North Carolina License Plate Lookup

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Table of Content

How To Lookup North Carolina License Plates
Why Run a License Plate Search in North Carolina?
What Can You Get Out of a North Carolina License Plate Lookup?
Why Choose GoodCar for North Carolina Plate Lookups?
North Carolina License Plates
How to Get a License Plate in North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions about North Carolina License Plate Lookups

How To Lookup North Carolina License Plates

Motor vehicle records in North Carolina are maintained by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. If you want to run a license plate lookup in order to access personally identifiable information, such as the owner and phone number of a license plate owner, you must contact the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. However, due to state and federal laws restricting access to sensitive information in motor vehicle records, you must have a valid reason and credentials to be successful with the request to the state DMV. If the laws validate your request, you can visit the DMV in person or submit a request by mail. To complete a request by mail, you must complete Form MVR-605A and send the completed form to:

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
RTP Unit
3148 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697-3148

For an in-person request to the North Carolina DMV, visit:

Raleigh Center Services
License Plate Agency
4121 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27616

Alternatively, you can perform a license plate lookup using online third-party services. GoodCar offers free and premium license plate lookup services for persons looking to obtain vehicle information via a license plate lookup. On the free service, you can access basic vehicle information, such as the make, model, year, and color of a vehicle, while the premium service allows users to view detailed vehicle history reports. Still, personal information related to license plate information is off-limits to the general public.

License Plates

When conducting a license plate lookup the license plate serial is required to complete the process. Using the license plate lookup service on GoodCar’s website, you can provide any license plate serial on the license plate field and select the state in which the plate was registered to obtain vehicle information for that car.

VIN

If you have a vehicle identification number instead of a license plate number, you can still use it to obtain vehicle information for a car. The VIN has 17 digits and can be found in a few places on the car or in the owner’s manual. GoodCar also offers a VIN search option on its website, allowing visitors to find vehicle information by providing the VIN serial in the search field and clicking the search button. Both options are present but most users rely on the plate search because license plate numbers are simpler to obtain.

Why Run a License Plate Search in North Carolina?

Reasons to Run License Plate Search in North Carolina

A license plate lookup is commonly used to access a vehicle's history. It is a valuable tool for enhancing confidence when purchasing a vehicle in the used car market as it helps reveal a vehicle's history. A license plate lookup can also help law enforcement with their investigations in matters related to accidents, traffic violations, and other similar cases.

What Can You Get Out of a North Carolina License Plate Lookup?

You can get a whole lot of information about the history and status of a vehicle from a North Carolina license plate lookup. You can get this information from a free license plate lookup service or via a paid service provider. GoodCar offers both options. With the paid option, you can get a comprehensive report on vehicle records, title brands, vehicle history, and other potential issues with the car.

Vehicle Records

Obtaining vehicle history is one of the most practical uses of a license plate lookup. By conducting a North Carolina license plate lookup, you can access vehicle records, such as registration status, and accident history. This information can be vital in making a decision whether to buy a used car or to determine a fair price for a used car.

Title Brands and Problem Checks

Title brands show if a used car has sustained serious damage that makes it potentially unsafe to use. If a car remains in good condition for use, it typically has a clean title. Branded titles, such as salvage, flood damage, lemon, hail damage, and reconstruction, can be seen in a vehicle history report available from a license plate lookup. Other than title brands, a North Carolina license plate lookup will show information on other potential issues in the future. For example, if a license plate lookup contains recall information, you should confirm that the vehicle was fixed in order to forestall future safety issues.

Tracing a Vehicle’s History for Used Car Purchases with North Carolina Plate Checks

A vehicle’s history is laid bare in a vehicle history report. This makes running a license plate check an important task when buying a used car. With odometer fraud on the rise, you can verify the actual odometer reading of a used car by conducting a license plate check. If a stolen report or lien is placed on a used car, you can also verify either with a license plate lookup.

Why Choose GoodCar for North Carolina Plate Lookups?

Requesters can benefit from extensive vehicle records and reports as they obtain information from accredited data providers like the NMVTIS. GoodCar also illustrates theft checks, collision records, recalls, flood, hail, or fire damage, and pricing.

North Carolina License Plates

License plates in North Carolina are issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation. First introduced in 1907, North Carolina license plates have undergone several redesigns. The current iteration is a rectangular plate measuring 15 centimeters in height and 30 centimeters. Motor vehicles in the state are only required to have rear license plates.

