How to Fill Out the North Carolina DOI Motor Club License Application (w/ Examples) + FAQs

The North Carolina Motor Club License Application is the form a motor club files with the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NC DOI) to get state permission to sell roadside assistance, towing, bail bond, and other vehicle-related services to members for a fee. Any company that promises members three or more covered services—like emergency road service, towing, or automobile theft reward service—must hold this license before it does business in the state, under NC General Statutes Article 69.

This guide walks you through both the initial application and the annual renewal, line by line, using the current renewal package revised 7/2020. The state takes this seriously: operating a motor club in North Carolina without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor under statute, and the renewal “Before You Begin” sheet warns that unlicensed activity can be treated as a Class I felony. Every license, new or renewed, expires on June 30, so timing matters as much as accuracy.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 🚗 What the Motor Club License is, who must file it, and which services trigger the requirement
• 📋 Every document you must gather first, including the audited financial statement and the $50,000 surety bond
• ✍️ How to complete each field of the application and the Personal Questionnaire (Form DOI-5MC) without triggering a hold
• 💵 Exact fees, mailing addresses, and filing channels so your package is not rejected
• ⚠️ The most common mistakes filers make and the direct consequences of each

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The Motor Club License Application is the official request a company submits to the NC Department of Insurance asking the Commissioner of Insurance to approve it as a licensed motor club. The form collects your company information, ownership and officer details, financial proof, and your surety bond so the Commissioner can decide whether you have the financial strength and integrity to serve North Carolina members. Without an approved application, you cannot legally collect dues or promise motor club services in the state.

Under G.S. 58-69-5, no motor club, branch office, or franchise motor club may engage in business in North Carolina unless it holds a valid license. A “motor club” is defined in G.S. 58-69-2 as any person or company that, in exchange for dues or periodic payments, promises members three or more of these services: automobile theft reward service, bail or cash appearance bond service, emergency road service, legal service, map service, personal travel and accident insurance service, touring service, and towing service. If you offer fewer than three of these, you are not a motor club under this law.

Three types of filers use this license. A motor club (the main applicant) pays the largest fee and files the full package. A branch or district office of an already-licensed club pays a smaller fee for each physical location. A franchise motor club pays its own annual fee and must also post its own bond. National auto clubs expanding into North Carolina, in-state roadside-assistance startups, and existing licensed clubs renewing each year all use this same framework, just with different fee lines and attachments.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather every item below before you open the electronic application, because the system asks for them in sequence and a missing document stalls the whole review. The renewal “Before You Begin” checklist lists these exact items, and the same materials apply to a first-time filing.

• Audited corporate financial statement (most recent year). This proves your financial responsibility; without it, the Commissioner cannot approve you, and a first-time applicant is required by G.S. 58-69-10 to submit one.
• Proof of at least $5,000 positive net equity. The financial statement must show this minimum; fall below it and the application is denied for insufficient financial responsibility.
• GAAP-prepared financials. The statement must follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or the reviewer will reject it as non-compliant.
• $50,000 surety bond with Power of Attorney. This is the core consumer-protection requirement; a missing or underfunded bond is an automatic stop.
• Personal Questionnaire (Form DOI-5MC) for every owner, governing member, and officer. Each person of authority must be vetted for reliability and integrity.
• Legal company name, trademarks, and emblems. The Commissioner approves these under G.S. 58-69-20, so have your exact branding ready.
• North Carolina resident agent for service of process. G.S. 58-69-30 requires a resident agent at all times; without one, your license cannot be maintained.
• Payment method (credit card or check). The fee is nonrefundable, so confirm the amount before you submit to avoid paying twice.
• List of any branch offices and franchise arrangements. Each adds its own fee line, and leaving one off can mean operating an unlicensed location.
• Records of any criminal or administrative actions against owners or officers. G.S. 58-69-60 requires disclosure, and hiding one can end your license.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

North Carolina handles motor club licensing electronically through its licensing vendor, Pearson VUE, and you start at the NC DOI motor club licensing page. The page links to the application, the renewal package, and the rules under Article 69. The renewal “Before You Begin” sheet is the single best reference because it lists the checklist, fees, and mailing addresses in one place.

