Licenses and Registration
Licenses and Registrations
Voter Registration. Legal residents of North Carolina who are U.S. citizens and 18 years of age and older may vote by registering in the county in which they reside at least 25 days prior to the election. New residents must have lived in the county for 30 days prior to the election to qualify to vote. To receive the North Carolina Voter Registration Application, stop by the Brunswick County Board of Elections office (910-253-2620 or 888-445-2504) in the government complex at Bolivia, weekdays between 8:30am and 5pm. The office will also mail applications, but they must be processed in person. Phone registration is not allowed. Applications are also available at public libraries, most town halls and any state agency. Forms are also available at the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce office.
Voter registration may also be accomplished at the Department of Motor Vehicles when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or changing address. The department will process the application and forward it to the Board of Elections.
Driver’s License. All new residents of North Carolina who plan to operate a motor vehicle in this state must obtain a driver’s license within sixty (60) days of establishing a permanent residence. To apply, you must appear in person and take the required tests which include written, road sign recognition and vision tests. New residents who hold a valid license from their previous state are usually exempt from a driving skills test. New drivers must provide at least two forms of identification, one of which must show the date of birth. Acceptable forms of ID include an original birth certificate, military discharge form DD-214, passport, marriage license, limited driving privilege papers, immigration documents, official school record signed by a school official. The Division of Motor Vehicles driver's license bureau is located at 5296 Main Street in Shallotte, 754-5114. The bureau is open weekdays from 8am to 5pm, with no road tests given after 4:30pm.
If the driver has had a traffic violation within four years or is getting a North Carolina license for the first time, he or she must have Form DL-123, proof of liability insurance, filled out by the insurance company, or a copy of the original insurance policy. First time drivers must provide proof of driver’s education completion.
An out-of-state driver who is issued an NC license must surrender the license from the previous state to the license examiner.
Cost is $10 for a learner’s permit, duplicate license or identification card; $2.50 for each year that the license is valid for a Class C license; $3.75 per year for license classes A & B; $10 per year for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) classes A,B and C; plus $1.25 per year for each additional endorsement. Personal checks are accepted if they are labeled with the same address that appears on your driver’s license. No out-of-state or company checks are accepted.
Vehicle Registration. To renew a vehicle registration or get a vehicle title, owners must go to the Division of Motor Vehicles office at 5300-A South Main Street in Shallotte. The Shallotte office (754-4591) is open weekdays, 9am to Noon and 1-5pm. A second office at 102 SE 58th Street in Long Beach is temporarily closed.
Owners must take their renewal card or registration and must furnish the name of their liability insurance carrier and their policy number to renew auto registration. The price is $20 for cars, $21.50 for trucks, $12 for motorcycles, and $7 to $10 for trailers. Renewal may also be done online. Follow the instructions on the renewal form.
To change an out-of-state title, an owner must show the title or the registration and insurance policy number and declare the vehicle mileage. For a new title, mileage information is required for cars under 10 years of age.
