Last Update: September 17, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in North Dakota

North Dakota vehicle registration records may need to be updated after a move, a legal name change, an error in ownership or sale information, an out-of-state registration transfer, or the acquisition of a new vehicle. In this state, registration and title functions are administered through the North Dakota Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle offices and title-issuing branches, and the official process depends on whether the issue is limited to the registration record or also affects the title record.

North Dakota Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

The following are common events that can require action on a vehicle record in North Dakota:

• A change of address after registration, because the registration statute requires notice to the department within 10 days.
• A legal name change, because both registration and title applications must use the owner's legal name.
• An error in buyer information, date of sale, selling price, odometer information, or another title-related entry that must be corrected with the statement of error.
• A newly acquired vehicle or a vehicle brought into North Dakota from another state, since the department requires title and registration filings for those transactions.
• A transfer of ownership that requires a new certificate of title and corresponding registration action through the department's title and registration forms.

Where to File a North Dakota Vehicle Registration Change

Routine registration and title work is handled through North Dakota Motor Vehicle offices and other title-issuing branches identified by the department. The department requires applicants to schedule an appointment for vehicle registration and related title services, and local branch listings identify which sites issue titles.

A record change may involve two different distinctions:

• A registration-only update, such as an address update or a duplicate registration or decal request, can often be handled through department service channels, including kiosks and motor vehicle offices.
• A title-linked correction requires title documentation because the department may not register or renew a vehicle unless a title application or satisfactory prior title evidence has been provided under the title chapter.

North Dakota Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

North Dakota law requires a person who moves from the address shown on the registration application or registration card to notify the department of both the old and new addresses within 10 days. That requirement appears in the state's registration statute.

For the filing process, the department provides both state-level and local service points. NDDOT kiosk services allow address updates and also support duplicate registrations or decals. Local motor vehicle branches listed by the department also handle registration-related transactions, and many title-issuing offices accept motor vehicle paperwork by appointment or through branch procedures published on the locations page.

North Dakota Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change can affect both the registration record and the title record because North Dakota requires the owner's legal name on each application. The registration statute requires an application for registration to be made in the owner's legal name, and the title chapter likewise requires the owner's legal name, street address, and residence information on the title application.

North Dakota also publishes official name-change proof requirements for licensing records. This includes certified government-issued documents, such as a marriage certificate, adoption document, or court order, as proof of a legal name change. When the vehicle ownership record no longer matches the current legal name, the title and registration paperwork should be reviewed together so the department's ownership file remains consistent.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a North Dakota Registration Record

North Dakota separates ordinary registration service from corrections that affect ownership or title data.

When the issue is an error in transfer or title information, the department uses the Statement of Error, Correction, or Alteration (SFN 2964). This form is specifically used for corrections involving items such as:

• the buyer's name
• the date of sale
• the selling price
• the odometer reading
• another error or alteration explained on the form

When the record change requires a fresh title-and-registration filing, the department requires SFN 2872, Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle. This filing is relevant for vehicle purchases, incoming out-of-state vehicles, and other changes where the department must issue or update both title and registration records.

If the need is limited to replacing credentials rather than correcting a title, kiosks can process duplicate registrations or decals.

North Dakota Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

North Dakota identifies the following timing rules and consequences for vehicle record changes:

• A person who moves from the address shown on the registration record must notify the department within 10 days.
• If a purchaser or transferee fails to present the endorsed and assigned certificate of title and apply for a new certificate within 30 days, the department may suspend or rescind the registration record under the state's motor vehicle registration laws.
• The department may refuse registration for failure to maintain security for basic no-fault benefits and the liabilities covered under motor vehicle liability insurance, as required by state law.
• The department may also rescind or suspend a registration when it determines that the vehicle is not covered by the required no-fault and liability insurance security.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in North Dakota?

Contact Information

North Dakota Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
608 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0700
Phone: (701) 328-2725
Official Website: North Dakota Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle