A North Dakota vehicle registration is documentation that connects residents of the North Dakota with the transportation they own, such as a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or boat.
Vehicle registration in ND must be done in person at a local DOT office. Residents need to bring their title, driver’s license, and payment for the registration fee. New residents follow the same processes. Non-residents working in North Dakota are able to obtain a temporary registration.
Registering a Vehicle in North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (ND DOT) requires residents to register and title their vehicle in the state unless they maintain residency elsewhere.
Individuals who are non-residents of North Dakota working in North Dakota and wish to operate their vehicle in ND must apply for temporary registration.
New Residents of North Dakota?
When individuals move to North Dakota, they will need to transfer their out-of-state title and register their vehicle with the ND DOT. For instructions on how to obtain an ND title and register their vehicle at a local ND DMV office, refer to the section below titled, “Registering a Vehicle in North Dakota.”
NOTE: Full-time, non-resident students and military personnel are exempt from registration in North Dakota, but must have current plates from their home states.
Temporary North Dakota Vehicle Registration
Non-residents who work in North Dakota are required to carry a temporary registration from the ND DOT along with a current valid registration from their home state. Temporary vehicle registrations are issued for 6 months or 12 months only. ND residents can apply for temporary registration in person or online.
To receive a temporary registration in person:
- Go to a local North Dakota DMV office.
Submit all vehicle and personal information required, including:
- Your current out-of-state vehicle registration.
- Your vehicle title (if required).
- Proof of identification.
- Pay all applicable fees.
Refer to ND Car Registration Fees below for more information.
Registering a Vehicle in North Dakota
Residents of North Dakota need to make sure they have an active car insurance policy when registering their vehicles. To register a vehicle in person at a local ND DOT office, residents must submit their:
- Completed Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle (Form SFN 2872).
- Proof of legal name, such as a:
- Valid driver’s license.
- Non-driver ID card.
- A document that confirms the resident’s true legal identity
- A signed vehicle title and the 5% excise tax.
- If the resident does not have the title due to financing, residents must provide the:
- Name and address of the lienholder.
- Loan account number.
- Out-of-state vehicle registration.
- Proof the payment or remittance of the 5% excise tax.
- Brand new vehicles will need, if applicable:
- A certificate of origin from the dealer.
- An odometer disclosure statement signed by the dealer and the buyer.
- Payment for all applicable title, registration, taxes (including the 5% excise tax), and license plate fees.
For specific fee information, see “ND Car Registration Fees” below.
NOTES:
If the vehicle is currently titled in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, or Canada, residents will be charged an excise tax based on the current value of the vehicle.
Individuals must carry auto insurance provided by a North Dakota licensed insurance company to legally operate on ND roadways.
Vehicle Registration Fees
The North Dakota Department of Transportation determines vehicle registration fees based on the age, factory price, annual mileage, and weight of the vehicle.
NOTE: The yearly fee for a personalized special letter plate in North Dakota is $25. Extra fees may apply in addition to the standard registration fee. For more information, contact the ND DMV at (701) 328-2725.
Temporary Registration Fees in North Dakota
The following fees do not include the $10 permit fee:
- 6 months: $60.
- 12 months: $120.
Motorcycle Temporary Vehicle Registration Fees
- 6 months: $30.
- 12 months: $60.
Motorcycle Registration in North Dakota
Before residents of this state can legally ride a motorcycle in North Dakota, they must register it with the Department of Transportation (DOT). Use this guide to learn more about motorcycle registration for new ND residents AND long-time North Dakotans who just bought a bike.
New North Dakota Residents
Once ND residents establish North Dakota residency, they’ll need to register their motorcycle with the DOT.
BEFORE submitting a registration application, North Dakota residents need to have their motorcycle inspected if it is homemade, rebuilt, or modified. Residents of this state can have their motorcycle inspected at a qualified repair shop listed on the North Dakota Secretary of State’s business search. The repair shop will need to complete a Certificate of Vehicle Inspection (Form SFN 2486).
ND residents can then finish the registration process by providing the following at a local DOT office branch:
- A completed Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle (Form SFN 2872).
- The motorcycle’s inspection certificate (if applicable).
Acceptable documents to prove your identity.
- The out-of-state title.
If the motorcycle has a lien, residents must also submit their:
- Lienholder’s name and address.
- Loan account number.
- Copy of the out-of-state registration.
- Proof of paid state tax on the bike in your previous state.
- Excise tax (5% of the current market value) UNLESS your motorcycle is exempt.
- The $25 base license plate fee PLUS other applicable registration fees and taxes.
When registering a motorcycle, ND residents can ask the DOT agent to transfer their current out-of-state insurance to ND motorcycle insurance. This will ensure the resident is paying the correct rates, specific to North Dakota. Keep in mind, residents also need to transfer their motorcycle’s title after moving to North Dakota.
Non-Residents Working in North Dakota
Non-residents working in North Dakota are required to obtain temporary motorcycle registration. This must be carried with the resident IN ADDITION to the motorcycle registration from the state of residence.
ND residents can obtain temporary motorcycle registration by applying:
- Online using the ND DOT’s temporary registration portal.
- In-person at a DOT office and provide:
- The current out-of-state motorcycle title AND registration
- The out-of-state motorcycle license.
- The applicable temporary registration fees dependent upon your duration of stay.
North Dakota residents can choose to temporarily register their motorcycle for 6 months OR 12 months.
ND Motorcycle Registration
The process for registering a motorcycle with the North Dakota Department of Transportation will differ depending on if it was purchased at a dealership OR from a private seller.
