The North Carolina handbook states that a new resident has 60 days after establishing residence to obtain a North Carolina license or learner permit. However you are considered a non-residence so you should not be required to obtain a NC driver's license.

As for titling and registering a car it states that in the case of new residents, you must register your motor vehicle at the expiration of the time granted by reciprocity agreement between North Carolina and your prior state of residence (usually 30 days) or when gainful employment is accepted, whichever occurs first. If you are an out of state student and not considered a resident of NC then you would not be required to register or title your car in NC.

The NC Department of Transportation (DOT) notes that a nonresident of North Carolina is "Any person whose legal residence is in a state, territory, or jurisdiction other than North Carolina or in a foreign country."

Examples of nonresidents:

• Salesmen whose homes are in other states who travel through North Carolina.
• Out-of-state college students who intend to return to their home states upon completion of their educations in North Carolina.
• Members of the armed forces stationed in North Carolina who intend to return to their home states.
• Spouses of nonresident members of the armed forces stationed in North Carolina

So you would fall under the second category as long as you plan to return to your home state of Texas after you finish your schooling in North Carolina. You can contact the NC DOT for verification however it would appear that at an out of state student that plans to return to Texas after your studies in North Carolina you would be classified as a non-resident and thus not be required to change over your registration or driver's license from TX to NC.

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