How to fill out the SFN 2872 in North Dakota
A field-by-field walkthrough of the North Dakota SFN 2872 (Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle) for licensed used car dealers — what goes in every section, who signs what, and the documents you attach. Verified against the official form as of September 2026.
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Filling out the ND SFN 2872 after a sale:
- What it is
- North Dakota's combined title + registration application, with the excise-tax Purchaser's Certificate built in
- Who completes it
- Usually the dealer prepares it on a dealer sale. The buyer is the applicant and signs it
- Where to file it
- NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division (Bismarck, by mail, or a motor vehicle site). Dealers commonly submit for the buyer
- Processing time
- Paper filing. The buyer must apply within 30 days of receiving the endorsed title
- Cost
- 5% excise tax (no local tax) + $5 title fee + registration by year and weight; $5 plate-credit transfer fee if used
This guide is informational and does not replace the official North Dakota instructions. Always confirm the current form and procedure with North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Motor Vehicle Division before you file.
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What the SFN 2872 is and why it matters
SFN 2872 is North Dakota's Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle. It puts the vehicle in the buyer's name, registers it, and, in Section IV, carries the Motor Vehicle Purchaser's Certificate where the excise tax is figured. On a dealer sale the dealer usually fills it out from the deal, the buyer signs it, and it goes to the NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division with the assigned title and the fees.
The main thing to know about North Dakota is that it doesn't charge sales tax on vehicles. It charges a 5% motor vehicle excise tax instead, with no local add-on. The tax is figured on the purchase price minus any trade-in, total-loss allowance or manufacturer rebate. Title, registration, license and document fees aren't part of the taxable price, so the doc fee stays out of the tax math. This guide walks the current (4-2026) form section by section.
SFN 2872 is a combined title and registration application from the NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division. On a dealer sale, North Dakota dealers commonly prepare it and remit the 5% motor vehicle excise tax for the buyer as a customer service, but the buyer signs it and can also take it to the Motor Vehicle Division themselves. Under state law the seller must deliver the endorsed title within 30 days of the sale, and the buyer must submit it with an application for a new title within 30 days of receiving it.
Documents to have before you start
Gather these before you complete the SFN 2872. A missing attachment is the number-one reason the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), Motor Vehicle Division bounces a title application back.
- The properly assigned title (or MCO for a new unit) — Endorsed to the buyer. North Dakota law has the seller put the buyer's name and the selling price on the assignment.
- Odometer disclosure — Required for 2011 and newer vehicles. The reading also goes in Section III.
- Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement (SFN 18609) — Required for passenger cars, trucks, pickups, motorcycles and motor homes less than nine model years old. The seller completes it.
- Dealer bill of sale / buyer's order — Shows the price, trade-in and date the Section IV figures come from.
- Insurance statement of loss (only if claiming a total-loss allowance) — A notarized statement of loss from the insurer, valid for three years from issue.
- SFN 2475 (only for a second lienholder) — SFN 2872 has room for one lienholder. Use SFN 2475 Part 3 to add another.
SFN 2872, section by section
Section I: This application is for
Check only one box. For a retail sale that's normally Title Process (the form's instructions say to check one type only). The other boxes cover IRP/prorate accounts, registration-only work, registration changes, trailer plates, and duplicate plates, tabs, cards or titles, which have their own fees printed next to them.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Title Process The box for titling a sold vehicle in the buyer's name. | You (dealer) |
Other application types (IRP, registration change, duplicates, trailer plates) Leave blank on a normal retail title transfer. | You (dealer) |
Section II: Applicant information
The buyer, meaning whoever the title will be issued to. Select the applicant type, then enter the full legal name, the driver's license number (or FEIN for a business), phone, mailing address and county. A co-applicant gets the same block. With a co-applicant you must pick the ownership conjunction: "And" (joint tenants with right of survivorship) or "Or". Also answer whether the vehicle is being leased.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Applicant type (Individual, Business, Lessor, Trust, Govt.) | Buyer |
Applicant legal name (first, middle, last) | Buyer |
Applicant number type + DLN or FEIN number Driver's license for an individual, FEIN for a business. | Buyer |
Telephone, mailing address, city, state, ZIP, county | Buyer |
Co-applicant type, name, DLN/FEIN, address (if any) | Buyer |
And (JTWROS) / Or Required when a co-applicant is listed. | Buyer |
Is the vehicle being leased? Yes / No | Buyer |
Section III: Vehicle information
