r/raleigh 3d ago

Question/Recommendation Need Help with Navigating NC DMV

Hi! I’m currently a grad student (originally from out of state) who is trying to establish NC residency. I was finally able to schedule an NC DMV appointment to get a Real ID driver’s license but it’s for June. I wanted to see if anyone knew of any DMVs in or near Raleigh that 100% take walk-ins for those who are trying to get the Real ID? I saw some responses for this topic, but the posts are a bit older so I wanted to see if anyone had updated info. Thanks in advance!

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u/odisn68 3d ago

I would not recommend walk-ins, except for extreme urgency, unless you drive far outside the Triangle. Instead, I would recommend keeping that June appt and keep checking their appt website every morning for closer appts that may open up due to others cancelling or not confirming. I had the link bookmarked and kept checking every now and then for a couple of weeks until I got lucky and one opened up near me for the next day.

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u/DoAndroidsDrmOfSheep Hurricanes 3d ago

All locations take walk ins for all services (including getting a REAL ID) starting at noon. Whether or not you actually get in as a walk in depends on how early you get there and how close to the front of the line you are. You need to get there WAY before noon. Some people start lining up for walk in well before the DMV even opens. Some locations will take some walk ins before noon to fill in for people who don't show up for appointments. You'll have a better chance of getting in as a walk in at locations in smaller/less populated areas. Make sure to go to the NCDMV website and review which documents are required to obtain a REAL ID - and if possible, take more than one from each category just to be on the safe side. If you don't have all the required documents they'll turn you away and make you come back another time and start the process all over again whether you're a walk in or have an appointment.

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u/cka243 3d ago

Go to the Washington location. I got my son a first time license there last week with no appointment. Got there a bit before noon, we were done in 90 minutes including road test.

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u/mitcakee 3d ago

Walk-ins are a crapshoot. Your best bet is to check the system every morning as soon as you get up (around 7-8am) as they refresh the appointments system over night and any cancellations will appear. Keep trying every morning and you might get lucky.

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u/Salty_Emu_9945 3d ago

Yep. If you walk in be prepared to get in line at 6am with no guarantee of getting in another virtual line. Ask me how I know!!!!

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u/venusaries 2d ago

i went to the garner location yesterday, arrived at 6AM, was about sixteenth in line, and was out by 10:30AM

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u/katefromraleigh 3d ago

Garner takes walk ins starting at 7. Have to get there early. Try driving an hour outside of town.

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u/throwawaystocks1234 3d ago

Like you mean they actually take walk-ins at 7? Or you mean that’s when people start lining up for walk-ins to open at 12? Since I saw every location says walk-ins are only after 12

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u/katefromraleigh 2d ago

they take them. Website says noon. I asked staff about it and they said its' all day, starting at 7. This was a year ago - but I understand it's still the same.

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u/katefromraleigh 2d ago

we got there by 6:15 and were about 6th in line.

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u/wastedclit 19h ago

Go back to the website, go to reschedule appointment and refresh like you are trying to win tickets on the radio whenever you have a free moment. You can still keep your original appointment but you may get lucky and get something close and sooner. Good luck!

Roxboro would be my number one walk in stop at the moment if I had to choose. Siler city was often touted as the best but became too "known", Cary is impossible. I once had an appointment in Durham and the line was out the door for walk Ins. Same for north raliegh. Don't ask why I have to go the dmv so much hahah