North Dakota VIN Lookup

Buying a used car in North Dakota can be a cost-effective way to own a vehicle. Still, it comes with significant risks, especially since the state's lemon law does not cover used cars, leaving buyers with little protection against defects that may arise after the purchase. Unless the buyer has an extended warranty or can prove that the seller misrepresented the car's condition, they have limited recourse if issues develop. Given the lack of consumer protections for used vehicles in North Dakota, along with the fact that the average price of a used car is $25,259, buyers must take extra precautions to ensure they make informed and safe decisions.

A VIN lookup is one effective way to conduct thorough research before purchasing a used car. This process can reveal vital information about the vehicle's history, including its make, model, inspection records, existing liens, and other relevant details regarding its overall condition.

Why Performing a North Dakota VIN Check is Important?

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-digit alphanumeric code that acts as a vehicle's fingerprint. This code can be used to access important details about the vehicle, including its features, history, and status. Performing a VIN lookup before finalizing your purchase can help you avoid potential problems. When you conduct a VIN check in North Dakota, you can obtain essential information such as:

• Registration and Title Verification: North Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 39-05 mandates that all vehicles operated in the state be fully titled and registered with the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division. Operating a vehicle without a registered title in the state is a class B misdemeanor punishable by 30 days imprisonment, a fine of $1,500, or both. A VIN check can confirm a car’s registration status and is also a good way to verify its title and confirm that the person selling the car has the legal right to do so.
• Odometer Verification: While altering a motor vehicle odometer or other mileage recorder to sell a car is unlawful in North Dakota, potential buyers must take specific precautions to avoid getting scammed. One of these precautions is conducting a VIN lookup. A VIN lookup is essential in confirming a vehicle's official odometer reading. This is particularly important given that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 450,000 cars are sold yearly with deliberately altered odometer readings, costing buyers approximately a billion dollars. In North Dakota, if you acquire a motor vehicle, the seller or transferor must complete the odometer disclosure on the certificate of title for the car.
• Title Brands: VIN checks are crucial in uncovering a vehicle’s title brand and revealing its history, condition, and potential risks. Brands are shown in the upper right corner of the North Dakota title beneath the odometer section. Title brands issued in the state include salvage, previously damaged, and previously salvaged. If the brand is designated as salvage, it usually indicates significant damage and repairs.
• Theft Check: North Dakota has a car theft rate of 97 per 100,000 inhabitants. A VIN check can tell you if a car has been reported stolen. This helps you avoid issues with buying stolen property. In 2022, more than 2,000 cars were stolen in the state, resulting in over $1.8 million in losses for the victims.
• Auto Fraud Prevention: Per the Federal Trade Commission 2023 report, over 100,000 complaints were issued over four years about car sales, financing, service, warranties, and rentals. A VIN check can help you spot discrepancies like rolled-out odometer readings and washed or forged titles, ensuring that you aren't scammed.

How To Perform a North Dakota VIN Check

The state of North Dakota provides resources that can be used to perform VIN checks. These include:

The North Dakota Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicle:

The division offers access to an online service center, where you can check a car's title and lienholder information by entering the unique 17-digit VIN in the designated fields. This VIN check provides information such as the vehicle's title status, the date the title was issued, who it was issued to, and the names of its lienholders.

The NHTSA VIN Decoder:

You can check a vehicle's VIN using the NHTSA’s VIN Decoder. This tool focuses on safety-related information and provides details like the car’s manufacturer and model year, the plant where it was manufactured, its engine and transmission details, safety features, safety ratings, and recalls, if any. You can perform VIN checks on this portal with either a full or partial VIN.

The NICB VINCheck:

The NICB VINCheck service allows you to check if a car has been reported stolen or salvaged. You will need the full VIN to use this service, and you can perform up to five searches each day.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in North Dakota

While government agencies offer free VIN checks as a basic service, you can use paid third-party platforms to access comprehensive information about a particular vehicle. This is especially important when making informed decisions regarding purchasing a used vehicle. Reputable websites such as GoodCar, AutoCheck, CarMat, and Carfax are excellent resources for conducting VIN checks in North Dakota. For a fee, these platforms will provide in-depth vehicle history reports that include:

• Title details
• Title brands
• Ownership records
• Vehicle specifications
• Accident history
• Odometer/mileage verification
• Rebuild records
• Inspection records
• Service and maintenance records
• Safety defects and recalls
• Sales history
• NHTSA crash test ratings, and much more

What Used Car Scams Are Common in North Dakota?

Each year, over 450,000 vehicles are sold in the United States with fake odometer readings, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is only one out of the several auto-related scams in the country. In North Dakota, these scams are common and can cause financial loss and frustration. Some common car scams in the state include:

Curbstoning:

This involves selling used cars without the legal right to do so. Here, the scammers put together a bad vehicle focusing primarily on the car’s exterior and offering the vehicle at a very low price to sell it quickly.

