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LicensePlates North Dakota

Replacement License Plate in North Dakota

What is a License Plate Replacement in North Dakota?

Replacing license plates outside the regular renewal cycle. The North Dakota Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division refers to this operation as a “duplicate license plate” according to NDCC §39-04-13, and it has its own fixed fee and application form, separate from the annual registration renewal.

  • Reasons include lost, stolen, damaged, or illegible plates. Surrendering out-of-state plates when establishing residency in North Dakota is a separate initial registration operation, not a duplicate license plate request.
  • The license plate stays with you. The division issues a duplicate set with the same number, as well as new stickers and a registration card.
  • North Dakota requires two plates on most passenger vehicles and trucks (front and rear) according to NDCC §39-04-11. Motorcycles and trailers have one rear plate. The $5 duplicate fee covers the full set regardless of how many plates your vehicle class uses.

When Do You Need to Replace Your North Dakota License Plate?

The law requires “immediate application” when any plate is lost, damaged, or becomes illegible. Delay subjects the registered owner to a $100 fine without criminal penalty and one point on the driver’s record according to NDCC §39-04-37(1).

  • Lost or stolen plates: a police report is not required before processing a duplicate by the division. The law only requires “information satisfactory to the department.” Filing a police report for a stolen plate is reasonable but not a legal prerequisite.
  • Physically cracked, bent, or faded plates that can no longer be read trigger the same obligation for immediate replacement. North Dakota does not set a defined calendar window; the standard is legibility, not age.
  • New residents must register within 90 consecutive days of establishing residency. Gainful employment in the state or presence for 90 consecutive days implies residency according to NDCC §39-04-18(2)(c)(e). This process is initial registration (form SFN 2872), not a duplicate license plate transaction.

How to Get a Replacement License Plate in North Dakota

Before choosing a channel, gather your current title number, plate number, and valid ID. The registered owner must sign the application. If you still have the damaged plate, bring it.

  • In person: visit any NDDOT motor vehicle branch. Complete SFN 2872, check the duplicate plate box, specify the reason for replacement, and pay the fee. A full set of plates, stickers, and a new registration card are issued on-site. Branches operate by appointment; schedule online or call 1-855-633-6835.
  • Mail the completed SFN 2872 with a check or money order to the Motor Vehicle Division, 608 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0780. Delivery takes 5 to 10 business days.
  • Online processing does not cover physical plate replacement (details in the next section). The portal only handles registration cards and stickers.

Can You Replace North Dakota License Plate Online?

No. North Dakota does not accept online replacements for physical license plates. The NDDOT duplicate registration portal only issues duplicate registration cards and stickers; a lost or damaged plate must be replaced in person or by mail.

The NDDOT online services page accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express for transactions it covers: registration renewals, duplicate registration cards, personalized plate requests, and plate number searches. Plate replacement is excluded from this list.

For in-person service, NDDOT branches operate statewide in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Dickinson, Williston, and other locations. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are prioritized. The mail-in package includes:

  • Completed SFN 2872 with the duplicate plate box checked and reason specified
  • Check or money order for $5 made out to NDDOT

Send the package to the central office in Bismarck at 608 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0780.

How Much is License Plate Replacement in North Dakota?

The replacement fee in North Dakota is one of the lowest in the country, although the total depends on which documents you need reissued along with the plates.

  • A set of duplicate plates costs $5 according to NDCC §39-04-13. The fee covers the full set of plates, stickers, and registration card. Motorcycles and trailers (one rear plate) pay the same $5.
  • Only need a sticker replacement? That’s $3. One duplicate registration card costs $2.
  • No county or local fees apply to duplicate plate transactions in North Dakota.
  • The division may waive the fee entirely if the owner never received the original plates, stickers, or card (NDCC §39-04-13).
  • Electric vehicles have an annual road use fee of $120 ($50 for plug-in hybrids, $20 for electric motorcycles) according to NDCC §39-04-19.2, but this fee pertains to the registration period, not the plate replacement transaction itself.

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