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LicensePlates North Dakota

North Dakota License Plate

What is a North Dakota License Plate?

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) Motor Vehicle Division registers every vehicle that travels on the state’s roads and issues all license plates. Residents complete registration at county motor vehicle offices or NDDOT branches across the state.

The current standard plate, introduced in late 2016, features the Badlands landscape with a bison silhouette, the word “Legendary,” and the slogan “Peace Garden State.” All plates are made of reflective aluminum according to N.D.C.C. § 39-04-12.

Types of License Plates in North Dakota

  • Standard plates are issued upon registration and feature the general Badlands design. Duplicate plates cost no more than $5 (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-13).
  • Organizational plates through the nonprofit plate program have an annual surcharge of $25; patriotic, firefighter, FFA, and blackout plates have their own surcharges ranging from $10 to $25 per year (N.D.C.C. §§ 39-04-10.13, 39-04-10.15, 39-04-10.18).
  • Personalized plates add $25 per registration period for up to seven characters (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-10.3).
  • Free plates cover several military and veteran categories: POW, 100% disabled veteran, Purple Heart, Gold Star, and Military Sacrifice. Registration fees are also waived for these plates on eligible vehicles.
  • Vehicles at least 40 years old qualify for a permanent antique plate for a one-time fee of $10; collector plates (25 years or older) cost a one-time fee of $60 (N.D.C.C. §§ 39-04-10.4, 39-04-10.6).

A full list of available designs is on the NDDOT license plates page.

What Vehicles Require License Plates in North Dakota?

Every motor vehicle operated on highways must be registered according to N.D.C.C. Chapter 39-04. A nonresident who has paid employment in the state or is present for 90 consecutive days becomes a resident for registration purposes and must register immediately (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-18(2)(c),(e)).

  • Passenger vehicles have two plates (front and rear) and pay annual fees ranging from $49 to $274, depending on weight and year of first registration (NDDOT 2025 Passenger Fee Schedule). Pickups use the same table based on weight.
  • Motorcycles have one rear plate for $15 per year (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-19(2)(c)).
  • Trailers require one rear plate for $20 per year. Semitrailers and farm trailers may opt for permanent registration for a one-time fee of $120.
  • Trucks over 20,000 pounds follow the commercial weight schedule, starting at $139 and reaching $1,792 for loads up to 105,500 pounds.
  • Annual road use fees for electric vehicles apply in addition to standard registration: $120 for battery electric vehicles, $50 for plug-in hybrids, and $20 for electric motorcycles (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-19.2).

License Plate Rules in North Dakota

  • Most motor vehicles require two plates, one front and one rear, mounted horizontally and vertically at least 12 inches above the ground (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-11). Motorcycles, trailers, and house trailers have one rear plate. Truck tractors have one front plate.

  • Plates must remain readable from 100 feet for an approaching driver, day or night under legal headlights (N.D.C.C. § 39-04-12). Owners must keep plates free of dirt, ice, and snow.

    • Plates from previous years, expired markers, and prior registration evidence must be fully removed from the vehicle (§ 39-04-11).

Is Driving Around with No License Plate in North Dakota Illegal?

Operating a vehicle without plates or validation tabs assigned for the current registration period is illegal according to N.D.C.C. § 39-04-37(1).

Knowingly displaying a fictitious, canceled, or altered plate falls under a separate provision in § 39-04-37(2). Forging or falsifying a registration card or permit is punishable under § 39-04-56, which carries a higher class of offense than a no-plate violation.

What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in North Dakota?

Chapter 39-04 divides registration violations into two tiers, with the upper tier allowing for imprisonment, significantly exceeding the fine for a traffic infraction.

  • Driving without current plates, operating on a canceled registration, or transferring plates to someone not entitled to them violates § 39-04-37. The standard penalty under § 39-04-41 is a class B misdemeanor: up to 30 days imprisonment, up to $1,500 fine, or both (N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-01).
  • Knowingly displaying a fictitious plate or using a false name in a registration application also falls under § 39-04-37 and the same class B misdemeanor ceiling.
  • Altering, forging, or falsifying a registration card or plate is a class A misdemeanor under § 39-04-56, punishable by up to 360 days imprisonment, a $3,000 fine, or both.
  • The readability requirement in the display rules above also carries a standard class B misdemeanor for plates not kept visible and readable.

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