How to Renew Your North Dakota Vehicle Registration

The short version

• Registrations renew every year, at the end of the month you originally registered the car.
• Most cars cost $49 to $175 a year in 2026, depending on weight and the year first registered. Electric cars pay $120 more and plug-in hybrids $50 more.
• Kiosks print your tabs on the spot, while online renewals arrive by mail in 5 to 10 business days.

North Dakota registrations are handled by the Motor Vehicle Division of the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). You can renew online, at a self-service kiosk, by mail or at a motor vehicle branch office.

Not renewing?

• Just bought a car? That’s a new registration. Our guide to North Dakota temporary registration covers the 75-day permit you can drive on in the meantime.
• New to North Dakota? You’ll register your car here instead of renewing. You’ll also need to transfer your out-of-state license to North Dakota.
• Sold your car? Take the plates off. State law lets you apply for credit for the unused months toward another vehicle, for a $5 fee.

When Is North Dakota Vehicle Registration Renewal Due?

Under N.D.C.C. § 39-04-14.1, a car’s registration expires every year on the last day of the month it was originally registered. The NDDOT mails a renewal invoice before then, or you can get it by email instead of paper.

• No grace period: State law makes a registration delinquent as soon as it expires. The NDDOT’s fee chart doesn’t list a late fee, but it’s illegal to drive on expired tabs.
• Several vehicles: The NDDOT can line up their renewal dates, with prorated fees. Call the Motor Vehicle Division at 701-328-2725.
• Renewing early: Kiosks take renewals up to 60 days before your registration expires.

North Dakota Registration Renewal Requirements: Insurance and Fees

• Insurance: You need at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage, matching uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and $30,000 in no-fault personal injury protection, according to the North Dakota Insurance Department.
• Weight and age: Your fee depends on the car’s weight and the year it was first registered, not its model year.
• Electric cars: State law adds a road use fee of $120 a year for electric vehicles and $50 for plug-in hybrids. It doesn’t apply to hybrids that don’t plug in.
• No inspection: North Dakota doesn’t require safety or emissions inspections, so there’s nothing to clear before you renew.
• Changes: You can’t change anything about a registration while renewing online. Update your address first through the NDDOT’s address change system.

How to Renew Your North Dakota Tabs Online, at a Kiosk or in Person

Renew Your North Dakota Registration Online

1. Have your registration card or renewal invoice handy, and go to the NDDOT’s online renewal.
2. Pay by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.
3. Allow 5 to 10 business days for your registration card and decals to arrive. New, fleet and apportioned vehicles can’t be renewed online.

Renew Your North Dakota Tabs at a Self-Service Kiosk

1. Find a kiosk on the NDDOT’s kiosk locations page. There are kiosks in more than 30 cities, from Fargo and Grand Forks to Williston.
2. Enter the invoice number from your renewal notice, or your title number and plate number.
3. Pay by card or pinless debit card. The kiosk prints your tabs and registration card on the spot.

Renew by Mail or at a North Dakota Motor Vehicle Branch

1. To renew by mail, follow the instructions on your renewal invoice.
2. Or visit one of the NDDOT’s motor vehicle locations. They work by appointment, which you can book at 1-855-633-6835, though walk-ins are accepted.
3. Expect a branch fee at many locations, on top of the state’s fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Renew a North Dakota Registration?

Item	Fee
Car under 3,200 pounds	$49 to $73 a year
Car 3,200 to 4,499 pounds	$57 to $93 a year
Car 4,500 to 4,999 pounds	$63 to $111 a year
Car 5,000 to 5,999 pounds	$76 to $142 a year
Car 6,000 to 6,999 pounds	$89 to $175 a year
Electric vehicle road use fee	$120 a year
Plug-in hybrid road use fee	$50 a year
Personalized plate	$25 a year more
Example: 4,000-pound electric car first registered in 2023	$213 ($93 registration + $120 road use fee)

Each weight range runs from the highest fee, for cars first registered in 2021 or later, down through 2018 to 2020 and 2015 to 2017 to the lowest, for 2014 and older. The chart covers January 1 through December 31, 2026, and registrations shorter than 12 months are prorated.

Branch offices can add their own fees, and the NDDOT’s locations page doesn’t list the amounts. The $25 personalized plate fee comes from the NDDOT’s special plate application.

North Dakota Registration Renewal FAQs

Sign up for email invoices so a lost notice doesn’t leave you driving on expired tabs. In North Dakota, most cars cost $49 to $175 a year to renew in 2026, and electric cars pay $120 more.