Free North Dakota Used Car Bill of Sale
A North Dakota used-car bill of sale serves three jobs at once: it sets the price for 5% MVET, it documents the odometer for federal law, and it protects both parties if the deal is later disputed. ND has no inspection and no private-party lemon law, so the bill of sale is the buyer's only meaningful written record of what they were told and what they paid.
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North Dakota Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
5% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax on the purchase price you write on the bill of sale. There is no trade-in credit on private-party deals — the credit only applies when you trade in a vehicle at a licensed ND dealer. MVD reviews prices that look implausibly low against NADA and may substitute fair market value, so write down what you actually paid and keep proof (bank transfer, cashier's check copy).
Exemption: Immediate-family transfers (spouse, parent, child, sibling) are exempt with affidavit. Inheritance and certain divorce-decree transfers are exempt with the supporting document. There is no "casual sale" or "occasional sale" exemption — every used-car private-party sale is taxable.
Inspection Requirements
No state safety inspection. A pre-purchase inspection at an independent shop (typical cost in ND $100-150) is the cheapest insurance you can buy on a used car. Pay particular attention to the undercarriage and brake lines — ND winters and chip-seal county roads chew up vehicles fast.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (NDDOT MVD) — not the same agency that handles cars in North Dakota. Plan for separate filings.
North Dakota Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Run the VIN through NICB and NMVTIS for theft and title-history red flags before paying — these checks are cheap and catch washed titles from bordering states.
- Match the VIN on the title against the VIN on the dashboard and the federal sticker in the door jamb.
- Record the exact odometer reading on the bill of sale AND the title assignment block.
- Write "AS-IS, NO WARRANTY" clearly on the bill of sale for private-party sales — ND has no implied warranty for casual sellers, and this protects the seller from later "you didn't tell me" claims.
- Submit the title application (SFN 2872), assigned title, and bill of sale to your county MVD within 5 business days.
- Pay 5% MVET at the counter — debit card, check, or cash; some rural offices do not take credit cards.
Common Pitfalls
- Buying on an "open title" — meaning the seller has a title in someone else's name and asks you to deal with the assignment yourself. This is a red flag for curbstoning and possible title fraud. Walk away.
- Leaving the price blank or "to be determined" — MVD will assess MVET on NADA value, which is almost always higher than the actual deal.
- Forgetting the AS-IS language and getting hit with a small-claims demand 30 days later when the buyer's transmission gives out.
- Skipping the title-history check on a vehicle from MN, MT, or SD — those states see washed titles and flood-damage transfers move across borders.
- Counting on the seller to "send the title later" after you pay. Title in hand or no deal.
Pro Tip
No inspection, no lemon law, no take-backs. A clear AS-IS bill of sale, a verified VIN, and a clean title in the seller's name are the three things that protect you in a North Dakota used-car deal.