RALEIGH –State officials today closed a license plate agency, or LPA, in Lincolnton.
The current agency at 646 Center Drive in Lincolnton had been operating under an expired contract after the death of the contractor who had been operating the office since 1992.
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles was working with the family of the late contractor so they could keep the office open and continue to serve the public.
However, the family of the late contractor did not sign a temporary contract to continue operating the office. Without a valid contract, the agency cannot legally continue to operate and must be closed until a contract is in place.
Customers may visit other area license plate agencies Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., including:
• Newton, 803 Conover Blvd. W., 828-464-6878
• Hickory, 901 U.S. Hwy. 321 N.W., Suite 100, 828-328-3783
• Gastonia, 246 N. New Hope Rd., Suite 239, 704-864-4856
• Shelby, 118 N. Morgan St., 704-487-4551
The division’s policy is to open applications to operate a license plate agency after the expiration or end of a contract, or when the need arises for a new or additional agency in a certain county. In North Carolina, NCDMV oversees LPAs, but the agencies are managed by private businesses.
Completed applications must be returned to NCDMV no later than Feb. 3. The applications (Form MVR-93 or Form MVR-93AA) are located on the
Connect NCDOT website. Interested applicants may call 919-615-6053 with questions.
LPAs offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license plate renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations. Currently, 127 license plate agencies operate in North Carolina.