RALEIGH – The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles has received complaints from citizens using unofficial websites that charge fees for the simplest DMV services or products.

The official NCDMV website charges nothing for DMV information or forms, and its products are usually provided free or at much lower rates than those advertised on unofficial sites.

“We are seeing an increase in customers who contact us after realizing they paid for information on a private website that is free on our official government website, www.ncdot.gov/dmv,” said DMV Commissioner Torre Jessup. “It is always important to look for the ‘.gov’ in the website address, which tells you it is an official government website.”

To limit confusion, consumers should be aware of the following information:

• Some websites exist that contain DMV information and forms, but they are not officially-approved websites. Web searches may return results with other websites, but only the official state DMV website ends in “.gov.”
• Beware of third-party websites offering forms or other information that could be out-of-date or erroneous.
• While not illegal, many of the sites are for profit and ask users to pay for forms. NCDMV forms are free.NCDMV
• Many sites exist to obtain your information for future marketing, or worse, for using your personal information in fraudulent activities.
• If you provide payment information on a third-party website, beware that your payment card information may be stolen.
• Check the “Terms and Conditions” page of the website, where the site states that it is not affiliated with any state government agency.
• Always remember to look for a website that contains “.gov” in its address to assure you are receiving accurate governmental information.
• Go to the official NCDMV website: www.ncdot.gov/dmv.