Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Motor Vehicles Building
1100 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27697-0001
(919) 715-7000 | www.ncdot.gov/dmv
Mailing address:
3101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-3101
North Carolina Department of Public Safety
State Highway Patrol
512 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27604-1171
(919) 733-7952 | www.nccrimecontrol.org/
North Carolina Department of Transportation
1 South Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1453
(919) 733-2522 | www.ncdot.gov
An application for vehicle title shall be made at the same time as an application for vehicle registration. The application shall contain the following information: the owner’s name; mailing and residence addresses; a description of the vehicle, including make, model, type of body, and vehicle identification number; whether the vehicle is new or used, and if new, the dates the manufacturer or dealer sold and delivered the vehicle to the applicant; and a statement of the owner’s title and of all liens upon the vehicle, including the names, addresses, and date of all lienholders in order of priority.
Applications for new vehicles must also be accompanied by a manufacturer’s certificate of origin that is properly assigned to the applicant.
Upon receipt of a valid application for title, the DMV shall issue a certificate of title. The certificate shall contain the name and address of the owner, and a description of the vehicle. If there are more than 2 owners or lienholders, the names, dates of issuance, and all liens or encumbrances shall be included on the title.
The reverse side of the certificate of title shall contain a form for the assignment of title or interest and warranty by the registered owner or registered dealer.
A person must notify the DMV of a change of address or name within 60 days of the change.
In order to assign or transfer a title, the owner must execute, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths, an assignment and warranty of title on the reverse of the certificate of title. The form on the back of the title shall include the name and address of the transferee.
Any person transferring title or interest in a motor vehicle shall deliver the certificate of title to the transferee at the time of delivery of the vehicle. If there is a security interest, the transferor shall deliver the certificate of title to the lienholder and the lienholder shall forward the certificate of title together with the transferee’s application for new title and necessary fees to the DMV within 20 days.
A transferee must apply to the DMV for a new certificate of title within 28 days of the transfer.
Mobile homes must be titled. Titling requires a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin.
Mobile homes sold by a dealer are subject to a 2% sales tax with a $300.00 maximum. The sales tax is due on each section of a doublewide mobile home. The sales tax is paid to the dealer who then reports it to the Department of Revenue. If the mobile home was purchased from an individual or someone other than a dealer, no tax is due.
A title will be issued in the new owner’s name and canceled when the vehicle is converted to real estate.
All vehicles, unless exempted, must be registered with the DMV before operating the vehicle.
The following types of vehicles need not be registered: those dealing with manufacturers, dealers, or non-residents; vehicles used only to cross a highway to get from one piece of property to another; implements of husbandry, farm tractors, road construction, or maintenance machinery that are designed for use in work off the highway and are operated on the highway for the purpose of going to and from such non-highway projects; vehicles owned by the U.S. government; farm equipment headed to or from farms or markets; and trailers or semitrailers attached to and pulled by a farm vehicle.
For the requirements of an application for registration, see the APPLICATION section for Vehicle Title.
There is a 15 day grace period for late registration.
Non-residents are exempted from North Carolina licensing requirements for motor vehicles for the same time and to the same extent as like exemptions are granted by other jurisdictions to residents of North Carolina.
Military personnel on active duty in North Carolina may maintain home state vehicle registration.
Staggered registration system.
A safety/emissions inspection is required before any vehicle can be registered in the state.
Upon receipt of a valid application for registration, the DMV shall issue a registration card. The card shall contain the name and address of the owner, space for the owner’s signature, the registration number assigned to the vehicle, and a description of the vehicle. The owner shall sign the registration card and keep it in the vehicle at all times.
The registration must be renewed annually. The owner of a vehicle may renew the registration by filing an application with the DMV and paying the required fee.
When the DMV renews a vehicle registration, it shall send the owner a new registration card and either a new license plate or a registration renewal sticker for the plate.
A person must notify the DMV of a change of address or name within 60 days of the change.
Emissions inspection is required in 48 out of 100 counties on vehicles that are 1996 model year or newer and that are either older than the three most recent model years or with 70,000 miles or more on their odometers.
A list of those counties can be found on the Department of Air Quality website.
A motor vehicle is subject to a safety inspection if it meets the following requirements: it is subject to registration with the DMV, is not subject to inspection under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and is not either a trailer with a gross weight below 4,000 lbs. or a house trailer.
A safety inspection ensures that the following equipment is in a safe operating condition: brakes; lights; horn; steering mechanism; windows and windshield wipers (including tinting levels); directional signals; tires; mirrors; and the exhaust system, if the vehicle is not subject to an emissions test.
