North Dakota title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in North Dakota
The short answer
In North Dakota, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the North Dakota DOT Motor Vehicle Division before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official North Dakota sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does North Dakota ask of sellers?
In North Dakota, a replacement title (form SFN 61982) costs $5.00. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- Replacing a lost title
- Form SFN 61982, Application for Duplicate Credentials. Fee: $5.00.
- Official source
- After the sale
- Remove the plates when you sell; the vehicle is then unlicensed until the buyer registers it. NDDOT's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Official source
- License plates
- The seller must take the plates off when the vehicle is sold; the seller can later move them to a replacement vehicle and get credit for unused registration months.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
North Dakota replacement titles come from the North Dakota DOT Motor Vehicle Division, using form SFN 61982 (Application for Duplicate Credentials), for a fee of $5.00. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in North Dakota.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the North Dakota DOT Motor Vehicle Division can tell you which estate papers North Dakota accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Remove the plates when you sell; the vehicle is then unlicensed until the buyer registers it. NDDOT's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Plates: The seller must take the plates off when the vehicle is sold; the seller can later move them to a replacement vehicle and get credit for unused registration months.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the North Dakota DOT Motor Vehicle Division before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in North Dakota?
Usually not. In North Dakota you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the North Dakota DOT Motor Vehicle Division. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in North Dakota when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in North Dakota?
Apply to the North Dakota DOT Motor Vehicle Division with form SFN 61982 (Application for Duplicate Credentials), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $5.00, according to the agency.
Can I sell a car in North Dakota with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.