Valid Drivers License

The first thing you must do is get a NC drivers license. You must show a current North Carolina driver license when registering your car. If you have a valid license from another state and one of the following special exceptions, you may still register your car:

• NC college student.
• Active duty military from out of state.
• Motorhome registration.
• Documented medical condition.
• Vehicle sale court-ordered.
• Car stored in NC for at least six months every year.
• Co-owned car.

You must show proof of any of these conditions.

Smog Testing

At your first vehicle registration for an out-of-state car, you do not need an inspection. However, you must pass a NC inspection within the next year before renewal time. An emissions and smog check must also be performed if you live in one of the 48 counties requiring emissions testing. The complete list is available at the NC DMV website.

You must get a smog and safety inspection for a newly purchased car prior to first-time registration.

Testing is completed at a state-approved inspection station, housed in auto dealerships and auto repair shops. The results are put into a central computer system and sent to the DMV.

Note that:

• Cars 35 years or older can skip the safety test altogether.
• Only diesel-powered cars can skip the smog test.

New Residents

You must register car within 30 days of relocating to NC, or within 30 days of accepting  a new job here, whichever is first.

• Make an appointment at the DMV for car registration.
• Bring ID.
• Bring the old title. If your car has a lien on it, bring the old registration.
• Provide proof of insurance.
• You may skip the inspections this year, but you must have them done next year if required.
• Fill out the Title Application, which must be notarized. Remember to put down the odometer reading if the car is less than 10 years old.
• Complete the Declaration of Eligible Risk document. All documents are available online at the DMV website or in a DMV office.

After that, the DMV registration will be almost complete. The DMV will give you license plates and mail you the new title. If you have a lien, the DMV will have the lienholder transfer the title to a NC title.

Newly Purchased Vehicle from Private Party or Dealer

If you just bought a car from an individual or dealer:

• Make a DMV registration appointment.
• You must get a safety inspection and smog test, if required in your county and make of vehicle.
• If you bought the car from a dealer, get a Bill of Sale.
• Bring the title, which the old owner should have signed over to you. This should be notarized. Make sure you get a lien release if necessary.
• Fill out and notarize a Title Application. Fill out the odometer reading if the car’s less than 10 years old.
• Complete a Damage Disclosure Statement form and a Declaration of Eligible Risk. These documents are all available at DMV offices, or on the DMV website.
• Provide proof of insurance.

Once you have done this, the DMV will issue you a new car registration and send you a new title (unless you have a lien, in which case the lienholder still gets to hold the title).

Fees

• $40 title fee, or get an instant title for $75.
• $28 registration fee.
• Additional fees may apply, depending on county.