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Getting Started in the
Western North Carolina |
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 Driver’s LicenseAll new residents who plan to drive must obtain an N.C. driver’s license within 60 days of establishing a permanent residence here. Most newcomers, unless they drive commercial vehicles, will want a Class C license, which permits operation of personal cars and small trucks. If you drive a motorcycle, you’ll also need a motorcycle endorsement. Licensed drivers who are 16 or 17 years old must present proof of completion of a state-approved driver education course in their former state; otherwise, they receive a temporary license pending completion of the course here. North Carolina driver’s licenses are good for five years. To get a license, apply in person at a driver’s license office and take the vision, sign recognition and written tests. (It’ll help to study the “Driver’s Handbook,” available at DMV offices.) When you apply, present your current out-of-state license or two other accepted forms of ID, as well as proof of liability insurance from an insurer licensed in North Carolina. A Class C license, the license needed by most drivers to operate personal automobiles and small trucks, costs $15. Most DMV offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Check out www.ncdot.org/DMV for more details. Driver’s License Offices 600 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-4544 1624 Patton Avenue, Asheville 828-251-6065 125 Baystone Drive, Hendersonville 828-692-6915 290 Lee Road, Clyde 828-627-6969 Jackie Ball Building 164 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-2248 304-A S. Broad St., Brevard 828-883-2070 Motor Vehicle Registration You must register your vehicle before the reciprocity agreement between North Carolina and your former state expires (usually 30 days). Registration is renewed annually. To register your vehicle, apply in person at a license plate agency and present your title (unless the title is held by a lienholder) and a valid registration card from your former state. If your title is held by a lienholder, you must provide the lienholder’s name and address on a state form for title release. You must also present proof of vehicle liability insurance at or above minimum standards (see driver’s license information for the list of acceptable documents). Fees due when you receive North Carolina registration include the $35 title fee and the $20 registration fee. You must also get a vehicle safety inspection within 10 days of receiving your North Carolina license plate. Although the state does not levy sales tax on motor vehicles, North Carolina counties assess property taxes annually. Your car will be registered when you receive your license plate, and you’ll receive a bill in about three months for 3 percent of your car’s value. Vehicle Registration Offices 16 B Innsbruck Mall 85 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-252-8526 137 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville 828-667-2104 Four Seasons Mall 172 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville 828-692-0648 58 Park St., Canton 828-646-3406 65 Branner Ave., Waynesville 828-452-2633 1650 Hwy. 213, Marshall 828-649-9318 62 New Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest 828-883-3251 Rules of the Road Speed limits range from 55 mph to 70 mph on interstates and from 55 mph to 65 mph on open highways; the limit is 35 mph inside municipal corporate limits unless otherwise posted. Motorcyclists must wear helmets and drive with lights on at all times. Seat belt use is mandatory for driver and front-seat passengers. Children 8 and under who weigh less than 80 pounds must be restrained in an appropriate child-safety seat at all times; they also must sit in the back seat if the vehicle has an active passenger-side air bag and a back seat that can hold the safety seat. Everyone younger than 16 must use a seat belt or child-safety seat at all times, no matter where they sit in the vehicle. Right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop unless otherwise posted. Drunken-driving rules are strict. A motorist is guilty of driving while impaired if his blood alcohol level meets or exceeds 0.08 percent or if he is under the influence of or affected by alcohol and/or other drugs. Penalties can include fines, imprisonment and license revocation. The best rule: don’t drink and drive. Voter Registration To be eligible to vote in North Carolina, you must be 18 or older, a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of the county where you register and a resident of your precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election you wish to vote in. To register to vote, pick up a registration form, fill it out completely and mail it to the address on the form. Your registration card will be mailed to you. Forms are available at individual county offices. The North Carolina State Board of Elections number is 919-733-7173 and the website is www.sboe.state.nc.us. Buncombe County Board of Elections 189 College St., Asheville 28801 828-250-4200 Henderson County Board of Elections 120 S. Grove St., Hendersonville 28792 828-697-4970 Madison County Board of Elections 156 S. Main St., Marshall 28753 828-649-3731 Haywood County Board of Elections 1233 N. Main St., Waynesville 28786 828-452-6633 Transylvania County Board of Elections 221 S. Gaston St., Brevard 28712 828-884-3114 Property Taxes Rates for fiscal 2004-2005. All rates per $100 assessed valuation. Buncombe County $0.59 Henderson County $0.475 Madison County $0.77 Haywood County $0.61 Transylvania County $0.48 Asheville $0.53 Biltmore Forest $0.36 Hendersonville $0.43 Weaverville $0.43 Black Mountain $0.385 Waynesville $0.43 Brevard $0.495 Rates are established in May or June of each year in conjunction with annual budget preparation. Depending on where you live, you may owe taxes to a combination of governments – for example, both Buncombe County and the city where you live. The list above doesn’t include some extra taxes and fees you may have to pay, such as fire districts, special development districts and solid-waste fees. So your total tax rate may be higher than the figures listed above. Local property taxes are assessed annually on real property, including homes, cars and boats. Bills for homes, land and the like are mailed in September and payable without penalty by the date specified in early January. Cars are handled differently. The state generates a list of motorists who receive motor vehicle licenses and forwards that information to the county, which generates property tax bills on the vehicles a few weeks after receipt. For further tax information, call the tax office in your county, or access it online. Buncombe County Tax Office 828-250-4910 www.buncombecounty.org/governing/dept/Tax Henderson County Tax Office 828-697-5595 www.hendersoncountync.org/depts./collector.html Madison County Tax Office 828-649-3014 www.madcotax.com Haywood County Tax Office 828-452-6639 www.gov.co.haywood.nc.us/taxassessor.html Transylvania County Tax Office 828-884-3200 www.co.transylvania.nc.us |
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