A North Dakota private sale works like this: the seller completes Part 1 of the title (your name, the price, the date and the odometer reading), removes the plates, and hands you the signed title; you fill out Part 3 and file it with the DOT Motor Vehicle Division along with an SFN 2872 application, a $5 title fee, license fees and the 5 percent motor vehicle excise tax. You can drive on a dated bill of sale for only five days, so most buyers grab a temporary permit and finish the title within 30 days.
I checked the state's transportation FAQ, the Tax Commissioner's special taxes page, the 75-day permit page and the DOT dealer handbook on October 16, 2026. One warning up front: the handbook carries an "MV4/21" revision mark, so it is from 2021, and in one spot it disagrees with the FAQ. I flag it below.
Signing off the title correctly
The North Dakota transportation FAQ says Part 1, the Seller's Assignment and Warranty of Title, must be signed and dated by every seller and must include the buyer's name, the purchase price and the purchase date. Who signs depends on the conjunction on the face of the title. "John Jones or Mary Jones" means either one can sign; "John and Mary Jones" means both must. If one owner has died, the FAQ says a personal representative has to sign, which can stall a sale for weeks.
Your half is Part 3, the Purchaser's Certification and Application, where you sign and list any lienholder. If the front of the title shows a lien, the handbook says it must be released before the transfer. Also read the brand area on the face of the title before you hand over money. I would not accept a title with blanks, crossed-out names or a "price" field the seller wants to leave empty for you to fill in later.
Damage and odometer disclosures
North Dakota adds a disclosure most states skip. Per the FAQ and the DOT dealer handbook, a Damage Disclosure Statement (SFN 18609) is required for cars, pickups, motorcycles and motor homes less than nine years old. The handbook defines reportable body damage as damage equal to or more than the greater of $10,000 or 25 percent of the pre-damage retail value, which means smaller repairs never have to be disclosed. A Previously Damaged brand should change your offer. See how those brands work in our North Dakota salvage title brands explainer.
For mileage, the state FAQ still says an odometer reading is required on vehicles under ten years old. That wording appears to predate the federal change: under 49 CFR 580.17, cars from model year 2011 on need an odometer disclosure until they are 20 years old. If your car is a 2011 or newer, get the mileage written down and signed regardless of what the older guidance implies.
How long you have, and the 15-versus-30 day problem
Here the two state documents split. The FAQ says the seller must deliver the endorsed title within fifteen days. The 2021 handbook says the seller must deliver it within 30 days and the buyer must submit it within 30 days of receiving it. In practice, do not pay a private seller without the title in your hand. Promises to "mail it next week" are how people end up with a car they cannot register.
On driving, the FAQ is clear. You may operate the car for up to five days from the date you acquire it with no visible registration, as long as you carry dated proof of ownership, either a dated bill of sale or a dated copy of the title. Past that, the FAQ points to a self-issued 30-day temporary permit, while the state's online temporary registration page now issues a 75-day permit to North Dakota residents. By taking that permit you agree to pay the excise tax and title and register within 30 days, under NDCC 39-05-17. So the permit gives you plates on paper, but the 30-day title deadline still stands.
The 5 percent excise tax and the fees
North Dakota does not charge sales tax on registered vehicles. The Tax Commissioner's special taxes page says a 5 percent motor vehicle excise tax applies instead, on the purchase price less any trade-in, or on fair market value if the car was not bought. It is paid to the DOT at registration. Family gifts between listed relatives, inheritances and some name changes are exempt on the SFN 2872 form; a gift from a buddy is not on that list. For a rough comparison with other states, see our used car sales tax guide.
The FAQ lists the title transfer fee at $5. Cars never titled in North Dakota also owe a $1.50 abandoned vehicle disposal fee, and license fees depend on the vehicle's year and weight. Because plates stay with the seller, the car is treated as unlicensed and is subject to a full year license fee when re-titled. On a $9,000 car, the excise tax alone is $450, which is real money to budget for.
Out-of-state titles
If you buy a car titled elsewhere, you surrender that title with a completed SFN 2872, and the handbook says excise tax is due on vehicles bought outside the state for use here, with credit for tax paid to a reciprocal state. The FAQ adds that cars titled in states like Montana or Oregon owe the tax on current market value. The ND pages I read do not list a separate VIN inspection, but you should still match the VIN yourself; our VIN verification for title transfer guide shows where it hides.
Before you hand over the money
Search the VIN on NMVTIS for title brands and pull your own history report instead of trusting a seller's printout; see our CARFAX for private-party buyers notes. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and is not affiliated with either one or with Experian. In mid October 2026 a guest report is roughly $5.50, a member report about $4.50, and both together close to $6.75, versus around $39.99 to $44.99 at full retail. Treat those as estimates until checkout shows the total.
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