Official NCDMV: Vehicle Titles

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 a license plate agency or mail in the information outlined in the following steps:

Meet the requirements (see section below) and provide the proper documentation
Complete the appropriate forms
Pay the relevant fees

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Title requirements
General requirements
- The individual who is titling the vehicle must have a valid North Carolina driver license or ID. Some exceptions for non-North Carolina residents apply. For new North Carolina residents, a valid out-of-state driver license and their North Carolina Temporary Driving Certificate are required. This excludes all dealer work.
- For vehicles owned by more than one individual, all signatures on required documents must be notarized and accompanied by a black-and-white copy of the alternate owner's valid driver license or ID.
- Alternatively, a Power of Attorney can sign for the owner(s). If paperwork is signed by the Power of Attorney, a black-and-white copy of the owner's valid driver license is required when paperwork is submitted.
- If mailing in the paperwork, the individual titling the vehicle must provide with their title information a black-and-white copy of their valid North Carolina driver license.
- Highway-use tax must be paid. Property taxes may be paid at the time of registration or deferred for 60 days.
Special requirements
Additional requirements may apply to other types of vehicles (e.g., antiques, replicas, mobile homes, mopeds, motorcycles and trailers) as well as special cases, such as leased, salvaged and abandoned vehicles or vehicles in a trust, as well as when an owner does not have proof of ownership.
New & non-North Carolina residents
Residents who are new to North Carolina or non-residents who have recently acquired a vehicle, must get the vehicle titled in North Carolina before registering it.
In addition to a driver license, non-North Carolina residents must provide one of the following:
- A military ID (for active-duty military personnel stationed in North Carolina)
- A student ID (showing enrollment in a North Carolina college or university)
- A MVR-614 form documenting that the vehicle is garaged in North Carolina for at least six months each year
- A court-ordered sale of the vehicle
- Registration for a motor home
Proof of liability insurance
North Carolina law requires continuous liability insurance (provided by a North Carolina-licensed provider) on all vehicles titled and registered in North Carolina. It is required prior to license plate and registration sticker issuance.
Title transfers
An individual buying, selling, gifting or donating a vehicle must transfer ownership of it via a title transfer.
To transfer a vehicle's title, go to a license plate agency or mail in the information outlined in the following steps:
- Meet the requirements and provide the proper documentation. Proof of liability insurance is only required if also registering the vehicle.
- Complete the appropriate forms.
- Pay the relevant fees.
For a title transfer, the information on the back of the original title must be completed by both the original owner and the recipient. If the original title is a North Carolina title, it must also be notarized. For out-of-state titles, NCDMV will recognize that state's requirements. This information includes the:
- Buyer and recipient's name and address
- Date of sale or date of delivery
- Seller's signature and hand-printed name
- Odometer reading (if required)
- Damage disclosure statement
Sold vehicles
If you see a vehicle on your registration file that you no longer own and wish to have the status changed to “cancelled" on your record, fill out an Affidavit for Removal of Registered Vehicle from Vehicle Registration Files (MVR-46F). This form will need to be notarized before mailing it or bringing it in-person to a license plate agency .
Transferring to family
If transferring a vehicle between spouses, a parent and child or a stepparent and stepchild, the recipient is exempt from the highway-use tax upon completion of the Highway-Use Tax Exemption Certificate (MVR-613).
The exemption is applicable to North Carolina residents transferring a North Carolina title to another North Carolina resident.
Instant titles
Title applications require 10-15 business days for processing, but NCDMV offers an expedited titling service–referred to as an instant title– in which titles are processed and issued the same day or next business day.
Restrictions
NCDMV can issue instant titles for duplicate title applications that require a 15-day waiting period. The customer would order the instant title and pick it up at the same license plate agency on the 16th day.
Instant titles are not allowed to be issued for the following:
- Any title that requires a hold for review of the work
- Antique vehicles
- Court orders
- Government 97 titles
- Green slips (L&T titles)
- Indemnity bonds
- Salvage (Blue) titles
- Out-of-State title for a state that does not report to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)
Instant title locations
Instant titles are issued at the following license plate agencies:
Ahoskie License Plate Agency
905 E. Memorial Drive, Ahoskie, NC, 27910

