State guide · Updated October 2026
North Dakota Driving Laws (2026): A Complete Guide
North Dakota belongs to the Midwest region, with Bismarck as its capital and Fargo and Bismarck among its largest cities. This page gathers the North Dakota driving laws people search for most, covering speed limits and phone use through insurance, car tax and motorcycles.
Every topic below explains one law in full, with key facts and the national picture with sources; data was reviewed October 25, 2026 for North Dakota.
North Dakota driving laws: speed limits
The top speed limit in North Dakota is 80 mph. Rural interstates reach up to 80 mph and urban interstates up to 75 mph.
| North Dakota: Highest posted limit | 80 mph |
|---|---|
| Interstates outside cities | 80 mph |
| Interstates in cities | 75 mph |
On major roads such as I-94 and I-29, signs are frequently lower than 80 mph, especially around Fargo and in work zones.
Motorists also have to keep a speed that is safe for the conditions, even under the limit.
In short, under North Dakota driving laws: max speed limit, 80 mph.
North Dakota driving laws: cell phone and texting law
Yes for calls, no for texting. North Dakota bans texting behind the wheel for all motorists, but adult motorists can still use a hand-held phone for calls.
| North Dakota: Holding a phone while driving | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Texting behind the wheel | Banned |
| Teen phone ban | Drivers under 18 |
The texting ban reaches every driver in North Dakota, but using a hand-held phone to talk remains legal statewide for adult drivers.
Teen drivers face more: in North Dakota, motorists under 18 cannot touch a phone at all, hands-free included.
Bottom line, under North Dakota driving laws: phone law, texting ban only.
North Dakota driving laws: driving age and teen licenses
Teens in North Dakota may obtain a learner's permit at 14 and a provisional (intermediate) license at 16; limits on night driving and passengers obey.
| North Dakota: Permit age | Age 14 |
|---|---|
| Intermediate (provisional) license | Age 16 |
| Practice hours | 50 (only for drivers under 16) |
| Full privileges | Age 16 |
Prior to the road test, new motorists in North Dakota must log 50 hours (only for drivers under 16) of supervised driving.
At a glance, under North Dakota driving laws: learner's permit age, permit at 14.
North Dakota driving laws: minimum car insurance
North Dakota requires drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 in liability coverage: $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage. Policies must also include personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
| North Dakota: Injury limit per person | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Injury limit per crash | $50,000 |
| Property damage | $25,000 |
| Also mandatory | PIP, UM, UIM |
| Claims system | No-fault |
| Coverage mandatory by law | Yes |
North Dakota is a no-fault state: your own PIP pays your medical bills first after a crash, and lawsuits against the other driver is limited to serious injuries.
Required on top of liability in North Dakota: personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
The legal minimum rarely covers a serious crash, since medical bills plus a replacement car can pass $50,000 fast.
Advisers often recommend limits like 100/300/100, since anything above your limits can be taken from your savings.
At a glance, under North Dakota driving laws: car insurance, 25/50/25.
North Dakota driving laws: car sales tax
North Dakota charges a 5% state motor vehicle excise tax on cars you buy. There are no additional local taxes.
| North Dakota: Statewide rate | 5% (motor vehicle excise tax) |
|---|---|
| Local add-ons | No |
| Trade-in deducted | Yes |
| Example: $30,000 car | $1,500 |
- A $21,400 car in North Dakota: about $1,070 in state tax
- A $37,100 car in North Dakota: roughly $1,855 in state tax
- A $55,000 car in North Dakota: roughly $2,750 in state tax
A trade-in lowers the North Dakota driving laws: trading in a $5,000 car on a $30,000 purchase means paying roughly $1,250 compared with $1,500.
At a glance, under North Dakota driving laws: car sales tax, 5%.
North Dakota driving laws: car inspection and emissions
No. North Dakota does not require regular safety inspections or emissions tests for passenger cars.
| North Dakota: Safety check | Not required |
|---|---|
| Emissions testing | Not required |
Since no safety inspection is mandatory in North Dakota, maintaining brakes, lights and tires in good order is up to the owner.
At a glance, under North Dakota driving laws: car inspection, no regular inspection.
