ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — North Carolina drivers will no longer receive license plate stickers or automatically receive printed vehicle registration cards under a new digital registration system that took effect Oct. 1, 2026.
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles says the change, directed by the N.C. General Assembly, moves vehicle registration information to a digital format. While the sticker and automatically issued registration card are going away, the DMV says the basic registration and renewal process remains largely unchanged.
Vehicle owners will continue to receive renewal notices in the mail approximately 90 days before their registrations expire. Drivers must still complete required vehicle inspections and pay registration fees and vehicle property taxes on time.
Customers can also continue renewing by mail, in person at a license plate agency, online or through a self-service kiosk.
“What is changing is the end product customers receive,” NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine said. “The vast majority of the registration process stays exactly the same. You will still get your renewal notice, still need your inspection, still pay your fees and taxes on time, and still have the same convenient options to take care of business. Only the physical sticker and printed registration card are going away.”
At the completion of a registration or renewal transaction, customers will receive a receipt containing much of the information previously included on the printed registration card. That includes fees paid, the vehicle identification number, license plate number and a barcode that inspection stations can scan the following year.
The receipt will also contain a link allowing customers to download a digital copy of their registration card, which can be saved to a phone or printed.
Drivers who still want a printed copy can obtain one immediately at a license plate agency. A printed copy can also be ordered online and mailed for a $5 fee.
According to the DMV, state law no longer requires motorists to carry a printed registration card. Law enforcement officers use electronic verification systems to check a vehicle’s registration status in real time.
The change does not alter when a vehicle registration expires. Registrations remain valid as long as required fees and property taxes are paid on time.
The move to digital documents also applies to International Registration Plan commercial trucking customers. Following an online or in-person transaction, IRP customers will receive an emailed receipt with a link to download a PDF version of their cab card. The document can then be printed or electronically forwarded to the vehicle’s driver.
Additional information and frequently asked questions are available through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles vehicle registration webpage.
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