Drivers License Reciprocity/Taiwan.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 829

Short Title: Drivers License Reciprocity/Taiwan. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Alexander, Lee, and Daniel (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
April 23, 2026
*S829-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO CLARIFY THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES OF NORTH 2
CAROLINA MAY ENTER I NTO MOTOR VEHICLE RE GISTRATION AND 3
LICENSING RECIPROCIT Y AGREEMENTS WITH FO REIGN NATIONS AND TO 4
DIRECT THE COMMISSIO NER OF MOTOR VEHICLE S TO NEGOTIATE A 5
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERS TANDING REGARDING TH E EXCHANGE OF 6
NONCOMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSES WITH TAIWAN. 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-4.4 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 20-4.4. Authority for reciprocity agreements; provisions; reciprocity standards. 10
(a) The Commissioner may enter into an agreement or arrangement for interstate or 11
intrastate operations with the duly authorized representatives of another jurisdiction, granting to 12
vehicles or to owners of vehicles which are properly registered or licensed in such jurisdiction 13
and for which evidence of compliance is supplied, benefits, privileges and exemptions from the 14
payment, wholly or partially, of any taxes, fees, or other charges imposed upon such vehicles or 15
owners with respect to the operation or ownership of such vehicles under the laws of this State. 16
Such an agreement or arrangement shall provide that vehicles properly registered or licensed in 17
this State when operated upon highways of such other jurisdiction sha ll receive exemptions, 18
benefits and privileges of a similar kind or to a similar degree as are extended to vehicles properly 19
registered or licensed in such jurisdiction when operated in this State. Each such agreement or 20
arrangement shall, in the judgment of the Commissioner, be in the best interest of this State and 21
the citizens thereof and shall be fair and equitable to this State and the citizens thereof, and all of 22
the same shall be determined on the basis and recognition of the benefits which accrue to the 23
economy of this State from the uninterrupted flow of commerce. 24
…." 25
SECTION 2. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (Commissioner) shall evaluate 26
whether the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the Republic 27
of China (Taiwan) have established comparable knowledge, skill, and testing requirements for 28
drivers license applicants prior to the drivers license being issued. Provided that the DMV and 29
Taiwan have established comparable requirements and testing standards, no later than January 1, 30
2027, the Commissioner shall negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the 31
Ministry of Transportation and Communication of Taiwan related solely to the exchange of 32
noncommercial drivers licenses. No later than October 1, 2027, the Commissioner shall report to 33
the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee on the status of the memorandum of 34
understanding. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 829-First Edition
SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of 1
Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in 2
nonrecurring funds for the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to be used to conduct a public awareness 3
campaign regarding the reciprocity authorized by this act. 4
SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law. 5