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North Dakota Car Sales Tax Calculator Tax, title & license fees (2026)

Statewide motor vehicle excise tax (no local sales tax) · 5% state rate

Partially verified By Abdel · Checked against official sources on October 7, 2026 · Data as of September 5, 2026

Calculate North Dakota car tax & fees

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How much is car sales tax in North Dakota?

North Dakota charges a statewide 5% motor vehicle excise tax, and no city or county sales tax applies to vehicle purchases. Annual license fees depend on the vehicle's weight and the year it was first registered.

The taxable amount is the selling price plus accessories, preparation and freight, minus your trade-in, any manufacturer rebate and any auction fee. Title, registration, license and dealer doc fees aren't taxed.

Passenger license fees come from a state schedule by year first registered and shipping weight. A vehicle first registered in 2021 or later weighing 3,200–4,499 lb pays $93 for a full year, and the fee falls as the vehicle ages. First-year fees are prorated by the months remaining.

A title costs $5, and a $1.50 abandoned vehicle fee applies to a vehicle's first North Dakota title. Electric vehicles add a $120 road use fee and plug-in hybrids $50.

  1. Taxable = price + accessories/prep/freight - trade-in - manufacturer rebate - auction fee
  2. Tax = taxable x 5%
  3. Total = tax + title + abandoned vehicle fee + license fee + EV/PHEV fee + plate transfer + SRP + doc fee

North Dakota car tax example with real numbers

New car with a trade-in and rebate

You buy a new $3,500-lb car for $30,000, trade in your old one for $6,000 and get a $1,000 rebate.

  1. Taxable amount: $30,000 − $6,000 − $1,000 = $23,000.
  2. Excise tax: $23,000 × 5% = $1,150.
  3. Full-year license fee for a 3,500-lb car first registered in 2021 or later: $93.
  4. With the $5 title, the estimated total is $1,248.
Taxes
Motor vehicle excise tax5% of $23,000.00$1,150
Title & registration
Title$5
License fee (full year)$93
Estimated total$1,248

Computed with the calculator on this page using the figures in our data. Local add-ons not mentioned in the example are left out.

Exceptions that change your North Dakota tax bill

Family gifts

Gifts between spouses, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, or siblings owe no excise tax.

Inheritance and divorce

Inheritance, bequests and decedent's trusts owe nothing, nor do transfers to a former spouse within one year of the divorce decree.

Military and tribal members

Service-member transfers in the 30-day window, and enrolled tribal members living on a North Dakota reservation, owe no excise tax.

Nominal sales

A $1 'sale' is still a sale. Exemptions require documentation.

North Dakota vehicle sales tax rates

State rate5%
Local rate0%

North Dakota title & registration fees

Title$5
Abandoned vehicle fee initial title$1.50
Plate transfer$5
SRP$25
EV road use$120
Plug-in hybrid road use$50
Passenger license fee
  • Basis Year first registered x shipping weight; prorated by months remaining
  • Effective 2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31
  • Schedule full year
    • First registered 2,021 and up
      • Up to 3,199 lb $73
      • 3,200 4,499 lb $93
      • 4,500 4,999 lb $111
      • 5,000 5,999 lb $142
      • 6,000 6,999 lb $175
      • 7,000 7,999 lb $208
      • 8,000 8,999 lb $241
      • 9,000 lb and up $274
    • First registered 2,018 2,020
      • Up to 3,199 lb $65
      • 3,200 4,499 lb $81
      • 4,500 4,999 lb $94
      • 5,000 5,999 lb $120
      • 6,000 6,999 lb $146
      • 7,000 7,999 lb $172
      • 8,000 8,999 lb $199
      • 9,000 lb and up $225
    • First registered 2,015 2,017
      • Up to 3,199 lb $57
      • 3,200 4,499 lb $69
      • 4,500 4,999 lb $79
      • 5,000 5,999 lb $98
      • 6,000 6,999 lb $117
      • 7,000 7,999 lb $137
      • 8,000 8,999 lb $157
      • 9,000 lb and up $177
    • First registered 2,014 and older
      • Up to 3,199 lb $49
      • 3,200 4,499 lb $57
      • 4,500 4,999 lb $63
      • 5,000 5,999 lb $76
      • 6,000 6,999 lb $89
      • 7,000 7,999 lb $102
      • 8,000 8,999 lb $115
      • 9,000 lb and up $128

North Dakota car tax exemptions & special cases

Family gift (spouse, parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, sibling)Tax $0
Inheritance / bequest / decedent trustTax $0
Divorce transfer within 1 year of decreeTax $0
Certified service-member transfer within 30-day windowTax $0
Enrolled tribal member living on a ND reservationTax $0
RenewalNo excise, no title
Ordinary hybridsNo EV/PHEV fee

North Dakota car tax FAQ

Is there local sales tax on cars in North Dakota?

No. Only the 5% state motor vehicle excise tax applies.

Are dealer doc fees taxed in North Dakota?

No. Title, registration, license and doc fees are outside the excise tax base.

How is the North Dakota license fee set?

By the year the vehicle was first registered and its shipping weight, from a state schedule.

Do hybrids pay North Dakota's EV fee?

No. Only battery EVs ($120) and plug-in hybrids ($50) pay a road use fee.

Sources & verification

We checked these figures against the following official pages on October 7, 2026:

Not yet confirmed on an official page: 2026 passenger fee schedule values (MVD-2 2025 found; 2026 table not re-checked row by row). Treat these figures as estimates.

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll recheck it.

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