Typically an insurance company will give you 30 days to obtain a valid license if your current license is suspended, expired, etc. But it would likely make it much easier for you and the insurance company if you had a valid in state license at the time you purchased your North Carolina insurance policy.

To receive an original driver license in North Carolina, you must bring at least two acceptable forms of ID; one must reflect your full name and date of birth to the Driver License Examiner. The North Carolina DOT Division of Motor Vehicles states that for identification purposes a valid, unexpired Driver License or State-Issued Identification Card from another state, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, or a Canadian province can be used.

Also to obtain a NC driver's license you must complete and pass the written, sign, and vision tests. If you surrender a valid license from another state, the road test requirement is at the discretion of the Examiner.

So it would appear that you need to get your expired New York license reinstated in NYS so that you can apply and acquire a NC driver's license. According to the NYS DMV, you can renew a NYS driver license no more than one year before the expiration date or no more than two years after the expiration date.

Since it has been only 2 months since your NY license expired you should be able to renew it. The NYS DMV site states that this may be able to be done online or by mail if you meet certain qualifications. Check with the NY Department of Vehicles to see what would be easiest for you to do.

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