For renewals, the Agent Services Division mails each licensed motor club a “Motor Club License Renewal Application” before the June 30 expiration, under 11 NCAC 13 .0404. You complete it electronically and attach the required documents, or email bond copies to northcarolinalicensingoffice@pearson.com. First-time applicants who never received a mailing should contact the Agent Services Division to begin the initial filing.

The application itself is filled out online, but several supporting items—original bonds and the fee payment—travel by mail to separate addresses. That split trips up many filers, so treat the online form and the mailed package as two halves of one filing. Keep a copy of every page and every attachment, because you will need proof if the state says something is missing.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Motor Club License Application Line by Line

This is the heart of the filing. Complete each section in order, use your exact legal information, and match every name to your official records. Below, each major field gets its own walkthrough.

Field 1: Legal Name of Motor Club

What it asks in plain English. This field wants the full, official legal name of the company applying for the license, exactly as it appears on your corporate charter.

How to answer it. Type the complete registered entity name, including the suffix such as “Inc.” or “LLC,” with no abbreviations the charter does not use. Match it letter for letter to your Secretary of State filing.

Example entry. A national club enters Roadway Guardian Auto Club, Inc. because that is the exact name on its articles of incorporation.

Nuance or edge case. If your club operates under a trade name or “doing business as,” enter the legal name here and list the DBA in the trademark/emblem section, since the Commissioner approves names separately under G.S. 58-69-20.

Common mistake and consequence. Filers often enter a marketing name instead of the legal name, which causes the license to be issued in a name that does not match the bond, forcing a costly correction and reissue.

Misconception. Some believe the name must be unique only within the motor club industry; in fact, the Commissioner can disapprove any name likely to confuse or mislead the public about the club’s identity.

Field 2: Business Address and Home Office Location

What it asks in plain English. This field asks where your motor club’s main office sits and where the state can reach you.

How to answer it. Enter the full street address of your home office, then list any branch or district offices separately, since each branch is defined and licensed on its own under G.S. 58-69-2.

Example entry. An in-state startup writes 412 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603 as its home office.

Nuance or edge case. Out-of-state clubs may have a home office in another state; that is allowed, because the law covers clubs “whether or not residing, domiciled, or chartered in this State,” but you still need a North Carolina resident agent.

Common mistake and consequence. Listing a P.O. Box as the home office instead of a physical location can flag the file, because a branch or district office is defined as a physical location where clients meet representatives.

Misconception. People assume one address covers every storefront; each branch office that serves clients must be separately licensed and pay its own $100 fee.

Field 3: Type of License (Motor Club, Branch, or Franchise)

What it asks in plain English. This field asks which kind of license you are applying for so the system charges the right fee.

How to answer it. Select “Motor Club” for the main company, “Branch/District Office” for each extra physical office, or “Franchise Motor Club” if you operate under a franchise model. Choose every type that applies.

Example entry. A franchisee selects Franchise Motor Club and notes its parent brand.

Nuance or edge case. A single company can need more than one type at once—for example, a motor club with three branches files one motor club application plus three branch lines.

Common mistake and consequence. Choosing the wrong type underpays the fee, and because fees are nonrefundable under G.S. 58-69-10, you cannot get the wrong payment back—you must pay again correctly.

Misconception. Many think a franchise club is covered by the parent’s bond; a franchise motor club must deposit its own separate $50,000 bond.

Field 4: Services Offered

What it asks in plain English. This field asks which of the eight statutory motor club services you promise members.

How to answer it. Check each service you provide from the list in G.S. 58-69-2: theft reward, bail or cash appearance bond, emergency road service, legal service, map service, travel and accident insurance, touring service, and towing. You must offer at least three to qualify.

Example entry. A startup checks Emergency Road Service, Towing Service, and Map Service—exactly three—to meet the definition.

