Selling or junking a car in North Dakota, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the North Dakota DOT (Motor Vehicle Division) using SFN 61982 Application for Duplicate Credentials.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller signs and dates Part 1 (Seller's Assignment and Warranty of Title) and records the odometer reading for vehicles under 10 years old. For vehicles under nine years old the seller also completes a Damage Disclosure Statement (SFN 18609). The seller must hand the signed title to the buyer within 15 days.
- Deal with your plates. State FAQs say owners must take the plates off whenever they sell or transfer a vehicle; the vehicle is then treated as unlicensed until the new owner titles it.
- Tell the state and your insurer. North Dakota has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in North Dakota
The seller signs and dates Part 1 (Seller's Assignment and Warranty of Title) and records the odometer reading for vehicles under 10 years old. For vehicles under nine years old the seller also completes a Damage Disclosure Statement (SFN 18609). The seller must hand the signed title to the buyer within 15 days.
Official page: nd.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in North Dakota
Duplicate titles, along with plates and registration cards, are requested on form SFN 61982, where the applicant states whether the original was lost, stolen or mutilated.
- Form: SFN 61982 Application for Duplicate Credentials — download
- Official page: dot.nd.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. State FAQs say owners must take the plates off whenever they sell or transfer a vehicle; the vehicle is then treated as unlicensed until the new owner titles it.
Source: nd.gov
Junk and salvage titles in North Dakota
The state registration manual says North Dakota will not accept titles branded with labels such as Certificate of Destruction, Dismantled, Junk, Non-Rebuildable or Parts Only. It will accept a title branded as salvage.
Official page: dot.nd.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in North Dakota
For an untitled vehicle, a North Dakota resident can apply for a title by providing an NMVTIS history check, a notarized bill of sale explaining why there is no title, a notarized ownership statement, a VIN inspection and photos. Vehicles over 40 years old have a separate process.
Official page: dot.nd.gov
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North Dakota title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in North Dakota?
Duplicate titles, along with plates and registration cards, are requested on form SFN 61982, where the applicant states whether the original was lost, stolen or mutilated. The form is SFN 61982 Application for Duplicate Credentials.
Do I need to notify North Dakota when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for North Dakota. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the North Dakota DOT (Motor Vehicle Division).
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in North Dakota?
State FAQs say owners must take the plates off whenever they sell or transfer a vehicle; the vehicle is then treated as unlicensed until the new owner titles it.
Can I junk a car without a title in North Dakota?
For an untitled vehicle, a North Dakota resident can apply for a title by providing an NMVTIS history check, a notarized bill of sale explaining why there is no title, a notarized ownership statement, a VIN inspection and photos. Vehicles over 40 years old have a separate process. Confirm the details with the North Dakota DOT (Motor Vehicle Division).
Official sources
- North Dakota DOT (Motor Vehicle Division) — homedot.nd.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlend.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (SFN 61982 Application for Duplicate Credentials)dot.nd.gov
- License plates after a salend.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdot.nd.gov
- Selling without a titledot.nd.gov
Summarized from official North Dakota government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the North Dakota DOT (Motor Vehicle Division) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.