Motorcycles from ND Dealers
After buying a motorcycle from an ND dealership, usually, the dealership will handle the registration process. To ensure additional steps aren’t required, discuss the details with the dealership agent before leaving. The appropriate motorcycle registration fees and taxes will be included in the purchase price.
If the dealer does not register the bike, follow the process for registering a motorcycle below.
Motorcycles from Private Sellers
When purchasing a motorcycle from a private seller in North Dakota, residents will be required to register it themselves.
PRIOR to registering a bike, ND residents need to have it inspected if it’s modified, homemade, or rebuilt. North Dakota residents can locate a repair shop (in good standing) using the ND Secretary of State’s business search. The repair shop will need to fill out a Certificate of Vehicle Inspection (Form SFN 2486).
ND residents can then complete the registration process by visiting their local DOT office with:
A completed:
- Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle (Form SFN 2872).
- Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement (Form SFN 18609) if your motorcycle is less than 9 years old.
- The motorcycle’s inspection certificate (if applicable).
- Proof of ownership document:
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (new motorcycles).
- Current title signed by the buyer AND seller (used motorcycles).
- If the bike is less than 10 years old residents must fill out a Reassignment/Odometer Disclosure (Form SFN 18773), which is only available at your DOT office.
- Bill of sale OR purchase order.
- Proof of North Dakota motorcycle insurance.
- A valid ND motorcycle license.
- Payment for the base $25 license plate fee AND other appropriate registration fees and taxes.
ND residents who still have questions about registering their motorcycle can call the ND DOT at (701) 328-2725.
Motorcycle Registration Fees & Taxes
The fees and taxes to register a motorcycle with the North Dakota Department of Transportation vary and are based on the motorcycle’s:
- Weight.
- Age.
- Factory price/current value.
- Mileage.
To determine prorated registration fees when ownership is transferred, refer to the DOT’s motorcycle fee schedule for the current year.
The uniform registration fees and taxes for motorcycles are as follows:
- Motorcycle license plate fee: $25.
- Temporary registration fee:
- 6 months: $30.
- 12 months: $60.
- Excise tax: 5% of the motorcycle’s current market value.
Boat Registration and Licenses in North Dakota
Any boater who wants to register a vessel in North Dakota will need to apply directly with the ND Game and Fish Department. On this page, residents will find information about original and renewal boat registrations, as well as the qualifications needed to operate watercraft on North Dakota’s waters.
Boats You Must Register in ND
In North Dakota, ALL vessels propelled by a motor are required to be registered, with the following exceptions:
- Watercraft registered in another state, not used on ND waters for more than 90 days.
- Boats from another country, temporarily operating in North Dakota.
- Vessels owned by an entity of the U.S. government.
- Ship lifeboats.
- Non-motorized vessels (e.g., canoes, kayaks, rowboats).
Residents who are not sure whether the vessel qualifies for registration, call the Game and Fish Department at (701) 328-6300 for clarification.
Registering a Vessel in North Dakota
To register a vessel with the ND Game and Fish Department, ND residents need the following items:
- A completed Watercraft Registration Form (Form SFN 6102).
A proof of ownership document:
- Transferring an out-of-state registration: The vessel’s out-of-state registration card.
- Vessels bought from a ND dealer: A copy of the bill of sale, which should include the sales tax paid.
- Boats purchased from private sellers: Proof of a transfer of ownership, like a copy of the previous owner’s boat registration card AND a signed letter from the previous owner stating the boat’s ownership has been transferred in the resident’s name.
- Watercraft bought from an out-of-state dealer: Proof of sales tax paid OR a completed One Time Remittance Form (Form 21945) if you did not pay sales tax to the dealership’s state.
- A check or money order for all the applicable boat registration fees.
Then, send the required items and documentation above to:
ND Game and Fish Department
Attn: Watercraft Registrations
100 N. Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck, ND 58501
While residents are waiting for their official boat registration to arrive in the mail, they can apply for a temporary watercraft permit, which is free and valid for 10 days.
ND Boat Registration Fees
The fees to register watercraft with the ND Game and Fish Department are as follows:
Vessel registration—Varies depending on the length of your boat:
- Less than 16 feet: $18.
- Includes all lengths of motorized canoes.
- 16 up to 20 feet: $36.
- 20 feet and longer: $45.
- North Dakota sales tax: 5% of the sale price.
Registrations are valid from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 fees are prorated according to the date of registration.
ND Boat Registration Renewals & Replacements
Before the boat registration expires, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department will mail a renewal notice. ND residents who did not receive a boat registration renewal notice, call (701) 328-6300.
North Dakota residents may submit their renewal by providing information about the vessel AND the appropriate fees:
- Using the online renewal system (recommended).
- In person at a Game and Fish Department office (bring your renewal notice).
Replace Lost Registration
ND residents who’ve lost, damaged or misplaced their ND boat registration certificate need to visit their local Game and Fish Department office to apply for a duplicate. Residents need to pay the applicable fees they’d pay for an original registration.
North Dakota Boater Requirements
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department imposes the following age-based rules, when it comes to boating on state waters; if residents are:
- Younger than 12 years old CANNOT operate a powerboat of 10 horsepower or more without the supervision of someone who is at least 18 years old.
- 12 to 15 years old may operate a powerboat propelled by more than a 10 horsepower ONLY IF:
- They’re supervised by someone who’s at least 18 years old.
OR
- They’ve completed a North Dakota boater education course.
- They can fulfill their boater education requirement:
- With a free home-study course.
- Through an online education provider approved by the Game and Fish Department.
Accepted Forms of Payment
The North Dakota Department of Transportation accepts the following methods of payment:
ND residents who wish to pay by credit card need to complete a credit card payment authorization (Form SFN 61787).