North Dakota driving laws: license and registration deadlines for newcomers
After moving to North Dakota, you have 60 days to get a North Dakota driver's license, and 90 days to register your car.
| North Dakota: License deadline | 60 days |
|---|---|
| Plate deadline | 90 days |
| Minimum car insurance | 25/50/25 |
| Inspection rule | No regular inspection |
Step-by-step list for North Dakota driving laws
- Get a North Dakota driver's license: 60 days. Take proof of identity, your SSN and two documents with your new address when you visit the North Dakota DOT; REAL ID rules apply.
- Buy car insurance that meets the minimum: North Dakota requires 25/50/25. A policy is generally needed ahead of registration.
- Inspection: No periodic inspection, though a VIN check can be needed for an out-of-state vehicle.
- Title and register the car: 90 days at the North Dakota DOT.
The clock generally begins when you begin a job, sign a lease or enroll children in school in North Dakota, not on the day the truck arrives.
At a glance, under North Dakota driving laws: new resident deadline, 60 days.
North Dakota driving laws: motorcycle helmet law
Only if you are under 18. In North Dakota, motorcyclists and passengers 17 and younger must wear a helmet; riders 18 and older can legally go without one. That holds on I-94 and I-29 just as it does on local streets in Fargo.
| North Dakota: Who must wear a helmet | Riders 17 and younger |
|---|---|
| Law type | Partial (age-based) |
| Adult motorcyclists exempt | Yes |
Riders 17 and younger are required to wear a helmet under the North Dakota driving laws; at 18 the choice is the rider's.
NHTSA estimates that helmets reduce roughly 37% of rider deaths, and 41% for passengers.
Any helmet worn to meet the law indicates the DOT symbol at the rear; novelty helmets that lack it do not count.
At a glance, under North Dakota driving laws: helmet law, under 18.
North Dakota driving laws: lane splitting
No. Lane splitting and lane filtering are not legal in North Dakota. Each motorcycle gets its own full lane, and riders cannot pass between vehicles or ride between lanes of traffic.
| North Dakota: Riding between moving lanes | Not legal |
|---|---|
| Passing stopped cars | Not legal |
| Law dates from | — |
Without a law that allows it, North Dakota driving laws is cited as unlawful passing or an improper lane change, and a crash while splitting may undercut the rider.
In short, under North Dakota driving laws: lane splitting, not permitted.
Where the North Dakota driving laws stand out
- Max speed limit: 80 mph — among the faster 9 in the US
- Learner's permit age: Permit at 14, in the earlier group of 9 in the US
On the roads of North Dakota
Most long trips use I-94, I-29 and US-2, connecting Fargo, Bismarck and Bismarck. Each of these routes is covered by North Dakota driving laws.
Driver's licenses are issued by the North Dakota DOT, and plates and titles come from the North Dakota DOT.
All of the North Dakota driving laws above apply in each county, from Fargo to small towns.
Across the border
- Minnesota: max speed limit of 70 mph instead of 80 mph; 6.875% for car sales tax, against 5%; car insurance 30/60/10 (vs. 25/50/25)
- Montana: car sales tax None (vs. 5%); car insurance of 25/50/20 instead of 25/50/25
- South Dakota: 4% for car sales tax, against 5%
FAQ: the North Dakota driving laws
Do the North Dakota driving laws change for trucks?
The majority of roads in North Dakota use the same number for cars and trucks; look out for signs posted just for trucks.
Can police stop motorists just for ignoring the North Dakota driving laws?
Yes. In North Dakota it is generally primary enforcement, so you can be pulled over for it even with no other violation.
Can a 15-year-old drive alone under the North Dakota driving laws laws?
No. Driving without an adult begins with the provisional license at 16 in North Dakota.
Can I drive without North Dakota driving laws?
Driving without coverage in North Dakota can bring penalties, suspension of your license and plates, and personal liability for the damage you cause.
Is the North Dakota driving laws owed on used vehicles?
Yes. Used cars are taxed too, and private sales can be valued at a minimum or book value.
Is a North Dakota driving laws required to sell a car?
Usually not in North Dakota, but a pre-purchase check is smart.
Does an adult need to follow the North Dakota driving laws?
No. Only riders 17 and younger need one in North Dakota.
Is moving up at a light part of North Dakota driving laws?
No. Squeezing between stopped cars at a light is not permitted in North Dakota too.