Upon successful completion of a safety inspection, the vehicle will receive an inspection sticker that shows the inspection’s expiration date and also contains the date of inspection, odometer reading, and the identification of the mechanic who performed the inspection. The inspection sticker shall be a different color than 1 for both inspections.
| Automobile | Motorcycle | Duplicates | ||||||
| Title Fee | Registration Fee | Title Fee | Registration Fee | Plate Fee | Registration Fee | Driver’s License Fee | Title Fee | Special Plates |
| $40.00 | $28.00 | $40.00 | $18.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 | $15.00 | $30.00 |
Upon registration, the DMV shall issue 1 reflectorized registration plate for a motorcycle, trailer, semitrailer, and every other motor vehicle.
Every license plate shall have the registration number assigned to the vehicle, the name of the state of North Carolina, and year number for which it is issued or for the expiration date.
The color scheme for license plates is red and blue on white.
License plates are validated by stickers.
Commercial plates must also bear the word “commercial,” unless it is a trailer or is licensed for 6,000 lbs. or less.
Vehicle owners may pay a prorated fee for license plates issued for less than a year. If the plate is issued between April 1 and June 30, the owner will pay 75% of the fee. Between July 1 and September 30, he or she owes 50% of the fee, and from October 1 to December 31, 25% of the fee.
Handicapped plates are available at DMV branch offices throughout the state.
License plates shall be retained by the owner following the transfer of a vehicle. They may be assigned to another vehicle in the same vehicle class belonging to the owner, upon proper application to the DMV and payment of a transfer fee and any additional fees that may be due because the new vehicle has a greater registration fee. Owner may use the plates on the other vehicle for no more than 20 days while in the process of completing the transfer.
The vehicle for which the plate is being transferred to must have a current inspection before the plate can be transferred.
If the new vehicle is of a different vehicle class, the owner shall return the plates to the DMV.
In order to demonstrate an applicant’s physical and mental ability to operate a vehicle, an applicant must pass tests issued by the DMV, which may include road tests, vision tests (20/40 visual acuity required), and oral or written tests.
The DMV may not require a person who is at least 60 years of age to parallel park a motor vehicle as part of a road test.
State has a system of graduated licensing for teen drivers. At 15, teens who have passed driver education, a written test, and have a driving eligibility certificate are eligible for a learner’s permit.
At 16, teens may obtain a limited provisional license if they have held a learner’s permit for at least 12 months, have completed 60 hours of practice driving (including 10 hours at night), have not been convicted of a moving violation or seat belt infraction during the preceding 6 months, have passed a road test administered by the DMV, and have a driving eligibility certificate or high school diploma. Provisional license holders may drive unsupervised between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. or at any time when driving directly to or from work or as a member of a volunteer fire, rescue or emergency medical service.
At 16 years and 6 months, teens are eligible for an unrestricted license if they have: (1) held a provisional license for at least 6 months; (2) not been convicted of a moving violation or seat belt infraction during the preceding 6 months; (3) have completed 12 hours of practice driving (including 6 at night); and (4) have a driver eligibility certificate.
A new resident of North Carolina who has a valid driver’s license from another jurisdiction must obtain a North Carolina driver’s license within 60 days of becoming a resident.
To obtain a driver’s license, an applicant must complete an application, present at least 2 forms of identification, be a North Carolina resident, and demonstrate his physical and mental ability to drive a motor vehicle safely.
A driver’s license application must contain the applicant’s full name; mailing address and residence address; a physical description including sex, height, eye color, and hair color; date of birth; social security number; and the applicant’s signature.
The DMV may not issue a license to a person until that person has furnished proof of financial responsibility.
A driver’s license issued by the DMV must be tamperproof and must also contain a color photograph of the license holder and an identifying number for the license holder that is not the holder’s social security number.
A person whose address or name changes shall notify the DMV within 60 days after the change occurs.
An application for a commercial license must include the same information as a regular license, as well as consent to release the applicant’s driving record.
A first driver’s license may be issued for period shorter than 4 years if the DMV determines that a license of shorter duration should be issued because the applicant holds a visa of limited duration issued by the United States Department of State.
The expiration dates on non-citizen’s driver’s licenses and ID cards are linked to the expiration date of the person’s visa.
Applicants for renewal prior to the license expiring may not be required to take a written or road test unless the applicant has been convicted of a traffic violation since the person’s license was last issued or the applicant suffers from a mental or physical condition that impairs the person’s ability to drive a vehicle.
A current or expired license is required at renewal. In the absence of a license, an applicant for renewal must present two documents of identification.
A driver’s license issued to a person at least 18 years old but less than 66 years old expires eight years after the date it was issued. A driver’s license issued to a person at least 66 years old expires five years after the date it was issued.
The first license the DMV issues to a person expires on the person’s 4th or subsequent birthday that occurs after the license is issued and on which the individual’s age is evenly divisible by 5.