Nuance or edge case. If you offer the personal travel and accident insurance service, that policy must be issued by an insurer duly licensed in North Carolina, or that line does not count.

Common mistake and consequence. Listing only two services means you do not legally qualify as a motor club, and the application is rejected because the definition is not met.

Misconception. Filers think more checked boxes always help; offering bail bond or legal service brings extra obligations, such as the guaranteed arrest bond rules in G.S. 58-69-50.

Field 5: Ownership, Officers, and Governing Members

What it asks in plain English. This field asks who owns and runs the company so the state can check their backgrounds.

How to answer it. List every owner, governing member, and officer by full legal name and title, and attach a Personal Questionnaire (Form DOI-5MC) for each one.

Example entry. A renewing club lists Janet Okafor, President and Marcus Reed, CFO, each with an attached DOI-5MC.

Nuance or edge case. When ownership changes between filings, you must submit new or updated questionnaires for the new people, even at renewal, per the renewal checklist.

Common mistake and consequence. Leaving off one officer means the Commissioner cannot make the required “reliability and integrity” finding under G.S. 58-69-15, which delays or blocks approval.

Misconception. People assume silent partners or minority owners can be skipped; all owners and governing members must be disclosed.

Field 6: Personal Questionnaire (Form DOI-5MC)

What it asks in plain English. This attached form digs into each individual’s personal, financial, and legal history.

How to answer it. Each owner and officer completes their own DOI-5MC with name, identifying details, financial responsibility, and full disclosure of any criminal or administrative history. Answer every question; do not leave blanks.

Example entry. Marcus Reed writes No to a prior license revocation question, then signs and dates the form.

Nuance or edge case. If a person had a past administrative action in another state, disclose it here, because G.S. 58-69-60 requires reporting such actions within 30 days of final disposition.

Common mistake and consequence. Hiding a conviction for dishonesty or breach of trust is the fastest way to lose a license, since that conviction must be reported within 10 days under statute and concealment shows lack of integrity.

Misconception. Filers think old or out-of-state matters do not count; the questionnaire asks about all jurisdictions, not just North Carolina.

Field 7: Audited Financial Statement

What it asks in plain English. This part wants proof that your club has the money to keep its promises to members.

How to answer it. Attach your most recent audited corporate financial statement, prepared under GAAP, showing at least $5,000 positive net equity. First-time applicants must include it; renewing clubs include it when the Commissioner requires.

Example entry. Roadway Guardian attaches an audited statement showing $84,000 in net equity, well above the floor.

Nuance or edge case. A brand-new startup with no full-year history should provide audited opening financials, because G.S. 58-69-10 requires an audited statement for any club never licensed before.

Common mistake and consequence. Submitting unaudited or compiled statements gets the financials rejected, and the application stalls until a proper audit is filed.

Misconception. People believe a healthy bank balance is enough; the state needs audited equity figures, not just cash on hand.

Field 8: Surety Bond and Power of Attorney

What it asks in plain English. This field captures the $50,000 bond that protects members if your club fails to deliver.

How to answer it. File a $50,000 surety bond, executed by a surety company authorized in North Carolina, made payable to the State of North Carolina, with an attached Power of Attorney. For renewals, attach a Continuation Certificate or Rider with Power of Attorney instead.

Example entry. A startup attaches a bond from a licensed surety reading Principal: Roadway Guardian Auto Club, Inc.; Amount: $50,000.

Nuance or edge case. The bond’s expiration date must not occur before June 30, since every license expires that day; a bond lapsing earlier leaves a coverage gap.

Common mistake and consequence. Submitting a bond without the Power of Attorney makes it invalid, and the file is held until the complete bond arrives.

Misconception. Filers think a deposit of securities is harder than a bond; the law allows $50,000 in qualifying securities as an alternative under G.S. 58-69-10.

Field 9: North Carolina Agent for Service of Process

What it asks in plain English. This field names the North Carolina resident who can accept legal papers for your club.

How to answer it. Enter the full name and North Carolina address of your appointed resident agent, who must remain in place at all times under G.S. 58-69-30.

