North Dakota Car Sales Tax Calculator
North Dakota charges a state vehicle sales/use tax of 5% on a car purchase. On a $20,000 vehicle that is about $1,000.00 in state tax before any local add-ons. Enter your own price below — and your trade-in, if North Dakota allows a trade-in credit — to estimate what you'll owe.
Quick answer: North Dakota’s state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 5%. Local (county/city) taxes may apply on top.
Estimate your North Dakota car sales tax
Enter the vehicle price. If North Dakota gives a trade-in tax credit, add your trade-in value to reduce the taxable amount.
State rate only. Many North Dakota counties and cities add a local sales tax on top, so your actual total may be higher. Trade-in credit rules vary — confirm eligibility with the official source below.
How North Dakota taxes a car purchase
| State vehicle sales/use tax rate | 5% |
| Taxable amount | Price − trade-in credit (where allowed) |
| Local / county tax | Varies by jurisdiction — added on top of the state rate |
North Dakota's title fee is $5, registration is a weight-and-age based annual license fee, and a 5% Motor Vehicle Excise Tax applies to the purchase price at titling.
Sales tax on a used car in North Dakota
North Dakota applies the same 5% state sales/use tax to a used car as to a new one. On a private-party sale the tax is normally collected when you title and register the vehicle — calculated on the price you paid, minus a trade-in credit where the state allows one, and checked against the vehicle's fair-market value to deter under-reporting.
What this estimate excludes
- Local and district taxes. County, city, and transit taxes are added on top of the North Dakota state rate.
- Title, registration, and plate fees. These are separate from sales tax — use the North Dakota registration and title-transfer calculators for those.
- Dealer documentation fees. A dealer “doc fee” is charged on top and is often itself taxable.
- Exemptions. Gifts, inheritance, and certain family transfers may be exempt — confirm with North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division.
Official North Dakota source
Related North Dakota tools & guides
Frequently asked questions
How much is sales tax on a car in North Dakota?
The North Dakota state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 5%. Multiply it by the taxable purchase price (usually the price minus any trade-in credit). Counties and cities may add a local sales tax on top, so confirm your combined rate with North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division.
Do I pay sales tax when buying a used car from a private seller in North Dakota?
In most states, sales or use tax on a private-party vehicle purchase is collected when you title and register the car, not at the point of sale. The rate is generally the same as a dealer sale. Confirm the private-sale rules with North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division.
Does North Dakota give a sales tax credit for a trade-in?
Most states tax only the difference between the vehicle price and your trade-in value, which lowers the tax you owe. A handful of states tax the full price with no trade-in credit. Verify North Dakota's treatment before you rely on the estimate above.
Are there local or county car sales taxes in North Dakota?
Often, yes. The rate shown here is the North Dakota state rate only; many counties, cities, and transit districts add a local sales tax on vehicle purchases, so your combined rate can be higher. North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division publishes the official combined rates.
Can you legally avoid sales tax on a used car in North Dakota?
The legitimate ways to lower or avoid vehicle sales/use tax in North Dakota are a qualifying trade-in credit (where the state allows one), a genuine gift or qualifying family transfer, or a specific exemption the state grants — not understating the sale price, which is illegal and easily caught by North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division against the vehicle's fair-market value. Confirm any exemption with North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division before relying on it.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official North Dakota Department of Transportation — Motor Vehicle Division sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice