When buying or selling a vehicle through a private sale, you will need to complete a Bill of Sale for North Dakota (Form SFN 02888). A bill of sale in North Dakota acts as a receipt with details of the transaction, as well as protects both the buyer and the seller from liability should a problem arise. For example, if the vehicle is in an accident after it was sold, the seller can use the bill of sale for North Dakota as proof that they did not own the vehicle at the time.
While the state of North Dakota doesn’t always require a bill of sale to register your vehicle, it is still ideal to have one. A bill of sale in North Dakota can be used to prove ownership of the vehicle as well as be used when filing your taxes.
Customizable Form
Other Requirements
In order for a bill of sale for North Dakota to be considered legal, both the buyer and the seller must sign it. Notarisation is not mandatory, however, doing so gives the document more credibility.
When selling a vehicle, the seller must complete a Federal Form referred to as an Odometer Disclosure Statement. This is needed if the vehicle is less than 16,000 pounds in weight and/or less than 10 years of age.
If you are having someone else register and title a vehicle for you, they will need to complete a Vehicle Power of Attorney document. NDDOT does not provide its own power of attorney form, so you will need to either create one or use a template.
Creating a Bill of Sale in North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Transportation has its own vehicle bill of sale form that you can use (Form SFN 02888), or you can create your own bill of sale for North Dakota. You will need to make sure your document has the required details:
- Date of sale
- Details about the buyer, which must include their full legal name, driver’s license/FEIN, mailing address, and phone number.
- Details about the seller, which must include their full legal name, mailing address, and phone number
- Details about the vehicle, which must include the year, make, model, VIN, body type, color, fuel type, and the price that the vehicle is being sold for.
- Additional details, such as whether there is a lien on the vehicle, or there are conditions about the payment (installment payments, in full, etc.)
- For the form to be considered legal, both the buyer and seller must sign the form in front of a notary.
Registering a Vehicle in North Dakota
The state of North Dakota requires all vehicles to be registered within 5 days from the date of sale or acquisition. You will need to register in person, by appointment using the Online Appointment Service, calling NDDOT’s toll-free number: 1-855-633-6835, or by contacting your local DMV office.
Your vehicle registration will need to be renewed yearly. You can renew your vehicle’s registration at one of the many self-service kiosks across the state or online using NDDOT’s Renewal Page.
Documentation Required When Registering and Titling a Vehicle
You will need to have the following documents with you when you register and title your vehicle:
- A completed Bill of Sale (Form SFN-02888) that has been signed by both the buyer and the seller
- A valid and current Driver’s License for North Dakota
- A completed Odometer Disclosure Form
- The vehicle’s Certificate of Title. If this is not available or has been lost, you will need to request a duplicate using Form SFN-02872 (Application for Certificate of Title)
- If you are registering the vehicle for another, you will need to have a completed Vehicle Power of Attorney form that has been notarized
- The appropriate funds to cover Registration Fees
- Proof of vehicle insurance, which must have the following Minimum Requirements:
- Cover of $25,000 for property damage, per incident
- Cover of $25,000 for bodily injury, per individual
- Cover of $50,000 for bodily injury, for two or more individuals, per incident
For more details, you can download NDDOT’s Motor Vehicle Registration Manual.
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