Before a vehicle can be registered in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles requires a title, which serves as proper proof of ownership.
For new vehicles, the manufacturer's certificate of origin is the official transfer document, but residents new to North Carolina or who have purchased a vehicle already registered in North Carolina must present the certificate of title properly assigned by the former owner.
To title and register a vehicle, go to an NCDMV license plate agency or mail in the information outlined in the following steps:
Instant Titles
Title applications require 10-15 business days for processing, but the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles offers an expedited titling service in which titles are processed and issued the same day or next business day.