MOTOR VEHICLE LAW MPTC LATEST EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
Forty-four states and the District of Columbia have entered into an agreement called the
- ✔✔Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) G.S. 20-4.18
✔✔If a driver who is charged with any motor vehicle offense fails to appear in court, -
✔✔DMV will revoke the driver's license until the driver appears and answers the
charges.
✔✔Operator - ✔✔An operator is a person in actual physical control of a vehicle which is
in motion or which has the engine running.
✔✔Vehicle - ✔✔G.S. 20-4.01(49) defines a "vehicle" as, "Every device in, upon or by
which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway,
excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon fixed rails or
tracks; provided, that for the purposes of this chapter, bicycles shall be deemed vehicles
and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this
Chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those which by their nature can
have no application."
✔✔The definition of a vehicle excludes - ✔✔trains and devices propelled by human
power. Bicycles are propelled by human power, but the definition specifically includes
bicycles, except for such motor vehicle laws that cannot apply (such as speed limits).
✔✔Although not a "vehicle," laws applying to vehicles do apply to a person riding or
driving animals, except by those that by their nature cannot. - ✔✔G.S. 20-171.
✔✔The DWI law does not apply to - ✔✔a horse G.S. 20-138.1(e).
,✔✔The vehicle is not required to be propelled by gasoline; electric cars (or golf carts)
are motor vehicles. A bicycle is not a motor vehicle because it is not propelled by some
external force. It should be noted, however, that the vehicle is a motor vehicle if it is self-
propelled, even if the source of propulsion is not operating, - ✔✔For example, if the
motor in a car is not working or has even had some of its components removed, it is still
a motor vehicle because that is what it was designed to be, and that design has not
changed.
✔✔Vehicles designed to run upon the highways that are pulled by motor vehicles are -
✔✔themselves motor vehicles. This includes trailers of all kinds and mobile homes
when being towed on a highway.
✔✔Moped - ✔✔a vehicle with two or three wheels, no external shifting device, and a
motor (which doesn't exceed 50 cubic centimeter piston displacement) that cannot
propel at more than 30 mph on a level surface.
✔✔Highway or street - ✔✔G.S. 20-4.01(13): "Highway or street- The entire width
between the property or right-of-way lines of every way or place of whatever nature,
when any part thereof is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the
purposes of vehicular traffic."
✔✔The terms "Highway" or "Street" or a combination of the two terms shall be
used?The term highway is used in a broad sense, to include? - ✔✔synonymously, all
the property included in the right-of-way.
✔✔A person may be charged with an offense? - ✔✔even if he is not on the paved
portion of the roadway itself.
✔✔It states that a highway must be "open to the use of the public as a matter of right for
the purposes of vehicular traffic." This element of the definition clearly excludes -
✔✔roads under construction, as well as roads that are not owned or maintained by a
government. Private roads are not streets or highways for the purpose of motor vehicle
laws because they are not open "as a matter of right."
✔✔The definition of public vehicular area (PVA) in G.S. 20-4.01(32) have several parts:
- ✔✔The area is used by the public for vehicular traffic at any time, including by way of
illustration and not limitation, any drive, driveway, road, roadway, street, alley, or
parking lot upon the grounds and premises of any of the following:
a) Drives driveways, roads, roadways, streets, alleys, or parking lots upon the grounds
and premises of any public or private hospital, college, university, school, orphanage,
church or any of the institutions, parks, and other facilities maintained and supported by
the state or any local government.
, b) Roads in or leading to a gated or non-gated subdivision or community used by
vehicular traffic, even if the road is not owned or maintained by a government.
c) A beach area used by the public for vehicular traffic.
✔✔When a persons drivers license is revoked, in limited circumstances the law allows
the person to?This document is a court order authorizing a person to? The LDP may
restrict the driver to? . - ✔✔go to court and obtain a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP),
drive during a period of revocation,
specified times, vehicles, or highways. Because the driver is revoked, any violation of
the LDP is considered driving while license revoked
✔✔A person must be 21 for a class - ✔✔A, B, or C commercial driver license, except for
school bus drivers G.S. 20-37.13
✔✔A person age 18 may obtain a CDL for - ✔✔intra-state operation only G.S. 20-
37.13(a)
✔✔Who is exempt from the license requirement? G.S. 20-8 - ✔✔The following are
exempt from having a NC driver's license:
a) Persons driving armed forces' vehicles during military service.
b) Any person driving a farm tractor or road machine on a highway temporarily [G.S. 20-
8(2)] G.S. 20-10, however, prohibits a youth under the age of 14 from driving farm
equipment on the highways unless the youth is actually engaged in farming operations
and the highway is adjacent to or runs in front of the land upon which the youth lives.
c) Non-residents licensed in other states and countries may operate commercial and
non-commercial motor vehicles in this state so long as they are at least 16 years old
and are authorized in their home state to drive the class of vehicle they are driving.
✔✔After a person establishes residence in NC, the person may operate on a license
valid in another state for up to - ✔✔60 days. After that a NC license must be obtained
G.S. 20-7(a).
✔✔Resident - ✔✔Any person who resides within this state for other than a temporary or
transitory purpose for more than six months shall be presumed to be a resident of this
state.
