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 ten tests. It'll help to study the "Driver's Handbook," available at DMV offices or check the Web site below.

When you apply, present your current out -of-state license or two other accepted forms of identification, as well as proof of liability insurance from an insurer licensed in North Carolina. You'll also need to sup­ ply your Social Security number.

For more information on North Carolina driver's license and motor vehicle registration rules, call DMV at 919.715.7000. You can access recorded information 24 hours a day using a touch-tone telephone and following the prompts. Or check the DMV website at www.ncdot.org/DMV

DRIVER'S LICENSE OFFICES
2527 E. Market St., Greensboro 336.334.5745
2391 Coliseum Blvd., Greensboro 336.334.5438
650 Francis St., High Point 336.884.1003
3637 N. Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem 336.761.2259
2001 Silas Creek Pkwy., Winston-Salem 336.761.2258
60 I FIRST IMPRESSIONS
910E S. Main St., Kernersville 336.993.5651
III E. Crescent Square, Graham 336.570.6811
2754 U.S. Hwy 220, Asheboro 336.629.1949
2314 S. Main St., Lexington 336.248.5179
1033 Randolph St., Thomasville 336.4 72. 7334
308 E. Stadium Drive, Eden 336.623.6528
1230 School St., Wilkesboro 336.838.4725

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 lien holder), and a valid registration card from your former state. If your title is held by a lien­ holder, 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 drivers license information for the list of acceptable documents).

You must also get a vehicle safety inspection within 10 days of receiving your North Carolina license plate. The safety inspection is $9.25. Most counties in the Triad also require an emissions inspection. The total cost of safety and emissions inspections is $30. Both can be done at any state-authorized inspection station and must be done every year.

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
2248 Golden Gate Shopping Center, Greensboro' 336.379.7980
5551 Guilford Shoppes Station, Greensboro' 336.856.1510
1175 E. Lexington Ave., High Point 336.882.8327
1127 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem' 336.725.2795
667 Peters Creek Parkway, Winston­ Salem' 336.725.7060
1325 E. Hwy. 66 South, Kernersville 336.993.5226
85 Plaza Shopping Center, 2668 Ramada Road, Burlington· 336.228.7152
338 S. Fayetteville St., Asheboro 336.629.9623
804B S. Main St., Lexington 336.248.2202
1033 Randolph St., Thomasville 336.4 76.4927
307 W Meadow Road, Eden 336.623.3103
112 W Murphy St., Madison 336.548.6055
85 Boone Trail, North Wilkesboro 336.903.1283

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. Approved child­ restraint seats are required for children 4 years and younger; all children 16 and younger must be buckled up no matter where they sit in the vehicle.

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 reg­ ister 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 Web site is www. sboe.state.nc.us.

Alamance County Board of Elections
115 W. Maple St., Graham, NC 27253
336.570.6755
www.alamance-nc.com

Caswell County Board of Elections
139 E. Church St., Yanceyville, NC 27379
336.694.4010
www.caswellcountync.gov/county/depts/boardelec.htm

Davidson County Board of Elections
912 Greensboro St., Lexington, NC 27292
336.242.2190
www.co.davidson.nc.us/Elections

Davie County Board of Elections
14 S. Salisbury St. Mocksville, NC 27028
336.751.2027
www.co.davie.nc.us

Forsyth County Board of Elections
201 N. Chestnut St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336.703.2800
www.co.forsyth.nc.us/elections

Guilford County Board of Elections
301 W. Market St.
Greensboro, NC 27401

336.641.3836
505 E. Green Drive, High Point, NC 27260
336.845.7895

Montgomery County Board of Elections
108 E. Main St., Troy, NC 27371
910.572.2024
www.montgomerycountync.com

Randolph County Board of Elections
158 Worth St., Asheboro, NC 27203
336.318.6900
www.co.randolph.nc.us/elections

Rockingham County Board of Elections
371 N.C. 65, Suite 208
Wentworth, NC 27375
336.342.8107
 

Stokes County Board of Elections
1012 Main St., Danbury, NC 27016
336.593.2409
www.co.stokes.nc. us/vote

Surry County Board of Elections
118 Hamby Road, Dobson, NC 27017
336.401.8225

Wilkes County Board of Elections
110 North St., Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.651. 7338

Yadkin County Board of Elections
101 S. State St., Yadkinville, NC 27055
336.679.4227



PROPERTY TAXES
Rates for fiscal 2005-2006. All rates per $100 assessed valuation.

Alamance County      $0.5625
Davidson County       $0.54
Forsyth County          $0.666
Guilford County         $0.6428
Randolph County       $0.525
Rockingham County   $0.635
Asheboro                  $0.55
Burlington                 $0.555
Greensboro               $0.5675
High PoinL                 $0.593
Kernersville               $0.525
Winston-Salem          $0.485

Rates are established in May or June of each year in conjunction with annual bud­ get preparation. Depending on where you live, you may owe taxes to a combination of governments - for example, both Guilford County and the city where you live. The list above doesn't include some extra taxesand 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.

Alamance County
336.228.1312
www.alamance-nc.com

Caswell County
336.694.4194
www.caswellnc.com

Davidson County
336.242.2000
www.co.davidson.nc.us/Tax

Davie County
336.751.3416
www.co.davie.nc.us

Forsyth County
336.703.2300
www.co.forsyth.nc.us/tax

Guilford County
336.641.3362

Montgomery County
910.576.4311
www.montgomerycountync.com

Randolph County
336.318.6500
www.co.randolph.nc.us/tax

Rockingham County
336.342.8280

Stokes County
336.593.2811
www.co.stokes.nc.us/tax

Surry County
336.401.8100

Wilkes County
336.651.7300

Yadkin County
336.679.4221