Example entry. An out-of-state club lists Carolina Registered Agents LLC, 150 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601.

Nuance or edge case. Out-of-state clubs almost always use a commercial registered agent service, because the agent must be a North Carolina resident even when the company is not based here.

Common mistake and consequence. Letting the agent appointment lapse violates the statute and can lead to suspension, since the requirement applies at all times, not just at filing.

Misconception. People assume the home-office address can serve as the agent; the agent must be a resident of North Carolina specifically.

Field 10: Fee Calculation and Payment

What it asks in plain English. This field totals what you owe and how you will pay.

How to answer it. Add the motor club fee, plus $100 for each branch office and $200 for each franchise. Pay by credit card or check made payable to the NC Department of Insurance. The fee is nonrefundable.

Example entry. A club with two branches enters a total that includes its main fee plus $200 for the two branches.

Nuance or edge case. The renewal sheet lists the renewal total as $638 ($600 application plus $38 processing), while the statute sets the base annual motor club fee at $600; confirm the exact current total with NC DOI before paying.

Common mistake and consequence. Underpaying by leaving out a branch or franchise line means an incomplete filing, and since fees are nonrefundable, you cannot recover a wrong payment.

Misconception. Filers think paying the fee guarantees the license; payment is only one requirement, and the Commissioner can still refuse for financial or integrity reasons under G.S. 58-69-15.

Field 11: Trademarks, Emblems, and Trade Names

What it asks in plain English. This field lists the logos, emblems, and trade names your club uses with the public.

How to answer it. Enter every trademark, emblem, and trade name exactly as used in advertising and on member materials, because the Commissioner approves or disapproves them under G.S. 58-69-20.

Example entry. Roadway Guardian lists its shield emblem and the trade name RoadGuard.

Nuance or edge case. If your emblem resembles a well-known club’s mark, expect scrutiny, since the Commissioner can disapprove names or emblems likely to confuse the public.

Common mistake and consequence. Using an unapproved emblem in marketing can draw an order to stop, since the Commissioner controls all forms a licensee employs.

Misconception. Filers think a federal trademark guarantees state approval; the Commissioner makes a separate consumer-confusion judgment.

Field 12: Signature and Certification

What it asks in plain English. This final field is where an authorized officer swears the information is true.

How to answer it. Have an authorized officer sign and date the certification. The signer should be a listed officer, and the signature confirms every statement and attachment is accurate.

Example entry. Janet Okafor signs as President and dates it 06/15/2026.

Nuance or edge case. Electronic signatures are accepted through the online system, but original bonds still travel by mail, so the certification covers documents in two formats.

Common mistake and consequence. A signature by someone not authorized can void the filing, forcing a resubmission and risking a missed June 30 deadline.

Misconception. People think the signature is a formality; it is a sworn certification, and false statements undermine the integrity finding the Commissioner must make.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three common filers walked through the application from start to finish. Each table shows the main sections and what that filer enters.

Scenario 1: Roadway Guardian Auto Club, a national club expanding into North Carolina (initial application)

Form Section	What Roadway Guardian Enters
Legal Name	Roadway Guardian Auto Club, Inc.
Home Office Address	900 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
License Type	Motor Club
Services Offered	Emergency Road Service, Towing, Theft Reward, Map Service
Owners/Officers	Janet Okafor, President; Marcus Reed, CFO
Audited Financials	Net equity $84,000, GAAP audited
Surety Bond	$50,000 bond with Power of Attorney
NC Resident Agent	Carolina Registered Agents LLC, Raleigh, NC
Fee Paid	Base motor club fee, paid by credit card

Scenario 2: TarHeel Roadside, an in-state startup (initial application)

Form Section	What TarHeel Roadside Enters
Legal Name	TarHeel Roadside Assistance LLC
Home Office Address	412 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27603
License Type	Motor Club
Services Offered	Emergency Road Service, Towing, Map Service (exactly three)
Owners/Officers	Aisha Bello, Managing Member
Audited Financials	Audited opening statement, $9,500 net equity
Surety Bond	$50,000 bond from NC-authorized surety
NC Resident Agent	Aisha Bello, Raleigh, NC resident
Fee Paid	Base motor club fee, paid by check

