Do you need a car title to sell an 20 year old car in n..c?

Generally yes, although you can file for a lost title at the DMV. I don't believe the drivers license offices can do this, though.. you'd have to go to one of the main facilities, like the one in Raleigh you'd go to in order to get a copy of your MVR... if I remember correctly, it's the one on Spring Forest Road, and it's easy to miss because it looks somewhat like a school.