Need to register your car in NC? Here’s what you will need and how much it costs
If you live in North Carolina, you are legally required to register your car with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles in order to drive it.
Driving with expired tags is the most common registration violation, and it comes with a misdeamenor charge if you’re caught, according to the UNC School of Government.
Vehicle registrations allow the DMV to determine ownership, and helps you avoid liability if your car is ever stolen and used recklessly by another driver.
If you just moved to North Carolina, or recently purchased a new car, here’s what you need to know about registering your vehicle.
How can I renew my registration?
Registration renewals can be completed online at payments.ncdot.gov, or in-person at any NCDMV license plate agency, which includes 111 open driver license offices and 126 open license plate offices.
You can also visit one of eight kiosks at Harris Teeter locations in Charlotte and the Triangle to renew your vehicle registration, The Charlotte Observer reported. License plate stickers and registration cards can be printed at the kiosks.
To renew online, you must have the vehicle’s license plate number and the last five digits of the vehicle title number.
How often do I need to renew my registration?
Vehicle registrations must be renewed annually, NCDMV says.
What do I have to do before renewing my registration?
Before renewing your registration, your vehicle must pass safety and emissions inspections no more than 90 days before its license plate expires. The inspection — which looks over the vehicle’s headlights, signals, brakes, steering, windows and tires — must be completed by a licensed mechanic.
Proof of car insurance is also required for a vehicle registration to be renewed.
What if I just moved to NC?
If you’re a new resident, you’ll need to take the following to a local license plate agency to register your vehicle:
A North Carolina drivers license
A vehicle title
An MVR-180 Odometer Disclosure (if your vehicle is under 10 years old)
Proof of car insurance
How much does it cost to register a vehicle in NC?
When you register your car, you will be required to pay a title fee, highway-use tax and plate fee.
The fee for a new title is $66.75.
The state highway-use tax is 3% of a vehicle’s value, and won’t exceed $250 for new residents.
The standard plate fee for most counties is $46.25. If you live in Randolph County, you’ll pay $39.75, and if you live in Wake, Durham or Orange counties, you’ll pay $53.75.
(Note: If paying online, there’s a $3 fee per online transaction plus a 1.85% card processing fee.)
How much does it cost to renew registration in NC?
The fee to renew a private passenger vehicle is $46.25. If you are renewing the registration for a motorcycle, it will cost $25.50. Renewal fees for all types of vehicles can be found on the NCDMV website (ncdot.gov/dmv/title-registration).
Motorists also have to pay a tax based on the appraised value of your vehicle, which depends on your county’s vehicle property tax.
What if I renew my registration late in NC?
A late fee of $15 will be charged for plates that have expired in the past month.
For one to two months after expiration, the fee is $20, and those with a plate that is expired by more than two months will be charged $25.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Need to register your car in NC? Here’s what you will need and how much it costs."