Scenario 3: Statewide Motor Club, an existing licensee (annual renewal)

Form Section	What Statewide Motor Club Enters
Legal Name	Statewide Motor Club, Inc.
Home Office Address	55 Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28202
License Type	Motor Club + 2 Branch Offices
Services Offered	Emergency Road Service, Towing, Legal Service, Theft Reward
Updated DOI-5MC	New questionnaire for newly hired CFO
Audited Financials	Most recent year, $310,000 net equity
Surety Bond	Continuation Certificate/Rider, expires after June 30
Branch Fees	$100 per branch, two branches
Total Fee	$638 renewal plus $200 for branches, by credit card

How to File the Completed Form

North Carolina splits the filing across an online application and a mailed package, so follow both channels. The application is completed electronically through the NC DOI motor club licensing page and its Pearson VUE portal, where you attach your financial statement, questionnaires, and bond copies.

• Online application. Complete and submit the electronic form on the NC DOI portal; bond copies may be emailed to northcarolinalicensingoffice@pearson.com or attached to the application. Keep the on-screen confirmation as proof of filing.
• Payment and other documents by US mail. Send to NC/State of DOI, P.O. Box 742175, Atlanta, GA 30374-2175. Pay by credit card or check payable to the NC Department of Insurance. Keep a copy of the check and a mailing receipt.
• Payment by overnight delivery. Send to Bank of America Lockbox Services, Lockbox #742175, 6000 Feldwood Road, College Park, GA 30349. Keep the courier tracking number as proof.
• Original bonds by mail. Send the original bond to NC Dept. of Insurance, Agent Services Division, ATTN: NIBE Team, 1204 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC. Keep a stamped copy for your records.

Processing is governed by G.S. 58-69-15, which gives the Commissioner 60 days after a complete application to issue the license or explain a refusal. File well before June 30, because that is the universal expiration date for new and renewed licenses.

What Happens After You File

After you submit, the Commissioner reviews your financial responsibility and the integrity of your managers, officers, and directors. Under G.S. 58-69-15, the license must issue within 60 days unless the Commissioner finds you failed a requirement, lack financial responsibility, or did not show your people are reliable and have integrity.

If the Commissioner denies an initial application, you get written notice of the reasons under G.S. 58-69-25, and you have 30 days to demand a hearing. Once approved, you must display the license prominently in each office, as G.S. 58-69-5 requires. Renewal is automatic upon timely payment of the annual fee for licenses that have not been revoked or suspended.

After licensing, ongoing duties continue. You must report any conviction of an owner or officer for dishonesty or breach of trust within 10 days, and any administrative action by another state within 30 days, under G.S. 58-69-60. Keep your bond, resident agent, and financials current all year, not just at renewal.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

• Entering a trade name instead of the legal name. This mismatches the bond and forces a license reissue.
• Listing only two qualifying services. You fail the motor club definition and the application is rejected.
• Submitting unaudited financials. The state cannot verify your financial responsibility and holds the file.
• Showing less than $5,000 net equity. The Commissioner denies you for insufficient financial responsibility.
• Filing a bond without a Power of Attorney. The bond is invalid and the application stalls.
• Using a bond that expires before June 30. It leaves a coverage gap and is rejected.
• Skipping a Personal Questionnaire for one officer. The integrity finding cannot be made and approval is blocked.
• Hiding a criminal or administrative action. Concealment can cost you the license outright.
• Underpaying the fee by omitting branch or franchise lines. The filing is incomplete and the fee is nonrefundable.
• Naming an out-of-state agent for service of process. It violates the resident-agent rule and risks suspension.
• Mailing the payment and the original bond to the same address. They go to different offices, and a misrouted bond delays approval.
• Filing close to June 30. With a 60-day review window, late filing risks operating without a valid license.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Do match your legal name across the application, bond, and financials, so nothing triggers a correction.
• Do offer at least three statutory services, because fewer means you do not qualify as a motor club.
• Do attach a GAAP audited statement showing positive net equity, since the Commissioner requires proof of financial responsibility.
• Do file a complete $50,000 bond with Power of Attorney, because an incomplete bond stops the review.
• Do appoint and keep a North Carolina resident agent, as the statute requires one at all times.
• Do file well before June 30, to give the Commissioner the full 60-day window to act.

