North Carolina Learner Permit Practice Hours: 60-Hour Log, Night Hours, and DL-4A/RoadReady

Teen drivers under 18 must complete 60 hours of supervised driving to advance from a Level 1 permit to a Level 2 license, including 10 hours at night. North Carolina no longer requires an additional Level 2-to-Level 3 driving log; that requirement was repealed effective September 30, 2025. Adults 18 and older are not part of the teen GDL practice-hour system.

How Many Supervised Hours Does North Carolina Require for a Teen Permit Holder?

Teens must log 60 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before moving from Level 1 to Level 2. The former additional Level 3 driving-log requirement was repealed effective September 30, 2025.

• Adult drivers (18+): No mandatory teen-GDL practice-hour total applies.
• Holding period: The Level 1 holding-period rule remains separate from the driving-log total.

Source: North Carolina G.S. 20-11.

Logging Supervised Driving Hours on Form DL-4A in North Carolina

Log all practice hours on Form DL-4A. Each driving entry identifies the supervising driver's printed name and driver license number/state. The supervising driver signs the separate certification on the form.

• Digital or Printed Log: NCDMV currently accepts the required 60-hour driving log in digital or printed form. Make sure the entries and required certification are complete before your Level 2 visit.
• Supervisor Details Required: Each logged drive should include the supervising driver's printed name and driver license number/state. The form uses a separate supervising-driver certification and signature rather than a signature on every row.
• DMV Verification Process: Examiners thoroughly check the logbook. They audit totals, verify night hours, confirm dates are not clustered to suggest impossible logging, and verify the supervisor's license details.
• Parent Signature is Legal Certification: The supervising driver's signature certifies the hours are true under penalty of perjury. Falsifying a log can result in permit revocation and a 6-month license ban.

Review your completed log at least 48 hours before your NCDMV appointment. A teen in Cary was turned away because the weekly hour totals were handwritten incorrectly, forcing a six-week wait for a new test slot.

Verify your supervisor's 5-year license history before logging starts to avoid rejection. The DMV can check suspension records during verification, and any gaps in continuous licensing will invalidate your entire log.

Can I Use the RoadReady App for My North Carolina 60-Hour Driving Log?

Yes. NCDMV supervised-driving materials list RoadReady as a mobile option for tracking the required practice hours. You can also use the DL-4A driving log. Whichever method you use, make sure the full 60 hours, including 10 nighttime hours, are complete and ready for the Level 2 step. See the NCDMV supervised-driving guide.

Do I have to use the same supervising driver for all 60 hours? No. More than one qualified supervising driver can contribute to the logged hours. Each counted drive should identify the supervising driver and include the required license information and certification. See Form DL-4A.

Driving Time That Counts Toward North Carolina's 60 Required Hours

The 60-hour Level 2 log covers driving completed as the operator of the class of vehicle for which the teen has been issued the Level 1 Limited Learner Permit. The six behind-the-wheel hours completed earlier as part of driver education are a separate driver-education requirement and should not be added to the Level 1 practice log.

• Level 1 Practice Hours: Log supervised driving completed while using the Level 1 permit toward the 60-hour requirement.
• Driver Education: The earlier six instructor-led behind-the-wheel hours are part of the driver education course, not the Level 1 60-hour driving log.
• Supervised Practice: All logged Level 1 driving must be supervised by a qualified supervising driver. Time spent driving alone does not count.
• Weather and Conditions: While not mandated, practicing in varied conditions can help build broader driving experience.

Retroactive Log Entries on the NC DL-4A: What the Rules Actually Allow

You cannot create retroactive DL-4A log entries. The log must reflect actual driving practice recorded at the time. Falsifying logs risks permit revocation and a 6-month license ban.

• Estimating Retroactively: The DMV expects you to log hours as you complete them. While you can estimate based on memory for a recent drive, creating weeks of fake logs is falsification.
• Consequences of Inaccurate Logs: If dates show more than 10 hours in a week or missing supervisor signatures, the examiner will reject the log. Complete more driving and log it correctly before rescheduling.

A Charlotte teen tried to backdate 20 hours over two weekends to finish faster. The examiner noticed the consecutive long drives violated the weekly cap and rejected the log, delaying the road test by two months.

Use your phone's calendar to note the date, duration, and conditions immediately after each practice session. This creates a reliable backup to accurately fill out your paper log weekly and prevents estimation errors.

Driving-Log Errors That Can Delay Level 2 Eligibility

The practice-hours page should stay focused on the 60-hour log. Road-test insurance, vehicle documents, fees, and appointment-day paperwork are covered in the dedicated road-test and licensing guide.

For this page, the key point is simple: bring the completed 60-hour driving log in an accepted digital or printed format and make sure the required entries are complete.

Source: NCDMV Level 2 requirements.