NC DMV Vehicle & License Plate Offices

Go on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday — not Monday or Friday or the end of the month.
I went in on a Wednesday at 1: pm and there was just 1 person in line
It’s a little tricky to find — tucked back behind the Wells Fargo
Great DMV!

There was no line, I was pleasantly greeted, and out in five minutes? Is this really DMV center?
You’d have to be crazy to go to the location at Northgate Mall over this one for plates and registration.
Wells Fargo ATM is literally 20 feet away.

I had an efficient and uneventful visit for a complicated title transaction (out-​of-​state transfer AND ownership transfer). The woman at the counter displayed a modicum of courtesy and professionalism that befit my expectations in a government context.
My gripe has to do with the facilities, not the service. The lobby is small and has minimal seating, which is (by unspoken social norm) reserved for the elderly. The rest of us literally stand and wait in line; there is no «take a number» system. I stood behind 10 people in line for 1 hour — this was 1pm on Monday and appeared to be a typical crowd.

I have had to come here too many times to count to sort out various things that came up moving here from out of state, but the people working here have always made it a pleasant experience. Everyone I have come in contact with has been friendly, helpful, and patient. The different issues that I needed help with were usually very complicated, but the staff members always take their time walking me through the necessary steps. The lines are short and move at a reasonable pace, which is much appreciated after having experienced the slow moving hell on earth that is the DMV in Los Angeles.

I had a positive experience at the NCDMV today, and the staff (Bruce) was helpful and professional. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes, even with a short line of customers ahead of me, and I needed a title change (which takes longer than registration).
The person in front of me was very rude to Bruce, and I was impressed with how he didn’t let it get to him and that he didn’t take it out on any of the other customers. He took the time to sort out my paperwork, helping me fix errors I didn’t even know about. It seemed like he went out of his way so that I wouldn’t have to make a second trip.
FYI, they do take credit cards, as well as checks and cash. I needed a notary service, which cost me $ 5 and was cash only. For everything else I was able to use my credit card. There are separate lines for registration needs and title needs. The registration line moves faster.

Staff isnt knowledgeable of their job. I went to get my car registration renewal and was told Raleigh DMV had a hold on my registration because I have a lien on my car. A lien on your car DOES NOT mean you can not renew your registration. My loan company said they have no idea why I was told that. I went to a DMV and received my renewal with no problem. HUGE inconvinence for me! ALL DMV’s have the same information! Staff need to know their job!

For anyone who had the displeasure of visiting the previous Chapel Hill License Plate Agency (that was shut down for fraud), this is a major step in the right direction. The people are not openly rude to customers! They make eye contact and acknowledge you!
NC DMV in general is getting much better. Nearly all the mundane stuff can now be done online. Only things that need special attention like title transfers, etc… really require a visit. I visited today for a registration renewal only because I needed the sticker *today* and could not wait the few days it takes to arrive in the mail when done online.
Mid-​morning on a Wednesday. About 12 people in line. Two employees — one exclusively for registration issues, one for titles. My registration line moved pretty quickly — I waited in line about 10 minutes before being helped, and my renewal took maybe four minutes.
BRING CASH!
But, one hitch. Cash and checks only! And, seriously, who writes checks? I’ve not had a checkbook in over a decade. Oh, they had card readers at each station, but they were taped over. I spotted the issue after waiting a few minutes in line — there were no obvious signs anywhere, just taped over card readers. I left, found a nearby ATM, got cash and returned… not too much further back than I was when I left. When I asked about accepting cards, a manager in back kind of gruffly said «we’re waiting on the State». Whatever that means.
And thats really my complaint here. The DMV just doesn’t get it, and this branch office is no different. I run a retail business. Customer service is a huge percentage of the overall job. Can you think of *any* retail business that could get away with only accepting cash? Now, how about one that is a replacement for one shut down for fraud — skimming cash off the top. Do you really think its a good idea to only accept cash when cash was the problem at the previous office?
But, the DMV doesn’t care, because they don’t see themselves as a retail business working to win over customers. Thats the problem. This branch has been open almost SIX MONTHS and still: cash only. I can set up an entirely new POS system complete with card readers and new bank accounts in a few days, tops. Somehting smells a bit fishy at this new Chapel Hill License Plate Agency.

I don’t understand why I have to buy a plate in the registration process and turn around to order the plate I wanted. Streamline this garbage.

I risked life and limb this afternoon by going to the DMV office to renew my car registration, since it had to be done by Wednesday. Nav kept taking me to the Whole Foods lot, which I was sure wasn’t right. So after 45 minutes I called them and was told «we’re behind the Staples at the other end from where the Blockbuster went out of business. There’s a sign.»
Turns out those direction were completely spot-​on. There was a sign, and while I wouldn’t call it «highly visible», it was bigger than a license plate with «DMV» scrawled on the back with a sharpie.
The office itself is about the size of my living room. Two counters, one of which had the only 4 employees behind it. There were three people being served at the counter, and I was second in line. Roughly 3 minutes later, I was done with my transaction, and there were three people in line.
Not a bad experience overall. I’ll be doing all my NC vehicle registrations there in the future, if I can.