Standard Issue License Plates

The state DMV issues standard license plates in any of three designs for private hauler vehicles and private passenger vehicles:

First in Freedom plate

This plate was designed by North Carolina historian and license plate collector, Charles Robinson. This plate was designed in recognition of the signing on May 20, 1775, of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the April 12, 1776 Halifax Resolves. These events are commemorated on the state flag and regarded as the first steps toward independence from Great Britain during the initial stages of the American Revolution. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles offers the First in Freedom license plate as a no-cost alternative to the First in Flight design for private hauler vehicles licensed for up to 6,000 pounds and private passenger vehicles

First in Flight plate

The First in Flight design was the only standard-issue plate until 2015 when the NCDMV began issuing First in Freedom license plates. The First in Flight plate has been available for 40 years and its design commemorates the first powered airplane flight by the Wright brothers (Wilbur and Orville) near Kitty Hawk on the coast of North Carolina in December 1903

In God We Trust plate

The North Carolina DMV began issuing a third standard license plate in 2019 called the In God We Trust plate. The design has the words "In God We Trust" plate at the top and a translation of the state's motto, "Esse quam videri" - "To Be Rather Than To Seem", in italics at the bottom

Specialty License plates

The state DMV issues specialty license plates designs representing over 100 interest and cause groups. The fees for these plates vary depending on individual design choices. The fees are in addition to standard vehicle registration fees. North Carolina specialty plates are made in limited production runs and are subject to availability. Motorists can order specialty plates online, at an NCDMV license plate agency, or by downloading and mailing an order form.

Personalized License Plates

Standard and special license plates in North Carolina can be personalized for an additional fee. Personalized plates allow plate owners to use their custom texts to reflect their interests. These personalized plates can be ordered online, obtained via mail, or at a local DMV license plate agency. It takes up to 8 weeks for a personalized plate to be ready for pickup.

How to Get a
License Plate in North Carolina

In order to obtain a license plate in North Carolina, your vehicle must be titled and registered with the state Division of Motor Vehicles and pass a safety inspection. If necessary, an emissions inspection must also be passed. If you are obtaining a North Carolina license plate for the first time, a visit to a North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles license plate agency is mandatory.

A title serves as proof of ownership of the automobile. For new vehicles, the MCO (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin) serves as the official transfer document. However, individuals new to North Carolina or who bought a vehicle already registered in the state must present the certificate of title assigned by the former vehicle owner.

To tile and register a vehicle in North Carolina, ensure you meet the requirements and gather the necessary documentation. Next, complete the relevant forms, pay the proper fee, and visit an NCDMV license plate agency to submit your application.

While title applications take up to 15 days to process, the state DMV offers expedited titling service, allowing for the processing and issuing of titles same day or the next business day.

NC License Plate Renewal

North Carolina license plates are renewed when vehicle registrations are renewed. Sixty days before a vehicle's registration expires, the state DMV will mail a renewal notice to the address of a motorist on record. The notice will include the appropriate renewal fee and vehicle property taxes due. Vehicle registrations are required to be renewed every year. Note that a renewal notice is not required to renew your vehicle registration; however, it can serve as a useful reminder to notify of when your registration is due. To request a registration notice, send a message or call the state DMV at (919) 715-7000.

Before renewing a vehicle registration, the vehicle must undergo a safety and emissions inspection no more than 90 days prior to the expiration of its license plate; however, some vehicles may qualify for a waiver. Also, North Carolina liability insurance must be maintained on a vehicle for its registration to be renewed.

You can pay the vehicle registration renewal fee and vehicle property taxes online, by mail, or at an NCDMV license plate agency. The online service used by the NCDMV (PayIt) collects a $3 fee as payment for its services. To renew your vehicle registration online, you must have the license plate number and the last five digits of the vehicle title number available. Both numbers can be found on your renewal notice, your prior registration card, or your MyDMV account.

NC License Plate Replacement

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles issues a replacement plate if you have a damaged plate or if the current plate has been stolen. If the current plate is faded, mutilated, or rusted, the license plate must be returned when you (the vehicle registered owner) submit an Application for Replacement Plate to a North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles license plate agency.

If the plate was stolen or lost, you must certify that the plate is entitled to a replacement. Consequently, you must submit an MVR-18A Form (License Plate Turn-In Verification) and an Application for Replacement Plate to the NCDMV. It costs $21.50 to obtain a replacement plate in North Carolina.

Note that proof of liability insurance issued by a company licensed to do business in North Carolina and the vehicle insurance policy number is required to get a replacement plate.

Frequently Asked Questions about
North Carolina License Plate Lookups

Can I Look Up NC License Plates for Free?
Yes. Third-party license plate lookup services allow users to look up North Carolina license plates for free. However, the free service only reveals basic vehicle information. For a detailed vehicle report revealing vehicle history, lien information, recall information, accident history, and title brands, a paid service will be required. GoodCar, a third-party service, provides both free and paid services for North Carolina license plate lookups.
Can I Use North Carolina License Plate Lookup Services to Find Out About a Vehicle’s Accident History?
Yes, accident history is one of the many pieces of information the public can get from a detailed vehicle history report. Therefore, you can use any reliable North Carolina license plate lookup service, like GoodCar, to obtain a vehicle’s accident history.
How Can I Register a Vanity License Plate in North Carolina?
You can order a vanity license plate in North Carolina at any NCDMV license plate agency or by mail. To personalize a standard North Carolina license plate design, complete a personalized plate application form and mail it with the appropriate fee, to:

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
3155 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27697-3155

If you want a specialized registration plate, you must complete the appropriate special plate application.