North Dakota
Vehicle Resource Center
There are more than 550,000 licensed drivers in North Dakota, and a majority of them own vehicles as well. All those people are expected to know the state's driving laws and meet all the regular maintenance requirements that come with owning a vehicle. Meeting the state's requirements is essential for avoiding fines, traffic tickets, and more.
Ownership and Maintenance
To properly maintain a vehicle in North Dakota, the owner must maintain adequate insurance coverage, renew its registration, and obtain the necessary inspections.
Only out-of-state vehicles or vehicles transferred from one owner to another must undergo a safety inspection. Safety inspections can be completed at a North Dakota safety inspection station for a small fee.
North Dakota is a no-fault insurance state, which means all vehicle owners must have liability and no-fault insurance to cover any damages that occur during accidents. When an accident occurs, the insurance coverage on each of the vehicles involved is relied upon to pay any of the damages that occur. ND residents are expected to maintain at least the minimum level of insurance coverage to avoid tickets and fines and to prevent most legal issues.
Minimum ND Vehicle Insurance Coverage:
By maintaining the minimum level of insurance coverage for a vehicle in North Dakota, owners protect themselves from most legal action after an accident. For additional protection, owners can invest in more comprehensive insurance policies with greater payout limits.
Learn more about North Dakota vehicle insurance laws and requirements by visiting the North Dakota Insurance Department's informational page.
All North Dakota vehicles must be registered to drive on the road. ND registrations must be renewed annually. Most residents renew online, but some must renew in person at a North Dakota DMV location.
To renew the registration, the vehicle owner only needs the invoice number provided on the registration renewal notice, as well as the title and license plate numbers for the vehicle. With this information, it's easy to load a listing for the vehicle and pay the fees to renew the registration.
Whether in-person or online, renewal only requires the expired driver's license and money to pay the fee. When renewing in person, it's essential to bring corrective lenses if they are required to pass the vision exam. It's important to note that glasses are not allowed in the license photo and must be removed beforehand.
Renew Online
Online renewal is the preferred method for most individuals and only takes a few moments. Visit the home page for the online renewal tool, input the required information, pay the fee, and the process is complete.
Renew in Person
When renewing in person, begin by scheduling an appointment online. Travel to the ND DMV location at the scheduled appointment time to go through the renewal process in person.
An in-person renewal often involves a vision exam as well as taking a new photo for the license. Once these steps are complete, the fees must be paid, and the new license will be mailed to the address listed.
Get more specifics about ND driver's license renewals at the North Dakota government page.
Registration
Registration fees include the required annual taxes as well and are calculated based on the model year of the vehicle, its shipping weight, the purchase price of the vehicle, and the date the vehicle was acquired. The North Dakota DMV will issue a renewal notice that includes the required fees to be paid for the vehicle that year.
Driver's License
Personal licenses cost $15.00 to renew, and commercial licenses cost $15.00 plus $3.00 for each endorsement.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling a vehicle in North Dakota, strict procedures must be followed to make the deal legally binding.
Remove the License Plates
Before allowing the buyer to leave with the vehicle, spend a moment removing the license plates. The plates can be returned to the DMV or transferred to a different vehicle also owned by the seller.
Provide a Bill of Sale
It is not necessary, but sellers should print off two copies of the state's official Bill of Sale form (SFN 2888), keep a copy for themselves, and give a copy to the buyer as proof that the vehicle was sold.
Provide the Certificate of Title
A lien-free Certificate of Title for the vehicle being sold must be provided by the seller to make the sale official.
Provide a Damage Disclosure Statement
Any vehicle that's less than nine years old must be sold with a Damage Disclosure Statement form (SFN 18609). The form requires sellers to list any known defects the vehicle has.
Cancel the Auto Insurance Policy
Finally, the seller should contact their insurance agent and cancel the policy covering the sold vehicle. The seller is no longer required to hold an insurance policy on the vehicle once it has been transferred to a new owner.
Research the Vehicle
Purchasing an unknown vehicle is a mistake without preparing adequate research. Residents are encouraged to use License Plate Lookup or Vehicle History Search services from GoodCar to quickly obtain the most relevant information about the vehicle. These services give immediate vehicle specifications and features, recall data, odometer information, accident history, owner history, and more.
Have the Vehicle Inspected
Vehicles must undergo a safety inspection at a state-approved inspection station before they can be titled and registered by a new owner. Bring the purchased vehicle to an inspection station, have a safety inspection completed, and bring proof of a passing inspection to the title and registration appointment.
