A license is issued to any business operating as an interstate or intrastate motor carrier based in North Carolina and operating one or more qualified motor vehicle(s). A qualified motor vehicle is a motor vehicle used, designed, or maintained for the transportation of persons or property and: 1. Having two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds; or 2. Having three or more axles regardless of weight; or 3. Is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle or registered gross vehicle weight.
Registration Application for Motor Carrier License and Decal
Calendar year
Chapter 105-449.37(c)
Authority to conduct business in this state, compliance with all Department of Revenue tax schedules, current and proper license plates, at least one vehicle registered in North Carolina
Exempt vehicles include the temporary operation of qualified motor vehicles in this State by a public utility, governmental or cooperative provider of utility services, or a contractor for one of these entities for the limited purpose of restoring utility services in an emergency outage. Additionally, qualified motor vehicles operated by the United State government, a state, or a political subdivision of a state are not considered motor carriers in North Carolina, and are therefore not subject to fuel tax reporting requirements. However, if these qualified vehicles are operating in other IFTA jurisdictions, they may be subject to the fuel tax reporting laws of those other jurisdictions.
NC Department of Revenue
Excise Tax
Motor Fuel
1429 Rock Quarry Rd
Ste. 105
Raleigh, NC 27610-
919-707-7500