How to get dealer plates in North Carolina
What North Carolina dealer plates cost, the types you can get, how to apply, and the rules on using them. Verified as of July 2026.
NC dealer plates at a glance:
- Issued by
- NCDMV License & Theft Bureau
- Cost per plate
- $46.25 first five, $23.13 each after
- Requirement
- Active NC motor vehicle dealer license
- Use them for
- Demos, inventory moves, dealership business
- Term
- Annual (aligned to the license month)
Informational only — confirm current fees and rules with the NCDMV License & Theft Bureau (Dealer Unit) before you apply.
DealerVLO tracks your inventory, deals, and paperwork so the plates are the only thing left on your list. $99/month, free to try — no credit card.
What North Carolina dealer plates are
North Carolina dealer plates come from the NCDMV's License & Theft Bureau — the same unit that inspects your dealership — using the LT-405 application. The fee is set by statute (G.S. 20-87(7)): the regular $46.25 plate fee for each of the first five, and half that ($23.13) for each additional.
Two NC-specific wrinkles to budget: plates renew annually aligned to your dealer license month with a $15-per-plate late fee if you miss it, and a few counties (Wake, Orange, Durham at $15/plate; Randolph at $1) add a regional transit tax per plate.
Types of NC dealer plates
For NCDMV-licensed dealers, on dealership-owned vehicles — demonstrations, transport, and dealership business. $46.25 each for the first five, $23.13 each additional, via form LT-405.
North Carolina tiers plate counts by your prior 12 months of sales: under 12 vehicles sold allows up to 3 plates; 12-24 sales, 6 plates; 25-36 sales, 7 plates; 37-48 sales, 8 plates; 49+ sales, at least 8 (scaling with qualifying sales staff).
North Carolina's dealer-issued temporary registration markers — what a sold vehicle drives home on while title and registration process.
How to get dealer plates in North Carolina
- 1
Get your NC dealer license first
Plates require an active NCDMV dealer license — the $50,000 bond, the 12-hour pre-licensing course, and the License & Theft Bureau inspection come first.
- 2
Apply with form LT-405
Submit the dealer plates application to the License & Theft Bureau Dealer Unit: $46.25 per plate for the first five, $23.13 for each plate beyond that.
- 3
Add county transit tax where it applies
Wake, Orange, and Durham counties add $15 per plate; Randolph adds $1. It's calculated automatically, but budget it if you're in the Triangle.
- 4
Renew on your license month — don't be late
Plates renew annually aligned with the dealer license expiration month. A $15-per-plate late fee starts the first day of the following month, and used dealers must show the six-hour continuing education course at license renewal.
Rules on using NC dealer plates
- Plates go on dealership-owned vehicles for dealership business — demos, transport, auction runs
- Sold vehicles go home on a dealer-issued temporary marker, not your dealer plate
- Renew on time: the late fee is $15 per plate starting the month after expiration
- Keep the $50,000 bond and continuing-education requirement current — plates ride on the license
- The License & Theft Bureau both issues plates and inspects dealers — keep plate records ready
Common questions
How much are dealer plates in North Carolina?+
$46.25 each for the first five plates and $23.13 for each additional plate, through the NCDMV License & Theft Bureau (form LT-405). Wake, Orange, and Durham counties add a $15-per-plate regional transit tax; Randolph adds $1.
Who issues NC dealer plates?+
The NCDMV's License & Theft Bureau Dealer Unit — the same unit that inspects dealerships. You apply on form LT-405 with your active dealer license.
When do NC dealer plates renew?+
Annually, aligned with your dealer license's expiration month. Miss it and a $15-per-plate late fee applies starting the first day of the following month — with several plates, that adds up fast.
How many dealer plates can an NC dealer get?+
North Carolina caps plate counts by statute (G.S. 20-79) based on your prior 12 months of sales: fewer than 12 vehicles sold allows up to 3 plates; 12-24 sales, 6 plates; 25-36 sales, 7 plates; 37-48 sales, 8 plates; and at 49+ sales, at least 8, scaling with your qualifying sales staff. Keep sales records clean — your tier resets against them.
Can my customer drive home on my NC dealer plate?+
No — North Carolina dealers issue a temporary registration marker to the buyer at delivery while the title work processes. Dealer plates stay with the dealership's inventory.
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