County hopes to retain

contract for state license plate office
By Scott Nicholson

Watauga County now has two years’ experience on its resume, which it hopes will help it keep the state contract to issue license plates.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is seeking applicants to operate a license plate agency in Watauga County, with a review to determine the contract winner, though there is no bidding process.

Watauga County currently operates the agency at 835 W. King St. in Boone and expects to have its contract renewed.

“We did send in (an application) to continue with the contract,” said Watauga County tax administrator Kelvin Byrd, who oversees the agency. “That’s the decision they make. They can continue a three-year contract with annual renewal.”

Byrd characterized the application process as more like a job application that is based on qualifications.
“We have no intentions of doing anything different,” he said.

“It’s not a bidding process, it’s based on qualifications. They basically told us this is standard operating procedure.”

The county recently completed a two-year contract and is operating under a month-to-month agreement until a decision is made on the new contract. The county was selected to operate the agency after the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles made a shift toward favoring local governments instead of private parties. The NCDMV terminated the contract that was held by Jim Hastings of Boone in a controversial decision that Hastings said was politically motivated. Hastings is former state chairman of the Republican Party.

“We don’t see any reason we won’t get it, but it’s not our decision,” Byrd said.

NCDMV’s new policy is to seek new applicants whenever a contract expires. Applications are available at www.ncdot.gov/dmv.

To download an application form for a motor vehicle LPA, click on “Hot Topics” or call (919) 861-3332 with questions. The plate agency applications (Form MVR-93) must be completed and returned to NCDMV no later than Monday, Aug. 10.

License plate agencies offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations. Currently, about 120 LPAs operate across North Carolina. The Watauga County agency also issues passports.