Before a license expires, the DMV mails a reminder card explaining the number of years it will be valid. The reminder card is not required in order to renew. If DMV does not have your social security number on file, you must present your social security card at the time of issuance. If you are not eligible for a social security card, you must present documentation issued by the US Government indicating legal presence. If you do not have your current or expired license at renewal, you will be required to show the examiner two required documents of identification.
Resident on active duty or their dependents may renew their driver’s license by mail no more than two times during a license holder’s lifetime. A driver’s license with a military designation on it issued to a person on active duty may be renewed up to 1 year prior to its expiration upon presentation of military or Department of Defense credentials.
Non-Commercial:
Class A CDL: Authorizes the holder to drive any class A motor vehicle.
Class B CDL: Authorizes the holder to drive any class B motor vehicle.
Class C CDL: Authorizes the holder to drive any class C motor vehicle.
H Endorsement: Authorizes the holder to drive vehicles, regardless of size or class, except tank vehicles when transporting hazardous material that requires the vehicle to be placarded.
M Endorsement: Authorizes the holder to drive a motorcycle.
N Endorsement: Authorizes the holder to drive tank vehicles not carrying hazardous materials.
P Endorsement: Authorizes the holder to drive vehicles carrying passengers.
T Endorsement: Authorizes the holder to drive double trailers.
X Endorsement: Authorizes the holder to drive tank vehicles carrying hazardous materials.
Out-of-state restricted license holders who are between the ages of 16 and 18 may be eligible for any of the 3 provisional licenses, depending on the driving experience of the driver.
Text messaging and emailing while driving are prohibited for all drivers. Limited learner’s permit and provisional driver’s license holders, and drivers under 18, are prohibited from all cell phone use. School bus drivers are not permitted to use cell phones.
Emergency Radio/Cellular
Citizen band radio channel 9 is not monitored for emergency calls. Emergency cell number is *HP.
No prohibition on wearing of headsets while driving.
State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a safe speed.
Seat belts are required for the driver and front seat passengers age 16 and older.
Violation of the seat belt law is a standard offense, but secondary for rear seat occupants age 16 and older.
Riding in the cargo area of a pickup truck is not permitted for persons under age 17 unless belted or with a supervising adult; some other exceptions apply.
Children ages 8 until 16 must be secured in either a child passenger restraint system or a seat belt.
Children under age 8 and less than 80 lbs. must be secured in a child passenger restraint system. If the vehicle has a passenger-side air bag and a rear seat, the child must be secured in a rear seat unless the restraint system is designed for use with air bags.
Violation of the child restraint law is a standard offense, but secondary for rear seat occupants age 16 and older.
The driver of any vehicle shall stop the vehicle within 15-50 feet of a railroad crossing when there is a stop sign, clearly visible electrical or mechanical signal device giving warning of the immediate approach of a train, a crossing gate is lowered, a human flagman gives a signal of the approach of a train, a train approaching within 1,500 feet emits a signal audible from that distance and is an immediate hazard, or an approaching train is plainly visible and in hazardous proximity to the crossing.
Vehicles other than a school bus, activity bus, motor vehicle carrying passengers for compensation, vehicle over 10,000 lbs. that is carrying hazardous materials, and any motor vehicle with a capacity of at least 16 persons do not need to stop at railroad tracks used for industrial switching purposes, where a police officer or flagman directs traffic to proceed, if there is a railroad gate that flashes to indicate an approaching train, or at an industrial or spur line crossing marked with a sign reading “Exempt.”
The driver of any vehicle approaching a school bus from any direction, when the bus is displaying its stop signal or flashing signal lights, shall stop the vehicle before passing the bus and remain stopped until the signal has been turned off.
Vehicles traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway do not need to stop.
The manufacturer’s specified bumper height of any passenger motor vehicle shall not be elevated or lowered more than 6 inches in the front or back of the vehicle, without prior written approval from the DMV.
Headlights must be used when windshield wipers are in use or when there is insufficient light of at least 400 feet.
Hazard light use is permitted unless otherwise posted.
Tire chain usage is permitted for hazardous weather or other related incidents only, but may not damage the highway surface.
Studded Tires are permitted.
The windshield of a vehicle may only be tinted along the top 5 inches of the windshield or to the AS1 line, whichever is longer. The tinting must allow a light transmission of at least 35%.
All other windows must have a light transmission of 35%, but vehicles measured to have a light transmission of at least 32% will be presumed to meet the standard.
All windows must have a light reflectance of 20% or less.
Exceptions are available to persons with a medical condition causing them to be photosensitive to visible light.
No person shall drive any motor vehicle on a public street while viewing any television, computer, or video player that is located at any point forward of the back of the driver’s seat, or that is visible to the driver while operating the vehicle. Exempts certain navigation, safety, and informational systems.
Radar detectors are permitted.
Prohibited, except those required by law or approved by commissioner.
Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with:
The operator and all passengers of a motorcycle or moped must wear a protective helmet.