Alexander County License Plate Agency
85 E. Main Ave., Taylorsville, NC, 28681

Alliance License Plate Agency
13580 Highway 55 E., Alliance, NC, 28509

Anson County License Plate Agency
101 S. Greene St., Wadesboro, NC 28170

Asheboro License Plate Agency
338 S. Fayetteville St., Asheboro, NC, 27203

Asheville South License Plate Agency
780 Hendersonville Rd., Suite 8, Asheville, NC, 28803

Asheville License Plate Agency
153 Smokey Park Highway, Suite 160-A, Asheville, NC 28806

Burlington License Plate Agency
2668 Ramada Rd, Burlington, NC, 27215

Canton License Plate Agency
11 Peach Bloom Dr, Canton, NC, 28716

Carrboro License Plate Agency
104 N.C. 54, Suite D, Carrboro, NC, 27510

Cary License Plate Agency
1251 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh, NC 27606

Charlotte License Plate Agency
3250 Wilkinson Blvd., Suite G, Charlotte, NC 28208

Charlotte License Plate Agency
5309 E. Independence Blvd., Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28212

Charlotte License Plate Agency
809 E. Arrowood Road, Suite 800, Charlotte, NC 28217

Cherokee County License Plate Agency
1176 Andrews Rd, Murphy, NC, 28906

Clayton License Plate Agency
896 Gulley Drive, Clayton, NC 28906

Clinton License Plate Agency
1121 Sunset Ave., Clinton, NC 28328

Concord License Plate Agency
929 Concord Parkway S., Suite D, Concord, NC 28027

Currituck License Plate Agency
257 Caratoke Hwy, Suite E, Moyock, NC, 27958

Durham License Plate Agency
4215 University Drive, Suite 8, Durham, NC 27707

Durham License Plate Agency
4723 NC Highway 55, Suite 7A, Durham, NC 27713

Edenton License Plate Agency
555-B Virginia Rd, Edenton, NC, 27932

Elizabeth City License Plate Agency
1495 N. Road St., Suite E, Elizabeth City, NC, 27909

Elizabethtown License Plate Agency
351 S Poplar St., Elizabethtown, NC, 28337

Elkin License Plate Agency
220 W. Main St., Elkin, NC, 28621

Franklin License Plate Agency
353 Westgate Plaza, Franklin, NC 28734

Fuquay-Varina License Plate Agency
1421 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Gastonia License Plate Agency
246 N. New Hope Road, Suite 239, Gastonia, NC 28054

Goldsboro License Plate Agency
1801 E. Ash St., Goldsboro, NC, 27530

Greenville License Plate Agency
2462 Stantonsburg Road, Greenville, NC 27858

Greenville License Plate Agency
4651 N. Creek Drive, Greenville, NC 27834

Greensboro License Plate Agency
5533 W. Market St., Greensboro, NC 27409

Greensboro License Plate Agency
2218 Golden Gate Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405

High Point License Plate Agency
1701 WeSt.cheSt.er Drive, Suite 220, High Point, NC 27262

Hoke County License Plate Agency
3140 US Highway 401 Bus, Raeford, NC, 28376

Hope Mills License Plate Agency
3333 N. Main St., Suite 140, Hope Mills, NC 28348

Indian Trail License Plate Agency
14015-J E. Independence Blvd., Indian Trail, NC 28079

Jackson County License Plate Agency
876 Skyland Drive, Sylvia, NC 28779

Jacksonville License Plate Agency
1606 Country Club Rd, Jacksonville, NC, 28546

Lexington License Plate Agency
27 Plaza Parkway, Lexington, NC, 27292

Lenoir License Plate Agency
1402 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, NC 28645