Obtain a Bill of Sale
While it isn't mandatory, it is a good practice to bring DMV form SFN 2888, or the official Bill of Sale form, and to have the seller fill out all the required information. This form is useful proof that the vehicle sale took place.
Title and Register the Vehicle
Using an Application for Certificate of Title form (SFN 2872), the buyer must apply for a title and registration for the purchased vehicle. To complete this process, the buyer must provide insurance information, the old title, and a damage disclosure if required.
All the fees owed by the buyer are calculated using the Application for Certificate of Title (SN 2872) form. The form lists a title fee of $5.00, a plate fee of $5.00, a $1.50 vehicle disposal fee, and finally, a 5% tax on the purchase price of the vehicle. Buyers can calculate their total fees using the prompts on the document and can then pay in person or online.
Laws and Regulations
Vehicle owners and drivers in North Dakota are expected to follow strict laws to avoid tickets, jail time, license suspension, and other penalties.
In North Dakota, all vehicle drivers and passengers must be properly buckled no matter where they are positioned in the vehicle. The state has a primary seat belt law, which means law enforcement can stop vehicles for seatbelt violations alone. Passengers over 18 can be ticketed personally for not buckling, and the driver will be ticketed for any passengers under 18 not properly buckled.
Car Seat Regulations
All children aged seven and younger must be sitting in a child safety seat while riding in a vehicle. Children start in rear-facing seats as infants and should not graduate to forward-facing car seats until they surpass 20 pounds and are a year old. Most rear-facing seats have specific weight and height limits to help parents decide when to switch their child's seat.
Once in a forward-facing car seat, children should remain in a car seat until they surpass the limits of that seat. They are expected to ride in at least a booster seat until they are eight years old, or they are 4'9" in height.
Learn more about North Dakota's seat belt laws by reviewing this CDC informational page.
North Dakota has specific laws governing drivers who operate vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to state laws, when a driver is charged with a DUI, they face a minimum fine of $500 and a 91-day license suspension as well as two days of imprisonment. Repeat offenders or drivers with a BAC greater than 0.16 will be charged with more significant penalties.
DUI Limits
In North Dakota, a person is said to be driving under the influence of alcohol when they exceed the legal operating limits as measured by the amount of alcohol per 100ml of blood that is tested. A person may be given a breathalyzer test or a blood test to determine how much alcohol is in their system, and they will be given a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) number from these tests.
Drivers Will Receive a DUI When:
Get more information about DUI penalties and testing methods used in North Dakota by examining this North Dakota Department of Transportation informational page.
In North Dakota, many drivers invest in tinted windows to improve their privacy and prevent sun damage on their vehicle's interior. There are restrictions on the type of window tint that can be used within the state.
Window Tint Limits
Drivers who do not follow window tint restrictions in North Dakota can receive a traffic ticket and may be required to remove the tint film from their vehicles.
According to North Dakota's Lemon Law, new vehicles purchased within the state are offered additional protections against manufacturer defects. These protections demand that manufacturers make repairs to significant defects that lead to loss of value or safety of the vehicle. The vehicle is only protected for the duration of the original manufacturer's warranty, and once it exceeds the warranty period, it no longer qualifies for lemon law protection if the defects have not already been brought to the attention of the manufacturer.
The Manufacturer Must Make a Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts
Under the Lemon Laws affecting residents in North Dakota, the manufacturer must make repair attempts for any serious defects covered by their warranty. Once at least four repair attempts have been made without success, the vehicle may be declared a lemon through legal action. Once a vehicle is declared a lemon, the manufacturer must replace it or refund its purchase price.
Useful Things to Know
Find a North Dakota DMV: Residents who need DMV services in person must visit one of the ND DMV locations. Find these locations using this location directory: North Dakota DMV Location Directory
Online Driver's Manual: Drivers interested in learning details about state laws or preparing for the written driving test can reference the Driver License Manual for relevant information: North Dakota Driver's License Manual Online
Find Nearby EV Charging Stations: North Dakota residents who own electric vehicles (EVs) should know where to locate public charging stations. Use the search tool to locate charging stations nearby: EV Charging Station Locator
North Dakota Car Crash Trends: North Dakota is a relatively safe state for drivers, and there were only 85 fatal crashes and 101 reported deaths in 2021, according to the IIHS. Understanding the specifics of vehicle accidents can help drivers be more aware while on the road. Get a full understanding of North Dakota car accident statistics from GoodCar.
Get the Latest North Dakota Vehicle Information with GoodCar
North Dakota vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.