Odometer Rollbacks:

This involves altering the vehicle's odometer to make it appear less used and increase its market value.

Title Washing:

This involves altering a vehicle's title to hide its salvage or flood-damaged status.

VIN Cloning:

Copying the VIN from one vehicle and using it on another car to mask its true identity.

Fake Vehicle Histories:

Providing fake accident reports or maintenance records to make a car appear well-maintained and more valuable than it actually is.

With the prevalence of car scams in the country, residents of North Dakota who wish to buy used cars are advised to take the following precautions to avoid falling victim to a used car scam:

• Have a clear idea of the kind of vehicle you wish to buy, its estimated cost, and features.
• Be wary about prices that seem too good to be true.
• Request and review all relevant documentation.
• Look at the vehicle's history report if it has title issues, has been involved in an accident, or has ever been stolen.
• Insist on a written warranty.
• Use reputable sites like GoodCar to conduct a thorough VIN check on the vehicle before finalizing the purchase.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, provides an online service center where the public can view vehicle title and lienholder information. To check title status and lienholder information, you must enter the unique 17-digit VIN in the designated fields. The search will return information that matches the provided data. This service is completely free.

Performing this check helps verify the vehicle’s condition, ensuring there are no hidden issues like mechanical problems, accidents, or title discrepancies. By conducting this check, you can avoid potential liabilities that could affect your ability to use, sell, or transfer the vehicle in the future.

How To Register a Brand New Car in North Dakota

North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-04 requires all motor vehicles in the state to be registered with the state's Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division. In North Dakota, the procedures for registering a vehicle differ depending on whether it is a used or brand-new vehicle and whether the vehicle owner is a new resident of North Dakota. When registering a brand-new car in North Dakota, the car owner must take the following steps:

• Schedule an appointment through the Department of Transportation online scheduler tool or by calling (855) 633-6835. The vehicle owner may visit any Department of Transportation local branch if no close appointment is available online.
• Provide proof of identity: Such as a driver's license or a North Dakota ID.
• Complete an application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle (SFN 2872).
• Provide a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO): If the manufacturer is foreign, the vehicle importer must complete the certificate. The MCO must be submitted with the application form during registration.
• Provide proof of insurance: All North Dakota vehicles must have insurance coverage that meets the state’s minimum auto liability requirements.
• Pay the registration fee, title fee, and an excise tax of 5%.

After completing these processes, the vehicle owner can receive their registration document, license plates, and title.

The Department of Transportation shall refuse registration or any transfer of registration on the following grounds:

• The application contains any false or fraudulent statement or the applicant has failed to furnish required information or reasonable additional information requested by the department.
• The vehicle is mechanically unfit or unsafe to be operated or moved on the highways.
• The Department has reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle is a stolen or embezzled vehicle or that the granting of registration would constitute fraud against the rightful owner or other person having a valid lien upon the vehicle.
• The registration of the vehicle stands suspended or revoked for any reason as provided in the motor vehicle laws of this state.
• The required registration fee has not been paid.

Does North Dakota Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

Generally, North Dakota does not mandate vehicle inspection for most vehicles. Only certain vehicles are required to pass safety emissions and inspections. These include vehicles with salvage titles, rebuilt or modified vehicles, and antique vehicles. You can inspect your vehicle at any official service station that the North Dakota Department of Transportation approves.

During an inspection, the inspector will use either the Certificate of Vehicle Inspection (Form SFN 2486) or the Certificate of Vehicle Inspection for Off-Highway/Low-Speed Vehicles (Form SNF 58593), depending on your vehicle type. The inspection checks important parts of your vehicle, including the brake system, body and chassis, electrical system, exhaust system, fuel system, steering, suspension, and washing system. After the inspection, you must pay the inspection fee. The inspector will sign the required forms, which you must mail to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division. Once the department receives your forms, you can go ahead with titling and registering your vehicle.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Department of Transportation usually assigns a vehicle identification number (VIN) to vehicles that do not have one. Additionally, if the original VIN is missing or damaged or the car is declared salvaged, the Department may issue a new VIN.

You may obtain a North Dakota-assigned VIN for your vehicle by taking the following steps:

• Complete an application for the North Dakota Assigned VIN form.
• Submit the completed form and contact the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, to schedule a vehicle inspection appointment.
• At the scheduled inspection appointment, bring copies of the application form and ownership documents. An inspection must be conducted by a qualified business, registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State, that offers motor vehicle repairs to the public.

Upon assignment of the VIN, it must be affixed in a designated space, such as in the driver's side door jam. VIN replacement plates for trailers should be placed on the trailer's tongue or a solid base.

Does North Dakota Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

When individuals relocate to North Dakota, they must transfer their out-of-state title and register their vehicle with the Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, within 90 days of establishing residency. While there are no specific laws mandating VIN inspections for out-of-state vehicles, new residents must prove that their vehicle's VIN matches its title before they can complete their titling and registration process.