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The bottom line: North Dakota requires a bill of sale for private car sales and you must complete the Seller’s Assignment section on the back of your title within 15 days of the sale. No emissions testing is required, and the process is simpler than most states.
You handle the title signing, bill of sale, and plate removal. The buyer handles registration, excise tax, and any vehicle inspection within 5 days of the sale. You can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor before deciding how to sell.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: North Dakota does not require it. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $5 and you get it by submitting Form SFN 2872 to your local DOT office. Processing takes about 1 to 2 weeks by mail, or roughly 1 week in person.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 5 days from purchase to register the car at the North Dakota DOT.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove both plates before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: North Dakota requires you to complete the Seller’s Assignment section on the back of your title and give it to the buyer within 15 days of the sale date. SFN 2877 is the standalone version of this form, used mainly when the title has no space left or in dealer transactions.
- Bill of sale: Required for all private vehicle sales in North Dakota. If you use the official state form SFN 2888, it must be notarized. If you write your own, no notary is needed.
- No emissions testing: North Dakota has no emissions or smog testing requirement, which makes older and high-mileage vehicles easier to sell privately here than in many other states.
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Step-by-Step Process for North Dakota
Step 1: Prepare Your North Dakota Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid North Dakota driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form SFN 2872 and submit it to your local North Dakota DOT office with your ID and $5.00. Processing takes about 1 to 2 weeks by mail, or roughly 1 week in person. If there is a lien on the vehicle, the duplicate title will be mailed to the lienholder, not to you.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. Contact them to start the payoff and request Form SFN 2876 (Release of Lien by Legal Owner) once paid. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
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Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in North Dakota, especially in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Minnesota and Montana.
North Dakota has no emissions testing, which means older cars and high-mileage trucks sell well here with fewer complications than in states with testing requirements. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
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Step 7: Complete the North Dakota Title Transfer
Turn to the back of your title and find the “Seller’s Assignment and Warranty of Title” section. This is where you enter the sale details. Use black or blue ink only. Never use white-out, as erasure or mutilation voids the title completely. If you make a simple error like a wrong buyer name, date, or price, you may be able to correct it by submitting Form SFN 2964 (Statement of Error, Correction, or Alteration) to the DOT rather than paying for a duplicate title.
What to fill in:
- Buyer’s full legal name and address
- Date of sale and purchase price
- Your signature
If your vehicle is less than 20 model years old, odometer disclosure is required. For these vehicles, the North Dakota DOT requires you to use Form SFN 18773 (Reassignment/Odometer Disclosure) instead of SFN 2877. This form is not available online. You must pick it up at your local DOT office in person.
If your vehicle is less than 9 model years old, you must also complete a Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement (Form SFN 18609) signed by both you and the buyer. This applies to all vehicles in this age range, whether they have damage or not.
Joint ownership rules:
- Names joined by “AND”: both owners must sign
- Names joined by “OR”: only one owner needs to sign
The buyer has 5 days from the purchase date to register the car at the North Dakota DOT. They can drive for up to 5 more days after that if they carry dated proof of ownership, like a bill of sale or a copy of the title.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
North Dakota requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales. It must include the vehicle description with VIN, purchase price, sale date, and both parties’ names and addresses. Both you and the buyer need to sign it.
You can use the official state form SFN 2888 (Seller’s Certificate and Vehicle Bill of Sale) or write your own. If you use SFN 2888, it must be notarized. Most banks in Fargo or Bismarck will do this free or for a small fee if you’re a member. If you write your own bill of sale instead, no notary is required. You can use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle North Dakota License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In North Dakota, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, or destroy them. North Dakota does not offer cash refunds for unused registration, but you may receive credit toward new plates if you transfer them. Contact the DOT at (701) 328-2725 for details.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
For most private sales, you complete the Seller’s Assignment section on the back of your physical title and give it to the buyer within 15 days of the sale date. The standalone Form SFN 2877 is the same document in a separate form, used mainly when the back of your title has no space left.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. For vehicles requiring odometer disclosure, use Form SFN 18773 (Reassignment/Odometer Disclosure) instead. That form is only available in person at your local North Dakota DOT office. Keep a copy for your own records.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
North Dakota DMV Resources
State Resources:
Phone Support:
- Main line: (701) 328-2725
- Appointment scheduling: 1-855-633-6835
North Dakota Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $5.00 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 5 days from the purchase date to register the vehicle with the North Dakota DOT. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day applies.
They can legally drive the car for up to 5 more days beyond that if they carry dated proof of ownership, like the bill of sale or a copy of the title. After that, failure to register may result in fines.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in North Dakota?
No, North Dakota doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign in blue or black ink exactly as your name appears on the title.
When is a bill of sale required in North Dakota?
North Dakota requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales.
You can use the state’s official form SFN 2888 or any written document that includes the vehicle VIN, purchase price, sale date, and both parties’ names and addresses.
If you use SFN 2888, get it notarized. Most banks notarize for free or a small fee. If you write your own bill of sale, no notary is required.
Either way, the buyer needs a copy to carry in the vehicle as proof of ownership while registering.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in North Dakota?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. Your lender must complete Form SFN 2876 (Release of Lien by Legal Owner) before you can sign the title over to the buyer.
Many lenders will mail this directly to the North Dakota DOT after payoff.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional North Dakota forms do I need?
If the estate went through probate, you’ll need letters testamentary or letters of administration showing you have authority to sell the vehicle.
You then sign the title as the authorized representative of the estate. For small estates that skip probate, a properly executed affidavit may be accepted by the North Dakota DOT.
Contact the DOT at (701) 328-2725 to confirm what documentation they need for your specific situation before you proceed.
Both my spouse and I are on the North Dakota title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how your names appear on the title. If they’re connected by “AND,” both of you must sign the assignment section. If they’re connected by “OR,” only one signature is needed.
What if I make a mistake on the North Dakota title?
Don’t use white-out. Erasure or mutilation voids the North Dakota title completely and there’s no fix for that.
For simple written errors like the wrong buyer name, date, or price, you may be able to correct it by submitting Form SFN 2964 (Statement of Error, Correction, or Alteration) to the DOT instead of applying for a duplicate.
If the error can’t be corrected that way, apply for a duplicate title using Form SFN 2872 and pay the $5.00 fee.
The buyer is from out of state. Does North Dakota require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. You complete the Seller’s Assignment on the back of the title, finish any required disclosure forms, and remove your plates.
The buyer is responsible for researching what their home state requires when they go to register the vehicle.
Some states require a VIN inspection on out-of-state vehicles, but that’s the buyer’s concern, not yours.
Do North Dakota license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, North Dakota license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own or destroy them.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in North Dakota?
Yes. For most private sales, you complete the Seller’s Assignment section on the back of your physical title and give it to the buyer within 15 days of the sale.
The standalone Form SFN 2877 is the same thing in a separate document, used mainly when there’s no room left on the back of the title.
For vehicles requiring odometer disclosure, use Form SFN 18773 (Reassignment/Odometer Disclosure) instead, available only in person at your local North Dakota DOT office.
Keep a copy of whatever you complete for your own records.
Article Update History
This article was updated to reflect North Dakota's current DOT requirements, including the April 2025 revision to Form SFN 2877.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.