division of Motor Vehicles
  3. Show proof of financial responsibility (insurance) for a set period
  4. Install and maintain an ignition interlock device, if required for your case

The Division of Motor Vehicles can confirm exactly which of these apply to your specific revocation once the period has run.