North Carolina Documentation and Registration

When purchasing a vehicle from one of our auctions in North Carolina, there are a couple of different documentation types you’ll encounter.

When researching a car, ALWAYS review the documentation type in the vehicle detail page. This ensures you're prepared for any additional steps required to obtain a title and register the vehicle.

Court Order

Many of our auctions in the Raleigh and Durham area will list “Court Order” as the documentation type. With this document, you will receive a court order from the seller that allows the transfer of ownership to you. Once you have that, you will be able to obtain a title and register the vehicle.

Here is more information from the North Carolina DMV.

1. Obtain Court Order: Ensure you have the official court order awarding you ownership of the vehicle.​
2. Complete the Application: Fill out the Application for North Carolina Title (Form MVR-1).​
3. Gather Required Documents:
   1. Court order.
   2. Proof of identification.
   3. Proof of North Carolina insurance.
   4. Odometer disclosure statement, if applicable.​
4. Submit to DMV: Visit your local North Carolina DMV office with the completed application and documents.​
5. Pay Applicable Fees: Fees vary; consult the NCDOT Title Manual for specifics.​

Title

If you received a valid North Carolina title, you’ll be able to register the vehicle just as you would have if you purchased the vehicle from a dealer or private party. Here are the steps from the North Carolina DMV:

1. Complete the Application: Fill out the Application for North Carolina Title (Form MVR-1).​
2. Gather Required Documents:
   1. Assigned vehicle title from the seller.
   2. Proof of identification.
   3. Proof of North Carolina insurance.
   4. Odometer disclosure statement, if applicable.​
3. Submit to DMV: Visit your local North Carolina DMV office with the completed application and documents.​
4. Pay Applicable Fees: Fees vary; consult the NCDOT Title Manual for specifics.​

Salvage Title

If you received a salvage title, there are extra steps you will need to take in order to register the vehicle. Salvage title vehicles are not street legal, and you won’t be able to register the vehicle unless it is rebuilt and inspected. Here are the steps:

1. Rebuild the Vehicle: Repair the vehicle to meet North Carolina safety and operational standards.​
2. Complete the Application: Fill out the Application for North Carolina Title (Form MVR-1).​
3. Gather Required Documents:
   1. Salvage title.
   2. Proof of repairs, including receipts and photographs.
   3. Proof of identification.
   4. Proof of North Carolina insurance.
   5. Odometer disclosure statement, if applicable.​
4. Vehicle Inspection: Schedule and pass a salvage vehicle inspection through the North Carolina DMV.​
5. Submit to DMV: Visit your local North Carolina DMV office with the completed application and documents.​
6. Pay Applicable Fees: Fees vary; consult the NCDOT Title Manual for specifics.​

For more information on the salvage and rebuild process in North Carolina, visit this section of the DMV website.