Drivers in North Carolina now have to pay their vehicle property tax and registration at the same time if they want to get their tags.
The new combined tag and tax law took effect yesterday. Drivers used to renew their registration, and receive a property tax bill from the county a few months later, but DMV spokeswoman Marge Howell says the state made the change because counties were having problems settling bills with delinquent taxpayers.
"They will have that added incentive that if you do not pay your taxes right then, you will not be able to register your vehicle, so there is a little carrot-on-the-stick kind of thing going on here," Howell says.
Tag and tax payments are due this month for drivers that have a September registration month. North Carolina has about 8.5 million registered vehicles.