TRANSPORTATION / MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION
VIRGINIA
New residents in Virginia have 30 days to obtain a Virginia drivers license. You must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a valid driver’s license, although those who are 15 years of age and older can apply for a Virginia learner’s permit. In order to apply for a driver’s license in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must provide two forms of identification, proof of your Social Security number, and proof of Virginia residency.
All Virginia drivers license applicants must pass a vision test to obtain a Virginia license. In addition, all first-time license applicants must pass a road test. Applicants may be asked to complete an exam on driving safety. Those who are relocating from another state or U.S. territory may turn in their valid license from that state or territory, in which case the written exam and road test may be waived.
A handbook is available from the local Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV for those who would like to study before taking the road safety exam or the driving test. For specific information on regulations and fees or answers to your questions, contact:
Department of Motor Vehicles
All Locations
804-497-7100
www.dmv.virginia.gov
NORTH CAROLINA
New residents have 30 days to apply for a North Carolina drivers license. Bring proof of residency (unless one form of identification includes your current address), proof of age in the form of a legal birth certificate, and your social security number. If you do not have these documents, call the DMV office to inquire about the list of other acceptable documents. Proof of residency can take the form of an apartment lease, mortgage papers, a utility bill, or current insurance policy. Applicants who are 18 years of age and older will be required to take the written, sign, and vision tests. A road test may also be required, depending upon your driving record and other special circumstances. Drivers who are under 18 years of old must follow the graduated licensing regulations, which carry certain driving limitations. North Carolina issues drivers licenses for a five-year period. You may also register to vote at the time that you apply for a drivers license. The following website offers a directory of North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle field offices:
Driver License Field Offices
www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver
Vehicle Registration & Titling
VIRGINIA
Newcomers are required to register and title their vehicles in Virginia within 30 days of establishing residency. Required documentation includes a completed application, the title from your previous state of residence with your name appearing as owner or the previous owner’s out-of-state title signed over to you along with an odometer statement, current out-of-state vehicle registration, and proof of your social security number. For new vehicles, provide proof of vehicle ownership or the manufacturer’s certificate of origin.
Those seeking a first-time title who already hold a valid, assignable title or registration issued in their names from another state do not have to pay sales and usage tax. You must prove that sales and usage tax was paid elsewhere, but only if the vehicle was purchased within the past 12 months. A certificate of title carries a fee of $10 plus a 3 percent sales usage tax that is computed on the full price of the vehicles. The total fees are variable depending upon the vehicle being registered.
Local Vehicle Registration
Since the local vehicle registration fees for participating localities are collected at the same time as the DMV vehicle registration fees, customers with a vehicle garaged in a participating locality can choose from a number of service outlets in renewing their combined state and local registration. These include U.S. mail; via the Internet at www.dmv.virginia.gov; by telephone at 804-497-7100; at extraTeller kiosks; and at DMV offices. At the present time, the City of Virginia Beach is the only locality participating.
NORTH CAROLINA
New residents have 30 days to register and title all vehicles in North Carolina. To register a vehicle, the owner must complete the required application forms and pay the appropriate fees. The DMV requires proof of ownership before registration. To register a vehicle for the first time in the state, you must present the title from the state where the vehicle was formerly registered. If the vehicle is from a non-title state, you must present the current vehicle registration with a property notarized transfer of ownership on the back or a notarized bill of sale from the former owner along with the former owner’s proof of purchase. When registering a vehicle and the title is held by a lienholder, you must furnish the lienholder’s name and address. The DMV will provide a form to be mailed to the lienholder requesting release of the title for North Carolina registration purposes. All liens must be declared in the order of their priority. All new residents of the state must pay a title fee of $35 and a registration fee of $20 for private passenger automobiles in order to obtain a license plate and validation decals.
Insurance Requirements
VIRGINIA
As part of its role of administering motor vehicle laws, DMV monitors liability insurance for vehicles registered in the Commonwealth. To protect the interests of all Virginia motorists, DMV administers an Insurance Verification Program that identifies vehicle owners who are not in compliance with insurance requirements.
To purchase license plates or decals, you must certify that your vehicle is covered by the minimum insurance requirements or pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee. Your insurance carrier must be licensed to conduct business in Virginia.
The $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle of UMV fee is paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles but does not provide any insurance. The fee only allows you to drive an uninsured vehicle at your own risk and expires with your registration. It must be paid again with every renewal. For more information on insurance requirements or answers to specific questions, contact:
Insurance Information
Department of Motor Vehicles
804-497-7100
www.dmv.virginia.gov
NORTH CAROLINA
You will be unable to obtain a license plate unless you certify to the DMV that your vehicle is covered by liability insurance in the minimum amounts set by North Carolina law. Other options include either cash or bond deposited with the State Treasurer, or a certificate of self-insurance. If the DMV is notified that a vehicle owner is operating a motor vehicle without proper liability insurance, the vehicle’s license plate might be revoked for 30 days unless proof of insurance coverage can be furnished. The following website offers a directory of North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle field offices:
DMV Vehicle Registration Field Offices
www.ncdot.gov/dmv/vehicle
Safety Inspection
All vehicles registered in Virginia are required to pass an annual safety inspection at any DMV-licensed service station, garage or motor vehicle dealer. This safety inspection must be completed within 10 days of receiving a Virginia license plate or by the last day of the month printed on the inspection sticker. For more information on the testing parameters or the location of the nearest inspection station, contact:
Virginia State Police Safety Program
804-674-2000
www.vsp.state.va.us
Seat Belt Law & Child Safety
VIRGINIA
Virginia has recently modified its seat-belt law from secondary to primary. Under the primary law, police officers may make a stop and issue a citation solely for failure to wear seat belts, like other traffic violations. Secondary laws permit an officer to ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt only after making a stop for another offense. Safety seats are required for children through the age of five. Safety seats must be properly used and approved by federal standards. Children between the ages of four and 16 must be belted correctly in vehicle safety belts in vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. No person under age 16 can be transported in the rear cargo area of a pickup truck. For more information about vehicle safety regulations, contact:
Center for Injury & Violence Prevention
Virginia Department of Health
804-864-7738
www.vdh.virginia.gov/vdhlivewell
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina requires each front-seat occupant who is 16 years of age or older and each driver of a passenger motor vehicle manufactured with seat belts shall to be property secured. Drivers transporting passengers less than 16 years of age must properly secure them in a child-passenger restraint system or a seat belt. A child less than five years of age and weighing less than 40 pounds must be property secured in a weight-appropriate child-passenger restraint system. In vehicles equipped with an active passenger-side front air bag and a rear seat, a child less than five years of age and less than 40 pounds in weight must be properly secured in the rear seat unless the child restraint system is designed for use with air bags. North Carolina also prohibits children less than age 12 from riding in the open bed of a pick-up truck.