Lights must be on at all times.
To drive a motorcycle, a person shall have a full provisional license with a motorcycle learner’s permit, a regular driver’s license with a motorcycle learner’s permit, a full provisional license with a motorcycle endorsement, or a regular driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement.
To obtain a motorcycle endorsement, an applicant must pass a knowledge test concerning motorcycles, pay the fee, and either pass a road test or provide proof of successful completion of the North Carolina motorcycle safety education program basic rider course or experienced rider course, or any other approved course for this purpose.
An applicant must pass a vision test, road sign test, and written test to obtain a motorcycle learner’s permit.
Motorcycle Learner’s Permit: A person who is 16 or 17 years old and has a full provisional license, or a person who is at least 18 years old and has a valid license, is eligible for a motorcycle learner’s permit.
A motorcycle learner’s permit is valid for 12 months after it is issued, and may be renewed for one additional 6-month period.
No statewide noise restriction requirement.
To drive a moped, no license is required, but the operator must be at least 16 years of age.
Mopeds need not be registered.
Safety helmet required. If operated at night, headlight and taillight or reflector and rearview mirror. If moped is registered additional equipment required: horn, brakes, and license plate lamp.
Total length: 60 feet; trailer length: 48 feet; width: 96 inches (excludes mirrors and safety devices; 102 inches permitted on designated roads); height: 13 feet 6 inches.
Every semitrailer, trailer, or separate vehicle attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle of at least 4,000 lbs., and every house trailer weighing at least 1,000 lbs., shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle.
The towed vehicle, if the primary towing attachment is a hitch, shall also be attached to the towing unit by means of safety chains or cables of sufficient strength to hold the gross weight of the towed vehicle in the event the hitch fails or becomes disconnected.
Trailers or semitrailers having locking pins or bolts in the towing attachment and semitrailers in combination with vehicles equipped with 5th-wheel assemblies, do not need the safety chains or cables.
Trailers whose load does not obscure the directional signals of the towing vehicle from the view of a driver approaching the vehicle from the rear within 200 feet, and trailers with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or less, do not need turn signals.
Trailers with a gross weight of less than 4,000 lbs. need not be equipped with a rear tail lamp, provided that the trailer is equipped with 2 red rear reflectors with a diameter of at least 3 inches that are visible from a distance of at least 500 feet when opposed by a vehicle with lighted headlamps.
Every trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or more must also have: on the front, 2 clearance lamps, with 1 on each side; on each side, 2 side marker lamps and 2 reflectors, with 1 of each at or near the front and at or near the rear; and on the rear, 2 clearance lamps and 2 reflectors, with 1 of each at either side, and 1 stoplight.
Every pole trailer with a gross weight of 4,000 lbs. or more must also have: on each side, 1 side marker lamp and 1 clearance lamp (which may be in combination) to show the front, side, and rear; and on the rear, 2 reflectors, with 1 on each side.
Every trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer with a gross weight below 4,000 lbs. must also have: 2 reflectors, with 1 on each side, on the rear of the vehicle.
On every trailer or semitrailer 30 feet or more in length and weighing at least 4,000 lbs., 1 combination marker lamp showing amber and mounted on the bottom side rail at or near the center of each side of the trailer is required.
Vehicles that have an obstructed view of the rear of the vehicle must place a mirror so that it can reflect the view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle.
55 mph unless otherwise posted.
No trailer, semitrailer, or other towed vehicle shall be operated unless such trailer is firmly attached to the rear of the towing unit, and unless so equipped that it will travel in the path of the vehicle towing it without snaking.
Crashes are required to be reported if property damage exceeds $1000.00 and must be reported within one day.
Mandatory recognition of AAA arrest bond certificates up to $500.
The minimum liability insurance coverage for a vehicle is $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of 1 person; $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of 1 or more persons; and $25,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any 1 accident.
Vehicle owners are also required to maintain insurance for the protection of persons entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured drivers and hit-and-run accidents in amount equal to the highest limits of property damage liability coverage, not to exceed $1,000,000 per person and per accident.
State has non-resident service of process law; does not have guest suit law.
Waives civil penalties and restoration fees for any deployed military personnel whose motor vehicle liability insurance lapsed during the period of deployment or within 90 days after the military member returned to the state. The military member must certify to the DMV that the motor vehicle was not driven on the highway by anyone during the period in which the motor vehicle was uninsured and that the owner now has liability insurance on the motor vehicle.
The DOT operates between 6 and 13 permanent weighing stations.
A law enforcement officer may stop and weigh a vehicle to determine if the vehicle’s weight is in compliance with the vehicle’s declared gross weight and weight limits.
Helmets must be worn by riders under age 16.
Drivers passing a bicycle rider traveling in the same direction must pass with at least 2 feet of space.
North Carolina is party to Non-Resident Violator Compact.
