What do I need to do if I am moving out of North Carolina?
Once you establish a permanent residence outside North Carolina and take the proper steps to become a licensed driver there, you must surrender your North Carolina license plate and driver license to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.
How do I surrender my license plate?
You can return your North Carolina license plate at any NCDMV license plate agency or by mailing it to:
NCDMV Vehicle Registration Section
Renewal Title & Plate Unit
3148 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697-3148
Receipts are provided upon request.
Do I need to cancel my liability insurance?
Because state law requires continuous liability insurance on all registered vehicles, you should cancel your insurance only after you have turned in your North Carolina license plate to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.
Canceling insurance before returning the license plate will result in a fine for failure to maintain continuous insurance coverage.
Can I get the penalty fee waived if I canceled my liability insurance before returning my license plate?
Any monetary penalty or restoration fee will be waived if you meet all the following requirements:
- You must furnish a copy of your out-of-state registration reflecting the vehicle has been registered by you in your new state within 30 days of the cancellation or expiration of your North Carolina motor vehicle liability policy.
- You must submit a copy of your current out-of-state registration card to NCDMV.
- You must return the valid North Carolina license plate or submit an affidavit (MVR18A) indicating that the North Carolina registration plate has been lost, stolen or destroyed.