Identifies the vehicle. The VIN must match the assigned title. The instructions require the odometer reading on all 2011 and newer vehicles, with the indicator checked. North Dakota plates stay with the owner, so if the buyer is moving plate credit from a vehicle they sold, the credit plate number goes here.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
North Dakota title number Only if the vehicle already carries a North Dakota title. Otherwise leave it blank. | You (dealer) |
Year, make, model, body style | You (dealer) |
Vehicle identification number Must match the title and the VIN plate. | You (dealer) |
Fuel type (Hybrid, Electric, Other), color | You (dealer) |
Registered weight | You (dealer) |
ND license plate number / credit plate number Only if the buyer is transferring a plate or plate credit. | You (dealer) |
Motor home/trailer length; date first used on ND highways; ATV/UTV type (straddle / side-by-side) Only where they apply. Usually blank for a car or truck. | You (dealer) |
Odometer reading + indicator (Actual, Exceeds Mechanical Limits, Not Actual) Required on 2011 and newer vehicles. | You (dealer) |
Section IV: Motor Vehicle Purchaser's Certificate (tax and fees)
This is where the tax is calculated. Start with the full purchase price less any rebate, subtract the trade-in allowance and any insurance total-loss allowance, and the difference is taxed at 5%. The trade-in can be a motor vehicle or other property that's taxable when resold, but a cash payment to someone for their car doesn't count as a trade-in. When you claim a trade-in, the form requires its year, make and VIN. Don't add the doc fee to the price, because North Dakota excludes title, registration, license and document fees from the taxable purchase price. Service contracts are excluded too. Then list the fees: the $5 title fee, the registration (license) fee for that vehicle, and a $5 transfer fee if plate credit is applied. The $1.50 abandoned vehicle disposal fee only applies to new and out-of-state vehicles titled in North Dakota for the first time.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Full purchase price (less rebate) Vehicle price including accessories, dealer prep, freight and delivery. Leave out the doc fee. | You (dealer) |
Less trade-in allowance Requires the trade's year, make and VIN below. | You (dealer) |
Less total loss allowance Only with a notarized insurance statement of loss. | You (dealer) |
Difference / subtotal | You (dealer) |
Tax (5% of difference/subtotal) Flat 5% statewide. No local tax on vehicles. | You (dealer) |
Abandoned vehicle disposal fee ($1.50) New and out-of-state vehicles first titled in ND only. | You (dealer) |
Title fee ($5.00) | You (dealer) |
Vehicle license fee; license plate credit amount From NDDOT's fee schedule (by year and weight). | You (dealer) |
SRP ($25), plate/credit transfer fee ($5), branch fee, duplicate plate fee Only the ones that apply. | You (dealer) |
Total fees due The form says: do not send cash. | You (dealer) |
Year and make of trade-in; VIN of trade-in | You (dealer) |
Tax exemption number Only if claiming an exemption from the Section VII list. | You (dealer) |
ND Excise tax & title fee calculator
Free · no signup · updates as you type
North Dakota charges a 5% motor vehicle excise tax in place of sales tax, with no local tax. It's figured on the purchase price less a trade-in, an insurance total-loss allowance or a manufacturer rebate. Title, registration, license and document fees aren't taxable, so the doc fee isn't included here. Title fee $5. Enter the registration (license) fee from NDDOT's schedule, which varies by year and weight. Add $5 if plate credit is transferred, and $1.50 if the vehicle is new or out-of-state and being titled in ND for the first time. Confirm current figures with the NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division.
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Section V: Dealer and lienholder information
Record the date the buyer got the vehicle, whether it's new or used, who it was acquired from (your dealership) and your ND dealer number. If the buyer financed, enter the first lienholder's name and mailing address so the lien is recorded. If there's a second lienholder, add them on SFN 2475 Part 3.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Date acquired | You (dealer) |
Condition: New / Used | You (dealer) |
Acquired from The selling dealership. | You (dealer) |
ND dealer number | You (dealer) |
First lienholder name, mailing address, city, state, ZIP Second lienholder goes on SFN 2475. | You (dealer) |
Section VI: Penalty statement and signature
The applicant signs and dates. By signing, the buyer certifies the vehicle will be insured as required by law and that the information is correct. The penalty statement says a false statement is a class B misdemeanor. If a company owns the vehicle, write the company name and the title of the authorized agent who signs. The certification also covers truck owners hauling hazardous materials.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Signature The applicant's legal signature. | Buyer |
Date | Buyer |
Printed name or business name Company-owned: include the signer's title. | Buyer |
Sections VII-VIII (page 2): Tax exemptions and damage disclosure
Page 2 lists the numbered tax exemptions whose number goes in Section IV's Tax Exemption Number box. Examples are gifts between certain family members, inheritance, and 100% disabled veterans or former POWs with VA eligibility. Two apply to dealers buying inventory: 11 (dealer resale, used) and 12 (dealer resale, new). A normal retail sale uses none of them. Section VIII covers damage disclosure: if the vehicle is less than nine model years old, include SFN 18609 with the application.
