Most states take financial responsibility, usually in the form of car insurance, very seriously. This is why they have penalties such as revocation of license or tags when you are found to be without auto insurance. When you change insurance carriers or have a lapse in coverage the insurance company is required to notify the DMV.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation if you have a lapse in you will be send a FS 5-7 Notice which you need to respond to within 10 days. To retain your license plate you must re-certify with correct insurance information (this means you must have the car now insured) and submit a payment of $50 within the given 10 day limit.
Failure to respond within the 10 days will result in the loss of your license plate (tags) for 30 days. After those 30 days, to get your plates back you must: provide proof of insurance coverage Form FS-1, pay a $50 civil penalty fee, pay a $50 processing fee, and pay the appropriate license plate fee.
You will be able to keep your tags if you do one of the options above.
Follow this link to get a North Carolina auto insurance quote immediately.