Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A change tucked inside North Carolina's newly approved state budget will affect every driver who registers a vehicle.
A viewer named Preston reached out to Ask 13 with several questions after hearing the state planned to eliminate annual registration stickers and paper registration cards.
"With the new NC budget, the DMV is to eliminate the annual sticker and paper registration for vehicles. So, do we get new plates or just keep the existing 26 or 27 stickers? Sounds confusing. Is it only online or will the DOT offices still process the paperless renewal?"
Here's what we know.
Beginning Oct. 1, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will transition to an electronic vehicle registration system. As part of that change, drivers will no longer receive annual license plate registration stickers or automatically receive a paper vehicle registration card in the mail.
What changes in October?
Under the new law:
Drivers will no longer receive an annual license plate registration sticker.
The DMV will no longer automatically mail a paper vehicle registration card.
Vehicle registration records will be maintained electronically by the DMV.
Drivers who want a paper copy of their registration can request one for a small printing and mailing fee.
Will drivers get new license plates?
No. Existing license plates will remain valid. Drivers will no longer receive the annual registration sticker that has traditionally been affixed to the license plate after renewing their registration.
How will law enforcement know if a vehicle is registered?
Instead of relying on a registration sticker or paper registration card, law enforcement officers will verify a vehicle's registration electronically through DMV records. According to the state budget, the change is intended to reduce administrative costs, streamline vehicle registration processes, and improve efficiency by eliminating paper registration cards and license plate renewal stickers.
The changes take effect Oct. 1.
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--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
A change tucked inside North Carolina's newly approved state budget will affect every driver who registers a vehicle.
A viewer named Preston reached out to Ask 13 with several questions after hearing the state planned to eliminate annual registration stickers and paper registration cards.
"With the new NC budget, the DMV is to eliminate the annual sticker and paper registration for vehicles. So, do we get new plates or just keep the existing 26 or 27 stickers? Sounds confusing. Is it only online or will the DOT offices still process the paperless renewal?"
Here's what we know.
Beginning Oct. 1, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles will transition to an electronic vehicle registration system. As part of that change, drivers will no longer receive annual license plate registration stickers or automatically receive a paper vehicle registration card in the mail.
What changes in October?
Under the new law:
Drivers will no longer receive an annual license plate registration sticker.
The DMV will no longer automatically mail a paper vehicle registration card.
Vehicle registration records will be maintained electronically by the DMV.
Drivers who want a paper copy of their registration can request one for a small printing and mailing fee.
Will drivers get new license plates?
No. Existing license plates will remain valid. Drivers will no longer receive the annual registration sticker that has traditionally been affixed to the license plate after renewing their registration.
How will law enforcement know if a vehicle is registered?
Instead of relying on a registration sticker or paper registration card, law enforcement officers will verify a vehicle's registration electronically through DMV records. According to the state budget, the change is intended to reduce administrative costs, streamline vehicle registration processes, and improve efficiency by eliminating paper registration cards and license plate renewal stickers.
The changes take effect Oct. 1.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