Lumberton License Plate Agency
118 W. Fifth St., Lumberton, NC 28358

Madison License Plate Agency
101 E. Murphy St., Madison, NC, 27025

Marshall License Plate Agency
13580 Hwy 55 E., Alliance, NC, 28509

Maysville License Plate Agency
404 Main St., Maysville, NC 28555

McDowell County License Plate Agency
60 E. Court St., Marion, NC 28752

Mitchell County License Plate Agency
11949 Hwy 226 S., Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Mocksville License Plate Agency
1047 Yadkinville Rd., Mocksville, NC 27028

Morganton License Plate Agency
603 S. College St., Morganton, NC 28655

Mount Airy License Plate Agency
137 Riverside Dr., Mount Airy, NC 2703

Newton License Plate Agency
803 Conover Blvd. W., Conover, NC 28619

North Raleigh License Plate Agency
2533 Atlantic Ave., Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27604

Polk County License Plate Agency
51 Walker St., Columbus, NC, 28722

Raleigh Central Services License Plate Agency
4121 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, NC 27610

Rockingham License Plate Agency
601 S. Long Drive, Suite C, Rockingham, NC 28379

Roxboro License Plate Agency
811 N. Madison Blvd., Roxboro, NC 27573

Rural Hall License Plate Agency
145 Bethania St., Rural Hall, NC 27045

Salisbury License Plate Agency
130 E. Kerr St., Salisbury, NC, 28144

Sanford License Plate Agency
331 Wilson Rd, Sanford, NC, 27332

Shelby License Plate Agency
118 N. Morgan St., Shelby, NC 28150

Smithfield License Plate Agency
3175A U.S. Highway 301 S., Smithfield, NC 27577

Southport License Plate Agency
4891 Long Beach Rd SE, Unit 6, Southport, NC, 28461

Spindale License Plate Agency
1639 College Ave., Suite 149, Spindale, NC 28160

Surf City License Plate Agency
2634 Hwy 210 E., Suite 205, Hampstead, NC 28443

Swain County License Plate Agency
101 Mitchell St., Bryson City, NC, 28713

Thomasville License Plate Agency
1650 Liberty Drive, Thomasville, NC 27360

Troy License Plate Agency
448 Albemarle Rd., Troy, NC 27371

Wallace License Plate Agency
112 Medical Village Dr, Unit C, Wallace, NC, 28466

Walnut Cove License Plate Agency
208 3rd St., Walnut Cove, NC, 27052

Watauga County License Plate Agency
274 Winklers Creek Rd, Suite A, Boone, NC, 28607

Whiteville License Plate Agency
201 E. Main St., Whiteville, NC 28472

Wilmington License Plate Agency
2390 Carolina Beach Rd., Suite 108, Wilmington, NC 28401

Yancey County License Plate Agency
14 Town Square, Burnsville, NC 28714

Zebulon License Plate Agency
520 W. Gannon Ave., Zebulon, NC 27597

Replacement and duplicate titles

Corrections and replacements

NCDMV issues replacement titles if there is:

A name change due to marriage, divorce, court order or naturalization
An error on the original title
A significant modification to the titled vehicle

To request a replacement title, submit all required documents and pay the required fee. Identification is required for all services processed in person.

Required documents

Document	Notes
Vehicle title	Notarization required
Corrected driver license	Required if request is due to a name change
Lien release	Required if request is due to an error in lienholder information
Copy of court order	Required if request is due to a name change resulting from legal proceedings
Naturalization paperwork	Required if request is due to a name change resulting from legal proceedings
Odometer reading	Required if vehicle is less than 10 years old
Corrected or Substituted Title Application (MVR-5)	Notarization required
Affidavit of Facts (MVR-28)	Required in the case of vehicle modifications

Duplicate titles

A vehicle's registered owner can order a duplicate title if the original title has been lost or was never received. In cases where the title was never received, the title fee can be waived if the original title is issued within 60 days of requesting a duplicate.

All requests for duplicate titles must age 15 days before being processed.

To request a duplicate title, submit all required documents and pay the required fee. Identification is required for all services processed in person.

Required documents

Document	Notes
Lien release	Must be completed if any liens are shown on vehicle's title
Application for Duplicate Title (MVR-4)	Must be notarized and completed exactly as the original

5/18/2026 4:43 PM