State of North Carolina

                                                        DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

MEMORANDUM

TO:                 North Carolina Automobile Dealers and Automobile Dealerships

FROM:           Wayne Goodwin, NC DMV Commissioner  

DATE:            21 August 2024

RE:                 DMV guidance for statutory changes to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-79.1 

                                  -Transition from 30- to 60-day markers

                                  -Submission of Dealership Paperwork                                                                              

                                  -Issuance of Second Temporary Marker/Already Issued 30-Day Markers 

Transition from 30- to 60-day Markers

Effective August 28, 2024 in order to comply with S.L. 2024-30 §14 (House Bill 199), its amendment to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-79.1, and the transition from 30-day markers (hereinafter “old”) to 60-day markers (hereinafter “new”), North Carolina automobile dealers and dealerships are authorized to write the 60-day expiration date on the old markers until such time that the dealers and dealerships have received from the Division of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) the new markers after Corrections Enterprises has completed their production. Any dealer or dealership that has complied with this directive prior to the effective date of this memorandum but after ratification of S.L. 2024-30 §14 shall also be deemed compliant with this directive. In a future memorandum or broadcast message, DMV will outline the method and means by which dealers and dealerships will obtain the new items and what is to be done with the old items. No one is authorized to strike through the number “30” on the old markers. 

Meantime, new plates will be phased in over time due to the production capability of Corrections Enterprises. 

Submission of Dealership Paperwork

Changes made to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-79.1(d)(3) by HB 199 expanded the time for submission of dealership title and registration paperwork from 20 to 60 days. 

 Issuance of Second Temporary Marker / Already Issued 30-day Markers 

  HB 199 also amended N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-79.1(h) to allow for the issuance of a second temporary marker upon the expiration of 60 days from the date of issuance of an initial temporary marker if the dealer is still unable to obtain the vehicle’s title. This is part of the “Title in Transit” law passed a few years ago. 

 As it relates to any still valid 30-day markers dealers and dealerships have already issued immediately prior both to the statutory change and this memorandum – particularly markers issued 30 days prior to this memorandum, DMV will allow a dealer (if needed) to issue a second temporary marker after the expiration of the initial 30-day marker and that second temporary marker can be a 60-day marker pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-79.1(h).This message will be distributed to the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association and the Carolina Independent Automobile Dealers Association. Those associations will distribute the message to their membership. 

This message will also be simultaneously published to state and local law enforcement agencies. Prior to distribution of this memorandum, DMV contacted both the State Highway Patrol and the NC Association of Chiefs of Police; both agreed to distribute this memorandum to its officers and members, respectively. DMV similarly asks these and other applicable law enforcement organizations to distribute the message to their members and/or law enforcement officers of the municipalities and counties. Further, DMV will continue to reach out directly to key law enforcement leaders about the transition plan for 60-day markers.

 Questions and concerns should be directed either to DMV Deputy Commissioner Tim Hayworth, tphayworth1@ncdot.gov, or DMV License & Theft Bureau Colonel Michael Oates, moates@ncdot.gov.