Section 20-79.1B - Print-on-demand temporary registration plates(a) Implementation. - No later than January 1, 2025, the Division shall implement a statewide print-on-demand temporary registration plate system for on-demand printing of temporary registration plates with vehicle owner information electronically associated and transferred to the Division as required by this Chapter. Plates issued through the print-on-demand temporary registration plate system implemented under this section are in lieu of temporary plates issued by dealers under G.S. 20-79.1 and temporary registration plates issued by commission contractors under G.S. 20-50(b) but are otherwise subject to all conditions and limitations applicable to temporary registration plates set forth in this Article. The Division shall contract with a qualified vendor or vendors after consultation with the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association and the Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association to develop and implement this statewide print-on-demand temporary registration plate system.(b) Minimum Standards for System. - When contracting with a qualified vendor or vendors to implement the system required in subsection (a) of this section, the Division shall set the following minimum standards: (1) The Division shall issue a competitive request for proposal to assess the qualifications of any vendor or vendors responsible for the establishment and ongoing support of the statewide print-on-demand temporary registration plate system. The Division may also reserve the right to receive input regarding specifications for the print-on-demand temporary registration plate system from parties that do not respond to a request for proposal to establish and operate a print-on-demand temporary registration plate system. The Division shall select at least two vendors.(2) Any contract entered into with a vendor or vendors shall include no costs or charges payable by the Division to the vendor or vendors. The vendor or vendors shall reimburse the Division for documented reasonable implementation costs directly associated with the establishment of the statewide print-on-demand temporary registration plate system.(3) Upon implementation of the print-on-demand temporary registration plate system, the qualified vendor or vendors may charge participating motor vehicle dealers or their agents a fee for each temporary registration plate printed and registered with the Division. The print-on-demand temporary registration plate fee shall be consistent with market pricing in an amount not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for costs associated with the development and ongoing administration of the print-on-demand temporary registration plate system. The qualified vendor or vendors shall not charge motor vehicle dealers or their agents any additional fee for the printing and registration of a print-on-demand temporary registration plate. To recover their costs, participating motor vehicle dealers or their agents may charge the purchaser of a motor vehicle or lessee of an automotive lease an amount equal to the print-on-demand temporary registration plate fee plus a fee in an amount not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each print-on-demand temporary registration plate printed and registered with the Division.(4) The print-on-demand temporary registration plate system must include the following elements: a. A design and layout for the print-on-demand temporary registration plate established by the Division and of a quality as to resist deterioration or fading from exposure to the elements during the period for which display is required.b. The ability of motor vehicle dealers to directly connect to the system in order to issue print-on-demand temporary registration plates to the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle that will be registered in this State or another state, including a web-based option for motor vehicle dealers who do not utilize an online vehicle registration vendor to complete and file Division required documents related to motor vehicle titling and registration.c. The ability of commission contractors to directly connect to the system in order to issue print-on-demand temporary registration plates to the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle.d. Each print-on-demand temporary registration plate must contain identifying information for the motor vehicle, as determined by the Division, to include the date of issue, the date of expiration, the name of the issuing entity, and unique identifying information for the plate that will be assigned by the Division.e. The ability for identifying information on a print-on-demand temporary registration plate and vehicle owner information to be transmitted to the Division upon issuance of the plate.f. The ability to implement and maintain a distribution procedure for print-on-demand temporary registration plates in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of this section.(c) Distribution of Print-on-Demand Temporary Registration Plate Materials. - In order to assist the Division with the administration and security of the print-on-demand temporary registration system, the system shall include a procedure for a motor vehicle dealer to obtain print-on-demand temporary registration plate materials from a registered distributor. A commission contractor may obtain print-on-demand temporary registration plate materials from a registered distributor or the Division. A registered distributor may charge a fee for distribution of print-on-demand temporary registration plate materials not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) per print-on-demand temporary registration plate.(d) Print-on-Demand Temporary Registration Plate Materials Distributors. - The Division shall register two print-on-demand temporary registration plate materials distributors in the State. One registered distributor shall be a trade association composed of a minimum of 400 new motor vehicle dealers located in this State. One registered distributor shall be a trade association comprised of a minimum of 400 used motor vehicle dealers located in this State.(e) Experience Required. - Qualified vendors shall have experience in directly providing electronic solutions to State motor vehicle departments or agencies.(f) Mandatory Participation. - Beginning on October 1, 2025, all motor vehicle dealers and other entities that issue at least five temporary registration plates annually shall utilize exclusively the print-on-demand temporary registration plate system for the issuance of all temporary registration plates to vehicle owners or lessees.(g) Definition. - For purposes of this section, print-on-demand temporary registration plate system means a computerized system that allows the on-demand and on-site printing of required vehicle registration and other information on a temporary registration plate by the issuer of the plate and allows required information about the vehicle owner or lessee to whom the temporary plate has been issued to be transferred to the Division in electronic format.N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-79.1B
Added by 2024 N.C. Sess. Laws 30,s. 8-a, eff. 7/2/2024.