NC to eliminate Registration Stickers, Paper Cards Starting Oct. 1

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina drivers will no longer receive annual license plate registration stickers or automatic paper vehicle registration cards beginning Oct. 1 as the state Division of Motor Vehicles shifts to an electronic registration system.

The change, included in the state budget signed into law earlier this summer, directs the DMV to maintain vehicle registration records electronically. Existing license plates will remain valid, and drivers will still need to renew registrations annually, complete required vehicle inspections and pay associated fees, including property taxes under the Tag & Tax Together program.

Under the new system, law enforcement officers will verify a vehicle’s registration status electronically through DMV records rather than checking a physical sticker on the plate or a paper card. Drivers who want a paper copy of their registration may request one and pay a fee limited to the cost of printing and mailing.

State lawmakers included the transition to reduce administrative costs, streamline registration processes and improve efficiency by eliminating the production and mailing of stickers and paper cards. The DMV is developing the electronic system to allow vehicle owners and authorized entities, including law enforcement, to access and confirm registration status digitally.

The requirement to carry a physical registration card in the vehicle is being eliminated. Renewals processed before Oct. 1 will still follow the existing process, with stickers and paper cards issued as usual. Details of how drivers will access electronic records, such as through an online portal or mobile device, are being finalized by the DMV.