If you live in North Carolina and you’ve been waiting for your new registration sticker to show up in the mail, you can stop waiting. It’s not coming.
As of October 1, 2026, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles no longer issues license plate stickers or printed registration cards. Everything has gone digital.
What Changed
Under recent state legislation, NCDMV switched to an all-electronic registration system. Instead of a sticker on your plate and a paper card in your glove box, your registration now lives in the state’s computer system.
When police pull you over, they check your registration electronically. The DMV says you don’t need to carry a printed copy, and you don’t have to hand over your phone.
What to Do With Your Old Sticker
NCDMV recommends removing your old stickers on or after October 1. Since officers check registration electronically now, an old sticker doesn’t serve any purpose.
How to Get a Copy of Your Registration
You can still get a copy if you want one. There are two options:
- Free PDF: Download it from the NCDMV website. You’ll need your license plate number and the last five digits of your title number, which you can find on your renewal notice or in your MyNCDMV account.
- Printed copy: This costs $5 at a license plate agency or by mail.
Traveling Out of State?
The DMV says digital registration is accepted in most states. Still, if you’re taking a road trip, it’s a good idea to keep a downloaded copy on your phone or a printed copy in the car, just in case.
What Hasn’t Changed
Going digital doesn’t mean you can skip the basics. You still need to renew your registration every year, pay vehicle property taxes and fees, and keep continuous insurance. Late payments can still lead to fees and tickets.
Safety inspections are still required within 90 days before renewal, and drivers in 19 counties still need an emissions inspection. Renewal notices will keep arriving 90 days before your registration expires.
What’s Next
The state plans to add vehicle registration to the NC Wallet app in 2027, alongside the state’s Mobile ID. For now, the free PDF is the easiest way to keep a copy handy.
If you have questions, NCDMV’s help line is 919-715-7000, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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