The procedures and approach for selling a car online vary by state. Discover how to sell your used car or truck in North Dakota confidentially.
If you reside in North Dakota's Missouri Plateau, Drift Prairie, or Red River Valley and want to sell your old automobile or truck privately, you've come to the perfect location. With over 333,000 registered trucks and vehicles in North Dakota, it's no surprise that thousands of individual vehicle sellers in the Peace Garden State have chosen cashforcarsinc.com to sell their cars. We've explained the six procedures and documents necessary to know how to sell a car in North Dakota below, so you may sell your automobile fast and for the maximum amount of money.
Remember that most states regard the car title as a legal document, so use the legal names (no nicknames) of both individuals involved as well as legible handwriting in black or blue ink. Mistakes, typos, and the use of white-out may render the document null and worthless, so be cautious and take your time filling it out.
Step 1: Allow the buyer to have a third party assess the vehicle
Private automobile buyers are advised to pay for a pre-purchase vehicle check performed by a trained and certified auto mechanic of their choice. Although the buyer pays for the inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on the date and location of the inspection. If the inspection reveals any problems with the vehicle, you should save the report for your records as the seller. North Dakota does not require this inspection, and there are no documents to fill out, but it is a good idea for the buyer to have it completed prior to the purchase.
Step 2: Organize and collect all vehicle papers
Find all maintenance records, the owner's manual, and other vehicle-related papers. If you can offer the buyer extensive and thorough maintenance documents, it will give the buyer confidence that the automobile has been properly and regularly maintained. You should also think about providing a car history record from a provider like CarFax or AutoCheck.
The title certificate is the most critical document to have when selling an automobile. If a lien exists on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before it may be sold. This can be accomplished by either selling the automobile, paying it off, or obtaining a lien release from the lienholder. For the lien release to be legitimate, Form SFN 2876 must be completed and notarized by an authorized agent of your lienholder.
Step 3: Create a Bill of Sale (optional)
Private-party vehicle purchases in North Dakota do not require a bill of sale. The North Dakota DOT, on the other hand, has a bill of sale form. It's SFN 2888, which collects information including the vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN. To be legally binding, the bill of sale must be signed by the seller in the presence of a notary. If you do decide to use a bill of sale for your transaction, prepare a duplicate for the seller to keep as confirmation that the automobile has legally changed hands.
Due to an increase in odometer fraud cases in North Dakota and around the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) odometer disclosure standards were revised in December 2020, affecting some private car purchases in North Dakota. Any vehicle of the model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) that is transferred between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2030, will require an odometer disclosure. Beginning January 1, 2031, every vehicle less than 20 model years old will be required to have an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA only mandated disclosure for the first ten years. Cars manufactured before 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures.
Step 4: Damage declaration statement
Before selling a vehicle that is less than nine model years old, sellers must complete a Damage/Salvage Disclosure Statement (form SFN 18609). If the vehicle has no major or structural damage, check the "No" box in Part 1, complete and sign Section 4 with your name, address, and so on, and have the buyer complete Section 5. If the vehicle has been damaged, you must additionally fulfill parts 2 and 3.
Step 5: Change the title
If the vehicle's title has been lost, stolen, or severely damaged, you can get a duplicate North Dakota title by completing Form SFN 2872. A duplicate title can be obtained by completing that form and paying a $5 charge. When privately selling an automobile in North Dakota, both the buyer and seller must fill out the applicable areas on the back of the title. This information contains the buyer's and seller's legal names, addresses, and signatures, as well as the date of the transaction and the odometer reading. When this is filled out correctly and legibly, the buyer can easily transfer registration and obtain a new plate.
If the title shows more than one owner, the following number of signatures will be required based on the link between the names: Furthermore, all individuals specified must sign. Alternatively, either vendor can sign; just one signature is necessary. Alternatively, both vendors must sign. If no connection is specified, the default will be "and," and all owners (sellers) must sign.
Another step that the seller must take to finalize the transfer is to fill out Form SFN 2877, which is an Assignment and Warranty of Title. This must be signed by the seller and provides basic information on the car, the buyer, and the seller. If you want to give an automobile to a relative, you can transfer the title using the identical procedure described here. It's a similar process to inheriting a car, but you'll need to file proof of the inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in question.
Step 6: Take off your license plates and cancel your insurance
Before passing over the car to the buyer, the seller must remove the license plates. If you do not, you may be held accountable for any infractions that occur after the buyer takes ownership of the car. After you sell your car, you can transfer your license plates to another vehicle that you own. You are not required to return the license plates to the DOT. To avoid paying for insurance on a car you no longer own, cancel your insurance as soon as you remove your plates.
The buyer may run the vehicle without showing any apparent proof of registration for a maximum of five (5) days from the date of acquisition. However, the buyer of the car must have dated proof of ownership of the vehicle during these five (5) days. A dated bill of sale or a dated copy of the certificate of title are both examples of dated evidence of ownership.
Visit the North Dakota Department of Transportation's website for further information.
The Easier Way to Sell Your Car
Now that you've learned everything there is to know about selling a car in North Dakota, it's time to determine where to list it. Cashforcarsinc.com makes it simple to sell your car. With ready-to-sign state documentation, encrypted chat, and more, our platform provides all the tools and recommendations you need to make the transaction a breeze.
