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The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles Friday closed a license plate agency, or LPA, in Albemarle.

The current agency at 1542 N.C. Highway 24-27 Bypass was closed following the discovery of several contract violations. In North Carolina, NCDMV oversees LPAs, but the agencies are managed by private businesses or local governments. The Albemarle agency had been operated by Eldora Cornatzar since 2016.

LPAs offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license plate renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations. Currently, 130 license plate agencies operate in North Carolina.

Three nearby license plate agencies offer service Monday through Friday:

• Troy, 448 Albemarle Road, Suite 1, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m., 910-572-2911
• Harrisburg, 4612 N.C. Hwy. 49 S., from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 980-258-8078
• Wadesboro, 101 S. Greene St., from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 704-994-3292

In addition, services such as property tax payments and registration renewals can be completed online at www.MyNCDMV.gov.

The division’s policy is to open applications to operate a license plate agency after the expiration or end of a contract, or when the need arises for a new or additional agency in a certain county.

Parties interested in operating an LPA in Stanly County must complete and return an application by March 29. The applications (Form MVR-93 for a private business or Form MVR-93AA for a local government) can be found on the Connect NCDOT website. Interested applicants may call 919-615-8929 with questions.