If you’re a resident of North Dakota and you purchase a car out of state, you’ll need to pay North Dakota’s car sales tax and complete some basic paperwork to get it registered in North Dakota.

America! Spacious skies, amber waves of grain, and...fifty different states that all have different regulations about absolutely everything. Variety may be the spice of life, but when it comes to things like the regulations around buying a car across state lines, bland is the preferable flavor profile. But as luck would have it, the process is pretty cut and dry in North Dakota.

Here to give you the details on what you need to know about buying a car in North Dakota from out of state is

Jerry

, the

trustworthy super app

that cuts red tape and saves you money on car insurance. And while we’re at it, we’ll also give you a how-to on lowering the cost of your

North Dakota car insurance

How to buy a car out of state as a North Dakota resident

So let’s say you live in

Fargo

and have been shopping for a new car and are not finding just what you want. Then one day, perfection on four wheels shows up—but it’s for sale just across the border in

Minnesota

! How do you go about managing the purchase, the taxes, and the registration?

This happens quite a lot these days, especially with the popularity of internet shopping. But don’t stress—it’s actually not that complicated and most car dealerships are well-versed in what’s needed for an interstate purchase.

For starters, know that no matter what state you buy the car in, you have to pay the vehicle taxes of your home state. For North Dakota, this is a flat 5%.

You’ll need to fill out an

Application for Certificate of Title

, and if the vehicle is less than nine years old, the seller has to fill out a

Damage Disclosure Statement

. You’ll also need:

The out-of-state title completed by the seller and the buyer. If it’s a new vehicle, you’ll need the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) completed by the seller and buyer.

If the vehicle is less than 10 years old, odometer information must be disclosed on either the title or the MCO.

The taxes and fees you’ll need to pay are as follows:

5% Vehicle Sales tax

Title transfer fee of $5

Abandoned Disposal fee of $1.50

License fees based on the weight of the vehicle and the first year registered

Many states require emission testing, but North Dakota isn’t one of them. So if you’re planning on registering your new car in North Dakota, you don’t need to worry about an emissions test. Take all of this paperwork to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) along with your ID, proof of insurance, and proof of residency, and there you have it.

If you need more information or have additional questions, contact the

North Dakota Department of Transportation

for assistance.

MORE:

How to find temporary car insurance in North Dakota

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How to buy a car in North Dakota if you live out of state

If you’re buying a car in North Dakota but don’t live there, the process is basically the same but will have some variations depending on the state where you’re registering your car.

In general, expect to:

Get a valid bill of sale for the vehicle purchase (some states require that this be notarized)

Bring the bill of sale to your local DMV along with photo ID, proof of insurance, proof of residency, emissions testing compliance, odometer disclosure, and any other documents and fees needed

Complete your vehicle registration in your state of residency within the time frame required

And remember, you have to pay the tax of the state where you’re registering the car, not purchasing it.

What if I don’t have a physical title?

North Dakota needs the physical title in order to register a vehicle, but what if you bought a car in a state that uses electronic titles? Or what if you lost or damaged it on the drive back home? Unfortunately, you’ll have to request a physical copy from the DMV in the state where the vehicle is titled.

If you’re financing the car, this can be a bit more complex and will require the help of your lienholder. But it shouldn’t be too much trouble, and you can generally get a temporary registration until the paperwork gets sorted out.

MORE:

Car loan in North Dakota 2022

Tips for buying a vehicle out of state

Buying a car in a different state can be a great way to get a deal that you can’t get at home or score a rare make or model that you’ve been coveting. However, it does involve a little more leg work than a trip to your local dealership. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Always get a vehicle history report. This is especially critical if you’re buying from a private party, but it’s still good advice in any scenario. Services like

CARFAX

can provide you with a detailed life story of your potential new ride and let you know if it’s ever been in any accidents or has been affected by any recalls.

Schedule your vehicle inspection in your home state. Your car needs to meet the requirements of the state where you’re registering it, not where it was purchased. Make sure you know what’s required in your state, as there is a lot of variation!

Get an emissions test in your home state. If you live in North Dakota, you won’t need to worry about this. But most states have some kind of emission testing requirements that must be met.

Know your home state’s vehicle sales tax laws. When you buy a car out of state, you pay the taxes of your home state, not the state of purchase. So if you were hoping to dodge high vehicle sales taxes by buying out of state, you’re out of luck.

Get your car insurance before you leave the dealership. Make sure that you have the legally required car insurance before you leave the dealership—it’s fast and easy with the

Jerry

app!

MORE:

Title transfer in North Dakota

How to save on car insurance in North Dakota

If you live in North Dakota and want to buy a car in another state, then there are a few different boxes that you’ll have to check to make the purchase go smoothly. One important thing to remember? Make sure that your insurance coverage meets

North Dakota car insurance law

When you shop for your

car insurance

with Jerry, you can rest easy knowing that you’re getting the coverage you want at a price that fits your budget. In a matter of seconds, Jerry compares policies from more than 50 of the best insurance providers around and brings you the best ones to choose from.

Try it and see—the average Jerry shopper saves more than $800 a year on their car insurance costs!

“I love how easy it was for me, as someone who has an older beat-up truck, to get insurance without going through a lot of trouble. I would recommend anyone try
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