AN ACT to allow for the issuance of title by the division of motor vehicles to the owner of out‑of‑state motor vehicles that are THIRTY-FIVE model years old or older if the license and theft bureau of the division of motor vehicles fails to complete an inspection and verification of the vehicle's identification number within FIFTEEN DAYS of receiving a request for inspection and verification.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑53(e) reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑53.  Application for specially constructed, reconstructed, or foreign vehicle.
…
(e)	No title shall be issued to an initial applicant for (i) out‑of‑state vehicles that are 35 model years old or older or (ii) a specially constructed vehicle prior to the completion of a vehicle verification conducted by the License and Theft Bureau of the Division of Motor Vehicles. These verifications shall be conducted as soon as practical. For an out‑of‑state vehicle that is 35 model years old or older, this inspection shall consist of verifying the public vehicle identification number to ensure that it matches the vehicle and ownership documents. No covert vehicle identification numbers are to be examined on an out‑of‑state vehicle 35 model years or older unless the inspector develops probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number presented does not match the vehicle being examined. However, upon such application and the submission of any required documentation, the Division shall be authorized to register the vehicle pending the completion of the verification of the vehicle. The registration shall be valid for one year but shall not be renewed unless and until the vehicle examination has been completed.
If an inspection and verification is not conducted by the License and Theft Bureau of the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days after receiving a request for such and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number presented does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle shall be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and title shall issue to the owner within 15 days thereafter. If an inspection and verification is timely performed and the vehicle passes the inspection and verification, title shall issue to the owner within 15 days of the date of the inspection.
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SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 15th day of July, 2013.

	s/	 Daniel J. Forest
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Thom Tillis
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved 5:06 p.m. this 23rd day of July, 2013