Don’ts

• Don’t underpay the fee, because it is nonrefundable and underpayment leaves you unlicensed.
• Don’t omit any owner or officer, since each must be vetted for reliability and integrity.
• Don’t conceal a conviction or administrative action, because disclosure is legally required and concealment ends licenses.
• Don’t use an unapproved emblem or name, as the Commissioner can order you to stop using it.
• Don’t let your bond lapse before June 30, since a gap voids your coverage.
• Don’t operate before approval, because unlicensed activity is a criminal offense under G.S. 58-69-35.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Filing on Your Own	Filing With a Professional
Saves money, because you avoid consultant or attorney fees	Costs more, since you pay for expertise
Full control over timing and documents, so nothing waits on a third party	Less day-to-day control, because you hand off the work
Builds in-house knowledge for future renewals, which you repeat every year	Less internal learning, since the expert handles it
Higher error risk, because the bond and audited-financial rules are technical	Lower error risk, as professionals know the field-level pitfalls
Slower if you are new, since you learn the process while filing	Faster turnaround, because they have filed many times
You alone catch mistakes, which can mean a nonrefundable fee paid twice	Extra review of fees and attachments, reducing rejection risk

FAQs

Do I need a license if my club offers only two services?

No. Under the statutory definition, a motor club must promise three or more of the listed services. With only two, you are not a motor club and do not file this form.

Do out-of-state motor clubs have to get this North Carolina license?

Yes. The law covers clubs whether or not they reside, are domiciled, or are chartered in North Carolina. If you serve North Carolina members, you must be licensed here.

Do I write my legal name or my trade name in the name field?

Yes, use the legal name. Enter your exact registered entity name in the name field and list any trade name in the trademarks and emblems section instead.

Do I have to submit an audited financial statement as a brand-new club?

Yes. First-time applicants must submit an audited statement, prepared under GAAP and showing at least $5,000 positive net equity, before a license can issue.

Do I list a P.O. Box as my home office address?

No. A branch or district office is a physical location where clients meet representatives, so use a street address for your home office, not a P.O. Box.

Do franchise motor clubs need their own surety bond?

Yes. A franchise motor club must deposit its own $50,000 bond and pay its own $200 annual fee, separate from the parent club’s filing.

Do I include officers who own no shares on the application?

Yes. All officers, owners, and governing members must be listed and complete a Personal Questionnaire so the Commissioner can judge their reliability and integrity.

Do I have to disclose an old out-of-state administrative action?

Yes. You must report administrative actions from other states, and the law requires reporting them within 30 days of final disposition even after licensing.

Do I send my payment and my original bond to the same address?

No. Payment goes to the Atlanta P.O. Box or the Georgia lockbox, while the original bond goes to the Agent Services Division in Raleigh.

Do I get my fee back if my application is denied?

No. The annual license fee is nonrefundable under statute, so confirm every requirement before you pay to avoid losing money.

Do I have to renew every year, and when does my license expire?

Yes. Every license expires June 30, and renewal is automatic upon timely payment of the annual fee if the license has not been revoked or suspended.

Do I need a North Carolina resident as my agent for service of process?

Yes. You must appoint and keep a North Carolina resident agent at all times, which is why out-of-state clubs usually hire a commercial registered agent service.

Do I count a bail bond service toward my three required services?

Yes. Bail or cash appearance bond service is one of the eight statutory services, but offering it brings extra rules under the guaranteed arrest bond provisions.

Do I face penalties for operating before my license is approved?

Yes. Operating an unlicensed motor club is a Class 1 misdemeanor under statute, and the state warns unlicensed activity can be treated even more seriously.