✔✔Limited Learners Permit - ✔✔Level 1 restriction applies:
Have a permit in possession
Have a supervising driver in front seat (a licensed driver for five years who is a parent,
grandparent, guardian, or a responsible person approved by parent, guardian or DMV)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
Forty-four states and the District of Columbia have entered into an agreement called the
- ✔✔Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) G.S. 20-4.18
✔✔If a driver who is charged with any motor vehicle offense fails to appear in court, -
✔✔DMV will revoke the driver's license until the driver appears and answers the
charges.
✔✔Operator - ✔✔An operator is a person in actual physical control of a vehicle which is
in motion or which has the engine running.
✔✔Vehicle - ✔✔G.S. 20-4.01(49) defines a "vehicle" as, "Every device in, upon or by
which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway,
excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon fixed rails or
tracks; provided, that for the purposes of this chapter, bicycles shall be deemed vehicles
and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this
Chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those which by their nature can
have no application."
✔✔The definition of a vehicle excludes - ✔✔trains and devices propelled by human
power. Bicycles are propelled by human power, but the definition specifically includes
bicycles, except for such motor vehicle laws that cannot apply (such as speed limits).
✔✔Although not a "vehicle," laws applying to vehicles do apply to a person riding or
driving animals, except by those that by their nature cannot. - ✔✔G.S. 20-171.
✔✔The DWI law does not apply to - ✔✔a horse G.S. 20-138.1(e).
,✔✔The vehicle is not required to be propelled by gasoline; electric cars (or golf carts)
are motor vehicles. A bicycle is not a motor vehicle because it is not propelled by some
external force. It should be noted, however, that the vehicle is a motor vehicle if it is self-
propelled, even if the source of propulsion is not operating, - ✔✔For example, if the
motor in a car is not working or has even had some of its components removed, it is still
a motor vehicle because that is what it was designed to be, and that design has not
changed.
✔✔Vehicles designed to run upon the highways that are pulled by motor vehicles are -
✔✔themselves motor vehicles. This includes trailers of all kinds and mobile homes
when being towed on a highway.
✔✔Moped - ✔✔a vehicle with two or three wheels, no external shifting device, and a
motor (which doesn't exceed 50 cubic centimeter piston displacement) that cannot
propel at more than 30 mph on a level surface.
✔✔Highway or street - ✔✔G.S. 20-4.01(13): "Highway or street- The entire width
between the property or right-of-way lines of every way or place of whatever nature,
when any part thereof is open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the
purposes of vehicular traffic."
✔✔The terms "Highway" or "Street" or a combination of the two terms shall be
used?The term highway is used in a broad sense, to include? - ✔✔synonymously, all
the property included in the right-of-way.
✔✔A person may be charged with an offense? - ✔✔even if he is not on the paved
portion of the roadway itself.
✔✔It states that a highway must be "open to the use of the public as a matter of right for
the purposes of vehicular traffic." This element of the definition clearly excludes -
✔✔roads under construction, as well as roads that are not owned or maintained by a
government. Private roads are not streets or highways for the purpose of motor vehicle
laws because they are not open "as a matter of right."
✔✔The definition of public vehicular area (PVA) in G.S. 20-4.01(32) have several parts:
- ✔✔The area is used by the public for vehicular traffic at any time, including by way of
illustration and not limitation, any drive, driveway, road, roadway, street, alley, or
parking lot upon the grounds and premises of any of the following:
a) Drives driveways, roads, roadways, streets, alleys, or parking lots upon the grounds
and premises of any public or private hospital, college, university, school, orphanage,
church or any of the institutions, parks, and other facilities maintained and supported by
the state or any local government.
, b) Roads in or leading to a gated or non-gated subdivision or community used by
vehicular traffic, even if the road is not owned or maintained by a government.
c) A beach area used by the public for vehicular traffic.
✔✔When a persons drivers license is revoked, in limited circumstances the law allows
the person to?This document is a court order authorizing a person to? The LDP may
restrict the driver to? . - ✔✔go to court and obtain a Limited Driving Privilege (LDP),
drive during a period of revocation,
specified times, vehicles, or highways. Because the driver is revoked, any violation of
the LDP is considered driving while license revoked
✔✔A person must be 21 for a class - ✔✔A, B, or C commercial driver license, except for
school bus drivers G.S. 20-37.13
✔✔A person age 18 may obtain a CDL for - ✔✔intra-state operation only G.S. 20-
37.13(a)
✔✔Who is exempt from the license requirement? G.S. 20-8 - ✔✔The following are
exempt from having a NC driver's license:
a) Persons driving armed forces' vehicles during military service.
b) Any person driving a farm tractor or road machine on a highway temporarily [G.S. 20-
8(2)] G.S. 20-10, however, prohibits a youth under the age of 14 from driving farm
equipment on the highways unless the youth is actually engaged in farming operations
and the highway is adjacent to or runs in front of the land upon which the youth lives.
c) Non-residents licensed in other states and countries may operate commercial and
non-commercial motor vehicles in this state so long as they are at least 16 years old
and are authorized in their home state to drive the class of vehicle they are driving.
✔✔After a person establishes residence in NC, the person may operate on a license
valid in another state for up to - ✔✔60 days. After that a NC license must be obtained
G.S. 20-7(a).
✔✔Resident - ✔✔Any person who resides within this state for other than a temporary or
transitory purpose for more than six months shall be presumed to be a resident of this
state.
✔✔Limited Learners Permit - ✔✔Level 1 restriction applies:
Have a permit in possession
Have a supervising driver in front seat (a licensed driver for five years who is a parent,
grandparent, guardian, or a responsible person approved by parent, guardian or DMV)
