Beginning Oct. 1, North Carolina drivers will no longer receive registration stickers for their license plates or printed vehicle registration cards as the state moves to an all-electronic registration system.
The change means drivers will no longer be required to display an annual registration sticker on their license plate or carry a physical registration card in their vehicle.
The annual registration process itself is not going away. Vehicle owners will still be required to renew their registration each year, pay applicable registration fees and vehicle property taxes and complete any required vehicle inspections.
According to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, law enforcement officers already have access to electronic systems that allow them to verify a vehicle’s registration status in real time.
Drivers will also continue to receive registration renewal notices approximately 90 days before their registration expires.
Those who want a copy of their registration will still have options. Beginning Oct. 1, drivers will be able to download a PDF copy of their registration online for free or request one by email. Printed copies will also be available through license plate agencies, and NCDMV plans to offer mailed copies for an additional fee.
Drivers traveling outside North Carolina can also download or print a copy to keep with them as a backup, although NCDMV says digital vehicle registration is accepted in most states.
Drivers do not need to remove existing registration stickers from their license plates. Those who want to remove them may do so on or after Oct. 1.
NCDMV says the move away from physical registration cards and stickers is expected to save the state money while also reducing opportunities for fraud and counterfeit registration stickers.
More information about the transition is available through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
