ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — People who lost vehicles, driver’s licenses or titles when the remnants of Hurricane Helene unleashed catastrophic flooding across Western North Carolina are getting a break at the DMV.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 323 to ease requirements and fee collections for residents of WNC in Helene’s aftermath. As a result, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles has suspended the collection of various late fees, suspended certain requirements for residents and businesses and extended certain licenses for mechanics and businesses.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 323

Fees waived

DMV fees have been waived for the following items in the affected counties from Sept. 27 through Dec. 31:

  • duplicate or corrected vehicle titles
  • duplicate registration cards
  • salvage certificate of title
  • replacement license plates and/or stickers
  • duplicate driver licenses (including CDLs)
  • duplicate State ID cards (note: State ID cards are already free for ages 17 and over)

The following late fees are also being waived from Sept. 26 through Dec. 31 in the affected counties:

  • late vehicle registration fees for vehicles that expired on or after Aug. 31
  • late interest payments on vehicle registrations and property taxes that expired on or after Aug. 31
  • title fees on or after Aug. 31
  • late fees and interest on limited registration plates and vehicle registration renewals for limited registrations that expired on or after Sept. 30
  • late fees for dealer plates that expired on or after Aug. 31

Refunds

Fees (and late fees) that were paid and that have now been waived will be refunded. Customers will not have to take any action to receive refunds. Please allow four to six weeks (until Dec. 6) for refunds to be processed. Refunds will not be given in person at offices.

The division and its IT partners are working with programmers to allow customers in the designated counties to:

  • order duplicate driver’s licenses and ID cards online without being charged
  • pay vehicle registration renewals and property tax payments online without having to pay late fees and interest.

Please allow three weeks (until Nov. 22) for this service to be available online.

In the meantime, customers in the affected counties can go to an office to request the items above and they will not have to pay for them.

Suspension of duplicate title waiting period, inspections

The duplicate title waiting period, which is usually 15 days, has been suspended through Dec. 31 in the affected counties.

Safety and emissions inspections for vehicles registered in the affected counties have been suspended through Dec. 31.

Mechanic and dealer license extensions

The licenses for safety and emissions mechanics have been extended through Dec. 31 in the affected counties.

Motor vehicle dealer and sales representative licenses and dealer license plates have also been extended through Dec. 31 in the affected counties.

Dealer education requirements for dealer license renewals have also been suspended through Dec. 31 in the affected counties.

Affected counties

The following 39 counties, along with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, have been designated to receive the relief outlined above:

1. Alexander
2. Alleghany
3. Ashe
4. Avery
5. Buncombe
6. Burke
7. Cabarrus
8. Caldwell
9. Catawba
10. Cherokee
11. Clay
12. Cleveland
13. Forsyth
14. Gaston
15. Graham
16. Haywood
17. Henderson
18. Iredell
19. Jackson
20. Lee
21. Lincoln
22. Macon
23. Madison
24. McDowell
25. Mecklenburg
26. Mitchell
27. Nash
28. Polk
29. Rowan
30. Rutherford
31. Stanly
32. Surry
33. Swain
34. Transylvania
35. Union
36. Watauga
37. Wilkes
38. Yadkin
39. Yancey

Click here to get the latest information on DMV’s response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.