North Carolina property tax law requires counties to assess the value of motor vehicles registered with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.
As part of NCDMV’s Tag & Tax Together program, the vehicle owner pays the property tax at the same time as the vehicle’s registration renewal fee.
North Carolina residents who have not registered their vehicles or who have not renewed their vehicle registrations are required to list their vehicles with their county of residence by Jan. 31 of each year.
Renew registration
Tag & Tax Together
North Carolina's Tag & Tax Together program combines the billing of annual vehicle registration fees and vehicle property taxes so that they can be paid together.
Inspection fees are still paid to the inspection station.
While a vehicle’s registration renewal fee remains the same each year, the property tax may vary. NCDMV's vehicle property tax calculator can provide an estimated amount of the property tax, but it should not be used to determine the actual bill, which is determined based on other factors.
Registration renewal fees and property taxes can be paid
online, in-person at a license plate agency or by mail.
Although NCDMV accepts the payments, questions about vehicle property taxes should be directed to the tax assessor in the county where the vehicle is registered.
Paying property tax for a new vehicle
Customers seeking to title and register a newly purchased vehicle may choose to defer payment of vehicle property tax for 60 days. All other charges are due at the time of title and registration. Owners will be issued a limited registration plate and vehicle property tax must be paid within 60 days of registration. A permanent sticker will then be issued for the remainder of the year. There is no grace period.
Pay property tax on limited registration plates
Vehicle property tax values and estimates
Questions regarding vehicle values and appeals on tax values must be directed to the
tax assessor in the county where the vehicle is registered, not NCDMV. Owners can also estimate their vehicle property tax using NCDMV's
vehicle property tax estimator. For property tax exemption, contact your county tax office.
Estimate vehicle property taxes
Late payments
Interest is charged on late vehicle property tax payments and on late registration renewals. It accrues at a rate of 5 percent for the remainder of the month following the date in which the registration sticker expired. Beginning the second month following the due date, interest accrues at .75 percent per month until the taxes and fees are paid.
A late fee will also be charged on registration renewal beginning on the first day of the month following the expiration date.
Previous tax payments
Customers needing information or receipts for property tax paid in previous years should go to
MyDMV.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but you have the option to defer tax payment by getting a limited registration plate, which expires 60 days from the date of issue. You must pay the property tax by the time the sticker on the plate expires.
Yes, but you have the option to defer tax payment by getting a limited registration plate, which expires 60 days from the date of issue. You must pay the property tax by the time the sticker on the plate expires.
No. The Tag & Tax Together program is only for personal property taxes on your vehicle and does not affect your mortgage or home property tax.
Taxes due on the combined notice are for the upcoming year, covering the same period as the vehicle registration.
It is important to look at the tax year rather than the calendar year. Although it is possible to pay twice in a calendar year, no vehicle owner will pay twice in the same tax year or for the same 12-month period.
If you changed your address with NCDMV, you should receive your combined notice at your new address. If you haven’t, you may not receive the renewal notice.
If you have moved since your last renewal, your vehicle property tax may need to be recalculated.
Do not send your renewal and payment by mail. Visit a
license plate agency to receive a corrected tag and tax fee.
No. All vehicle property taxes are to be paid to NCDMV. However, any questions about your vehicle property tax should be directed to the
tax assessor in the county where the vehicle is registered.