States · North Dakota

North Dakota Vehicle Registration Cost

North Dakota has one of the simpler vehicle tax structures: 5% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax replaces sales tax (no local additions, full trade-in credit), weight-based annual registration around $76 for typical passenger vehicles, and just $5 for the title fee. No annual ad valorem on vehicles. No state-mandated emissions testing or inspections. EV surcharge is $120/year (PHEV $50). A new $35,000 vehicle in North Dakota runs about $1,843 in first-year costs (mostly the $1,750 MVET + $76 registration + small fees), with annual renewals around $76.

How North Dakota calculates registration

• Annual Registration Fee (typical passenger) — $76 (annual) Per NDCC §39-06. Weight-based and year-first-registered tiered fee. Typical 3,200-4,499 lb passenger vehicle in its first 5 years registered: $76/year. Lighter vehicles pay $50-65, heavier vehicles $90-110. Fee declines as vehicles age past year 5.
• Title Fee — $5 (one-time) One-time title fee per North Dakota Administrative Code.
• Abandoned Vehicle Disposal Fee — $2 (one-time) One-time fee on new and out-of-state vehicles when first titled in ND.
• Branch Office Service Fee — $10 (one-time) One-time service fee charged by motor vehicle branch offices for processing.

Sales tax

North Dakota charges 5% state Motor Vehicle Excise Tax . Trade-in credit: full. Tax basis: purchase price.

North Dakota imposes the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax at 5% of taxable price — replaces general sales tax. NO local additions (regular ND sales tax has local additions up to 3%, but vehicles are exempt from these). Trade-in is fully credited. Credit available for taxes paid in another state if at least equal to 5%.

Electric vehicle surcharge

North Dakota charges an additional $120/year for electric vehicles.

Per NDCC §39-06.5. Battery EVs pay $120/year additional. Plug-in hybrids pay $50/year. Conventional hybrids do not pay an EV-specific surcharge. Fees deposited into the highway tax distribution fund.

What makes North Dakota distinctive

• North Dakota's 5% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax has NO LOCAL ADDITIONS — every ND county pays the same 5% statewide. Compare to neighbors: Minnesota 6.5% + local up to 1% = 7.5%, South Dakota 4% no local, Montana 0%. ND sits between SD and MN.
• North Dakota assesses registration based on the year FIRST REGISTERED in any state (not the vehicle's model year). Buying a 5-year-old used car that's been continuously registered registers it in the same fee class as your previous owner — no "reset" to the new-vehicle rate.
• North Dakota has NO annual vehicle ad valorem or personal property tax — unlike neighbor Minnesota's complex MV registration tax. Ongoing costs are limited to the modest $76 registration plus EV/PHEV surcharges. Among the cheapest states for long-term vehicle ownership.
• North Dakota's $120/year EV surcharge is moderate. Combined with the $1,750 MVET on a $35K EV and no state EV purchase rebate, ND is neutral on EVs. The state's gas tax is 23¢/gallon, relatively low among the Plains states.
• North Dakota requires titling within 5 days of purchase to avoid late fees, though registration grace periods vary. Among the shortest titling windows in the US — most states give 30-60 days.