| Field | Who fills it |
|---|---|
Exemption number (1-30) + any required detail Some exemptions need supporting documents, such as a VA letter or divorce decree. | Buyer |
SFN 18609 Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement Required for vehicles under nine model years old. Excludes trailers, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles. | You (dealer) |
The SFN 2872 is one car's paperwork. A 20-second read on your lot, and the tax-and-fee math for the whole deal — built for dealers, no signup. Free calculators dealers actually use — no signup, no email.
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Common SFN 2872 mistakes that cause rejections
North Dakota's excise tax guideline says title, registration, license and document fees aren't part of the taxable purchase price. Service contracts aren't either. Tax the vehicle price, including accessories, dealer prep, freight and delivery, minus any trade-in or rebate. Adding the doc fee overcharges the buyer.
The form's instructions require the trade's year, make and VIN whenever you take a trade-in allowance. Also, buying a customer's car for cash on a separate deal isn't a trade-in and doesn't reduce the tax on what they buy.
North Dakota vehicles pay the 5% motor vehicle excise tax, not state and local sales tax, and no local tax applies. Don't carry a city or county rate onto a vehicle deal.
For passenger cars, trucks, pickups, motorcycles and motor homes less than nine model years old, the seller must complete the Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement (SFN 18609) and submit it with the application.
North Dakota requires the seller to deliver the endorsed title within 30 days of the sale, and the buyer to submit it with a new title application within 30 days of receiving it. Missing it can get the registration suspended or revoked, and it's a class B misdemeanor. Late or missing purchaser's certificates also carry an excise-tax penalty. File the package promptly.
Common questions
What form do I use to title a vehicle in North Dakota?+
SFN 2872, the Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle, from the NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division. It combines the title application, the registration and the Motor Vehicle Purchaser's Certificate where the 5% excise tax is calculated.
Does North Dakota charge sales tax on cars?+
No. North Dakota charges a 5% motor vehicle excise tax instead of sales tax, and no local tax applies. The NDDOT Motor Vehicle Division collects it for the Tax Commissioner, often through the selling dealer.
Does a trade-in reduce North Dakota's vehicle excise tax?+
Yes. The trade-in allowance is subtracted from the selling price before the 5% is applied. The trade can be a motor vehicle or other property that's taxable when resold. An insurance total-loss settlement and a manufacturer rebate reduce the taxable price too. A cash purchase of someone's car is not a trade-in.
Is the doc fee taxable in North Dakota?+
No. The Office of State Tax Commissioner's guideline says title, registration, license and document fees are not part of the taxable purchase price for motor vehicle excise tax. Extended warranties and service contracts are excluded as well.
How much is a North Dakota title?+
The title fee is $5. Registration (license) fees are extra and depend on the vehicle's year and weight. A new or out-of-state vehicle titled in North Dakota for the first time also pays a $1.50 abandoned vehicle disposal fee.
How long do I have to transfer a title in North Dakota?+
The seller must deliver the endorsed title to the buyer within 30 days of the sale. The buyer must then submit it with an application for a new title within 30 days of receiving it. Missing that can lead to the registration being suspended or revoked, and it's a class B misdemeanor.
Who files SFN 2872 on a dealer sale in North Dakota?+
Usually the dealer. North Dakota dealers commonly prepare SFN 2872 and remit the excise tax for the buyer as a customer service. The buyer signs as the applicant and can also file it directly with the Motor Vehicle Division.
Is there software that fills out the SFN 2872 automatically?+
Yes. Dealer management software like DealerVLO fills the North Dakota SFN 2872 from the deal you already entered — the VIN-decoded vehicle, buyer, co-buyer, lienholder, and sale price are placed for you instead of hand-writing them. For most states that's the official DMV form itself; where a state issues its form only through its own dealer portal, you get a print-ready worksheet with every value already in place. It's $29/month flat with a 14-day free trial, and the same deal also generates your federal documents (Bill of Sale, FTC Buyers Guide, odometer disclosure) and any other state's title forms.
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