The dmv here takes appointments in the morning and walkins after lunch. If you get there around 11:30 and wait till after the lunch break is over you can usually get pretty close to first in line. Answer from Assurance-Arms on reddit.com
NCDOT
ncdot.gov › dmv › offices-services › customer-service › Pages › extended-hours-offices.aspx
Official NCDMV: Extended-Hours Offices
During the summer months (typically June - August), 20 offices will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. for walk-in services only (no appointments). Specific dates and locations can be found below. Please Note: Office hours are subject to change. Please visit the NCDMV office locations ...
DMV Office
onlinedmv.com › home › posts › n.c. dmv walk-in hours
N.C. DMV Walk-In Hours
July 30, 2024 - As of May 1st, 2023, all N.C. DMV services and offices are available on a walk-in basis, from the hours of 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.
Videos
NCDOT
ncdot.gov › dmv › offices-services › locate-dmv-office › Pages › helpful-hints.aspx
Official NCDMV: NCDMV Helpful Hints
Shorter lines, short wait times. NCDMV has implemented a series of improvements to help improve service and reduce wait times. Every driver license office now serves walk-in customers from open to close, or until the capacity for that location has been reached.
NCDOT
ncdot.gov › news › press-releases › Pages › 2023 › 2023-04-26-may-1-dmv-schedule-changes.aspx
May 1: DMV Schedule Changes to Increase Walk-In Availability
Beginning Monday, May 1, all customer services statewide will be provided on a walk-in basis after noon. Appointments will only be available in the mornings through the 11 a.m. hour and can be booked at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/northcarolina › best places/times to walk-in to get a new license?
r/NorthCarolina on Reddit: Best Places/Times to Walk-in to Get a New License?
May 12, 2024 -
As you guys might have found out, the NC DMV is not the best system in the world. I am turning 21 in a month, but I still have my "full provisional" and plan to upgrade to the over-18 license before it expires. I live in the Charlotte area but don't care about driving far because I don't want to deal with this for more than a day. What is the BEST place to walk in for a new license in NC?
**I can NOT make an appointment before my birthday.**
I have a real ID and all of that, but I can't just renew it because, technically, I am "upgrading" my license.
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The dmv here takes appointments in the morning and walkins after lunch. If you get there around 11:30 and wait till after the lunch break is over you can usually get pretty close to first in line.
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DMV in this state is by far the worst of the 10 I’ve lived in. I found mild success in the small towns outside Raleigh.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/raleigh › dmv no longer doing walk-ins?
r/raleigh on Reddit: DMV No longer doing walk-ins?
July 7, 2025 -
Pretty much the title. Sister is trying to get an ID not a driver license for nephew and the person working Fuquay told her she needed an appointment but when you go to appointment finder there is literally nothing. Everything is all marked out.
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Check right at midnight; that’s when they release cancelled appointments. Fuquay-Varina is actually the one and only one location in the state that doesn’t take walk-ins. So she might be able to travel to a different location: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/locate-dmv-office/Pages/dmv-offices.aspx Get there early.
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Fuquay is the only one that's not taking walk-ins. All other location officially start accepting walk-ins at noon, although some may take a few before noon to fill in for no show appointments.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/bullcity › dmv walk-in timing?
r/bullcity on Reddit: DMV walk-in timing?
July 3, 2024 -
I'm taking everyone's advice and renewing my license far away from Durham (Oxford!), and one person said it's best to do walk-ins after all the appointment slots -- noonish, apparently.
Does anyone else have opinions on the best times for a walk-in at a non-Durham DMV?
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Never had any issues being seen promptly as a walk-in when arriving at this durham DMV by 7am. Sent my parents there when they moved here and my wife when she changed her last name (all of us within the last year) and they all had the same experience — 7am walk-ins are the way to go.
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The DMV website now shows wait times at all DMV locations. It’s accurate and super helpful. I used this to decide to go to the DMV in east Durham and got my real ID on a weekday in less than 20 minutes… vs the one near my house in SW Durham, which would have been a wait of over 2 hours. Use the website!
WCTI 12
wcti12.com › news › local › nc-dmv-expands-saturday-walk-in-hours-to-20-locations-starting-this-weekend
N.C. DMV expands Saturday walk-in hours to 20 locations starting this weekend
May 28, 2025 - The N.C. DMV's Saturday walk-in service hours return this weekend. This year, the division is expanding from 16 to 20 offices offering services from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on 11 Saturdays from May 31-Aug.
Knox Law Center
knoxlawcenter.com › nc-dmv-extends-hours-of-walk-in-availability-launches-avg-wait-time-features
NC DMV Extends Hours Of Walk-In Availability & Launches Avg. Wait Time Features - Knox Law Center
March 24, 2025 - NC Driver’s license offices now serve only walk-in customers from 12 noon until close on weekdays. Appointments are now only available in the mornings and can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.
Carolina Journal
carolinajournal.com › home › dmv makes changes to lower wait times
DMV makes changes to lower wait times
June 20, 2023 - Appointments will also now only ... 7 a.m. to provide services, and the 16 busiest offices have started offering Saturday walk-ins from 8 a.m....
WCNC
wcnc.com › article › traffic › north-carolina-walk-in-drivers-license-service › 275-d2820e86-f105-410d-9696-e912547ee0f6
These DMV locations are open on Saturday mornings now, walk-ins allowed
The additional hours will be from 8 a.m. to noon on those Saturdays.
WRAL.com
wral.com › home › news › state › nc dmv walk in service extended statewide june 2025
NCDMV: Check in and wait anytime to avoid long lines :: WRAL.com
The DMV encourages customers to bring water, snacks, necessary medications and items like an umbrella or chair to ease that wait. NCDMV also reminds customers to check the requirements for their specific service on the NCDMV.gov website before visiting an office to avoid delays. NCDMV offices that regularly offering walk-in service on Saturday mornings will be closed for the next two Saturdays (June 28 and July 5). Saturday service hours will resume at all 20 locations on July 12 and go through Aug.
Published June 27, 2025
wfmynews2
wfmynews2.com › article › news › local › nc-dmv-why-are-there-no-appointments-available-90-day-calendar-new-appointments-open-tomorrow-cancelations-expanded-hours-in-april-92-locations › 83-b927b85b-7b66-42bd-9308-58c20adb8bac
NC DMV: Why you can't find an open appointment | wfmynews2.com
The NC DMV only makes appointments from open to noon every day. This means from 12 to 5 pm every day, it's walk-ins only. When it comes to those walk-ins, you can check the wait times at each one of the DMV locations in our state.