Raleigh, NC – State officials today closed a N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) License Plate Agency, or LPA, in Lincolnton.

The closure was a result of contract violations and mismanagement by the temporary contractor.

The agency at 646 Center Drive had been operating under a temporary contract since January after the death of the previous contractor who had been operating the office since 1992.

The DMV is working to establish another temporary contract to allow the office to continue operating until a permanent contractor is in place.

Customers may visit other area license plate agencies Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., including:

• Newton, 803 Conover Blvd. W., 828-464-6878
• Hickory, 901 U.S. Hwy. 321 N.W., Suite 100, 828-328-3783
• Gastonia, 246 N. New Hope Rd., Suite 239, 704-864-4856
• Shelby, 118 N. Morgan St., 704-487-4551 (scheduled to reopen Aug. 4)

LPAs offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license plate renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations. Currently, 127 license plate agencies operate in North Carolina. Online services are available at MyNCDMV.gov.