North Carolina State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit

​​​​​​​The NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit enforces North Carolina's vehicle safety and emissions inspection laws to keep the roadways free of unsafe vehicles and limit the negative impacts on air quality from mobile sources such as motor vehicles.
 

Inspection fraud generally occurs when individuals attempt to evade North Carolina safety and emissions requirements.

How to Report Vehicle Inspection Fraud

Individuals with information about vehicle inspection fraud can report through the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit.​

Odometer fraud occurs when a motor vehicle's odometer is disconnected, reset or altered with the intent to change the number of clocked miles. ​According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with ​false odometer readings​.
 

Many vehicles with tampered odometers are products of curbstoning – the  sale of vehicles for profit without being licensed as a dealership. The NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit estimates there are more than 5,400 curbstoners in North Carolina.
 

Signs of a possible curbstoner:

• The seller has multiple vehicles for sale.
• The seller's name is not on the vehicle title.
• The seller does not want to notarize the bill of sale. (The Investigative Unit recommends notarizing bills of sale and related documents.)

How to Report Odometer Fraud

Individuals who suspect they are a victim of curbstoning and/or odometer fraud should visit an NCDMV License & Theft Bureau office, contact their local law enforcement agency, or submit a complaint through the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit.

Vehicle Purchasing Tips

• Vehicle Inspection Training & Regulations

One of the core missions of the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit is to recover stolen vehicles, expose chop shops, and investigate and assist other agencies in vehicle identification. 

Preventing Vehicle Theft

A vehicle is stolen every 33 seconds in the United States. The National Insurance Crime Bureau​ recommends owners use a "layered approach" to help protect their vehicles from getting stolen.  

Reporting Vehicle Theft

Report information regarding crimes of vehicle fraud or theft to local law enforcement agencies. You can also submit information about a stolen vehic​le via the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit​. 

North Carolina driver licenses and vehicle registrations contain private information that is susceptible to identity theft and identity fraud. 
 

Using the latest technology, the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit investigates crimes of wrongfully obtaining a state-issued credential or vehicle title by submitting or using fraudulent information.
 

Anyone who believes their information has been used to fraudulently obtain a driver license or ID card should contact the Investigative Unit by visiting a Investigative Unit district office​, or submitting a complaint through the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit.​

Identity theft should also be reported online to the Federal Trade Commission or by calling (877) 438-4338.​

Related Information

• N.C. Department of Justice: Identity Theft Resources
• License & Theft Districts Map

The Investigative Unit conducts examinations on various vehicles for numerous reasons but with the primary goal of preventing theft and fraud.  

Below are examples of vehicles that might require examination by the Investigative Unit:

• Specially constructed vehicles such as a replicas, custom vehicles and street rods
• Antique vehicles (1980 and older) from out of state that are being titled in North Carolina
• Salvage vehicles that were branded from another state and are attempting to be titled in North Carolina
• Six model years and newer salvage vehicles that are required to obtain a preliminary and final inspection per North Carolina General Statute 20-71.3
• Vehicles considered to be gra​​y market that are imported from outside the United States and titled in North Carolina
• Homemade trailers
• Vehicles that may require an indemnity bond
• Additional examples not listed above might also receive examinations
   

If a vehicle requires an examination the owner should bring it with all original ownership documents to a local Investigative Unit office during normal business hours or request a vehicle examination by visiting the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit​.

Related

• Find an Investigative Unit Office 

Inspection stations resources can be found on Connect NCDOT, the N.C. Department of Transportation's resource site for business, professional and working partners.  

Forms required for the listed services can be submitted through the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit.

• Purchase of E-Stickers
• Safety and Emissions Regulations Manual
• Web safety equipment requirements
• Approved headlight aimers and window tint meters
• Inspection station application
• Technician application

Update Technician/Inspector Status

Forms for updates to a technician or an inspector status can be found on Connect NCDOT​ and submitted through the License & Theft Bureau Portal. Make sure to complete the following steps:  
 

• Find the License & Theft Bureau District office you would you like to submit this request.
• Download and fill out the appropriate LT-310 form to notify the appropriate district office of a new certification, certification renewal, changing of employer or adding an employer. If requesting to remove a technician or inspector, please indicate appropriate information in the comments section
• Upload them to the Investigative Unit​.

​​​​​The NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit strives to build relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies by assisting in various capacities.

The bureau can provide assistance in the following areas:

• Certified image request
• Document verification
• Vehicle identification
• Facial recognition
• Driver and vehicle history
• Temporary tag information
• Drivers license validation
• Stolen vehicle assistance

If you are a law enforcement officer or agency acting in an official capacity to obtain assistance from the License & Theft Bureau, please submit a request through the Investigative Unit​.​
 

​Types of Complaints
 

The NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit accepts complaints against businesses including auto dealerships, inspection stations, repair shops/garages, metal recyclers (scrap yards), wrecker/towing facilities, and any other company that may be involved in fraudulent or questionable activities.

The bureau also accepts complaints against individuals who might be involved in wrongdoings such as title fraud, curbstoning (sale of vehicles for profit without being licensed as a dealership), odometer fraud, identity theft related to driver licenses, and various other misdeeds.

Complaints against a License & Theft Bureau employee can be filed for suspected unprofessional conduct or improper behavior.
 

Anonymous Complaints

Although complaints can be filed anonymously, they are not recommended as they are often difficult to investigate. Individuals filing anonymous complaints should provide sufficient information and explicit details to permit a thorough investigation.

Filing a Complaint

To submit a complaint, please visit the NC State Highway Patrol Investigative Unit​​.​​

Investigation Process

The License & Theft Bureau will review any complaint against a business or individual and determine the most appropriate action.​ If the complaint is forwarded for investigation, a License & Theft Bureau Inspector will reach out to the complainant within 30 days.

Complaint Against an Employee

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles Internal Affairs department evaluates any complaint against an employee and determines how the complaint should be handled. Complainants are notified in writing upon receipt of the complaint and when the investigation is complete​. Neither the Investigative Unit nor any of its offices may release the findings or any resulting disciplinary action, in accordance with State of North Carolina personnel laws. ​