WASHINGTON — The City of Washington responded to what it says was misinformation that circulated following a front-page article in the Washington Daily News regarding the potential closure of the city’s License Plate Agency.
City officials emphasized this week that no formal decision has been made to close the Washington location. The clarification comes after the newspaper reported that Interim City Manager Bobby Roberson informed City Council on Feb. 9 that he would send a letter to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles requesting closure of the agency.
According to the city, during the Feb. 9, 2026, Washington City Council meeting, under Agenda Item XII, Roberson presented a recommendation for Council to consider closing the License Plate Agency in early summer due to the facility not generating a positive cash flow. The presentation was shared as an informational item for Council’s consideration during the upcoming budget process.
City Council has not taken final action on the matter. Any decision to close the agency would require a formal vote by the City Council. The issue is expected to be discussed further during upcoming budget hearings.
The Washington License Plate Agency is located at 251-A Bridge St., inside the Washington Police Department building.
Financial performance has been at the center of the discussion. The service has not produced a positive cash flow in five years, with the exception of fiscal year 2024–2025. Over the past five years, the agency has recorded a total loss of $129,370, excluding fiscal year 2024–2025, when the service experienced a profit of $18,344.
Roberson indicated that his recommendation to consider closing the agency would be included in the proposed fiscal year 2026–2027 budget. However, no closure has been approved.
If the city ultimately votes to proceed, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles would have to approve the request. Closure requests must be submitted within four months, or 120 days, of the proposed closing date. If approved, the Washington location could close sometime in June.
In North Carolina, license plate agencies are overseen by the Division of Motor Vehicles but are operated by private businesses or local governments. They provide motor vehicle services including titling, registration, license plate renewals, replacement tags, disability placards and duplicate documentation.
If the Washington agency were to close, residents would still have nearby options. There are two agencies in Greenville, located at 4651 N. Creek Dr. and 2462 Stantonsburg Road, and one in Williamston at 305 E. Main St. All three operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
City leaders said discussions will continue as part of the broader budget process. For now, officials stress that the matter remains under consideration and no final decision has been made.
