How to Sell a Car in North Dakota

The steps and process for selling a vehicle online are different in every state. Learn how to sell your used car or truck privately in North Dakota.

Whether you live in the Missouri Plateau, Drift Prairie, or Red River Valley of North Dakota, if you are thinking about privately selling your used car or truck, you’ve come to the right place. With an estimated 333,000 registered trucks and cars in the state of North Dakota, it’s no wonder that thousands of private vehicle sellers from the Peace Garden State have used Autotrader to sell their car. Below, we’ve outlined the six steps and forms required for how to sell a car in the state of North Dakota so you can sell your car quickly for the most cash.

Remember, most states consider the vehicle title a legal document, so the legal names (no nicknames) of both parties involved should be used, along with legible handwriting using black or blue ink. Mistakes, errors, and using White-Out may void the document so be careful and take your time filling it out.

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party
Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation
Step 3: Bill of Sale (optional)
Step 4: Damage disclosure statement
Step 5: Transfer the title
Step 6: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Step 1: Allow the buyer to have the car inspected by a third party

Vehicle shoppers who buy a car privately are encouraged to pay for a pre-purchase vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified and licensed auto mechanic of their choosing. Although the buyer pays for this inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on when and where the inspection is to be held. If the inspection does find any issues with the car, it is a good idea for you as the seller to keep the report for your records. North Dakota does not require this inspection and doesn’t have any forms that need to be filled out, but it’s a good idea for the buyer to have the inspection performed prior to the purchase.

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Step 2: Organize and gather all related vehicle documentation

Find all maintenance records, the owner’s manual and other paperwork related to the vehicle. If you can provide the buyer with extensive and detailed maintenance records, this will help provide the buyer with confidence that you’ve maintained the car in a proper and regular manner. You may even want to consider including a vehicle history report from a service like CarFax or AutoCheck.

The most important document when selling a car is the certificate of title. If there is a lien on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before the car is sold. This can be achieved either by the seller paying off the car or by getting a lien release from the lienholder. Form SFN 2876 will need to be completed and have a notarized signature by an authorized agent of your lienholder for the lien release to be official.

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Step 3: Bill of Sale (optional)

North Dakota does not require a bill of sale for private party car sales. However, the North Dakota DOT does have a bill of sale form. It’s form SFN 2888 which records information like the year, make, model, and VIN of the vehicle in question. For the bill of sale to be legally binding, it needs to be signed by the seller in the presence of a notary. If you do decide to use a bill of sale for your transaction, it’s a good idea for the seller to make a copy and hold onto it as proof that the car has legally changed hands.

In response to a rise in odometer fraud cases in North Dakota and across the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) odometer disclosure requirements were updated in December 2020 impacting certain private vehicle sales in North Dakota: For a vehicle transfer that occurs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) will require an odometer disclosure. Starting on January 1, 2031, any vehicle that is less than 20 model years old will require an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA required disclosure was for only the first 10 years. Cars older than 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures.

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Step 4: Damage disclosure statement

For all vehicles less than nine model years old, sellers need to fill out a Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement (form SFN 18609) before selling a car. If the vehicle has not sustained anybody or structural damage, then you can check the “No” box in section one, complete and sign section 4 with your name, address, etc. and have the buyer fill out section 5. If the car has sustained damage, then you’ll also need to complete sections 2 and 3.

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Step 5: Transfer the title

If the vehicle’s title has been lost, stolen or badly damaged, you can get a replacement/duplicate North Dakota title by filling out form SFN 2872. With that form filled out plus a $5 fee you can get a duplicate title. When selling a car privately in North Dakota, the buyer and the seller both need to fill out the relevant sections on the back of the title. This information includes the legal name, address, and signature of the buyer and the seller(s) along with the date of the sale and the odometer reading. When this is filled out accurately and legibly, it makes it easy for the buyer to transfer registration and acquire a new plate.

If there is more than one owner showing on the title, the following number of signatures will be required based on the connection between the names: And – All persons listed must sign. Or – Either seller can sign, only one signature required. And/Or - Both sellers must sign. If no connection listed, it will default to “and” and all owners (sellers) must sign.

Another step that needs to be taken by the seller to complete the transfer is completing form SFN 2887 which is an Assignment and Warranty of Title. This contains basic information on the vehicle, the buyer, and the seller and must be signed by the seller. If you’re wondering about gifting a car to a relative, you can follow the same process that is outlined here to transfer the title. For inheriting a car, it’s a similar process, but you’ll need to file documentation of the inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in question.

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Step 6: Remove your plates and cancel your insurance

The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. After the sale of your vehicle, you have the option of transferring your plates to a different vehicle that you own. You do not need to return the plates to the DOT. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after you’ve removed your plates so you don’t continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.

The buyer may operate the vehicle for a maximum of five (5) days from date of acquisition without displaying any visible evidence of registration. However, the buyer of the vehicle must have dated evidence of ownership in the vehicle during these five (5) days. Dated evidence of ownership is either a dated bill of sale or a dated copy of the certificate of title.

For more information, visit the North Dakota DOT website.

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Questions about selling your car in North Dakota? We have answers.

What paperwork do I need to privately sell a car in North Dakota?

Is a Bill of Sale required for selling a car in North Dakota?

Do I remove my license plate when I sell a car in North Dakota?

Does a bill of sale have to be notarized in North Dakota?

Does a vehicle title have to be notarized in North Dakota?