Visiting the North Dakota DMV: appointments, what to bring and what to expect

How North Dakota's driver license sites and motor vehicle branches work, what you can do online or at a kiosk, how to book the required appointment, and which documents and payment to bring.

Guide · North Dakota · Appointments · updated October 29, 2026

North Dakota has no separate "DMV". Driver licenses, ID cards and vehicle registration are all handled by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), through its Driver License Division and its Motor Vehicle Division. Licenses and ID cards are issued at driver license sites. Titles and registrations are handled at motor vehicle branch offices. This guide covers what you can do without going in, how to book a visit and what to bring.

Two kinds of offices

  • Driver license sites. NDDOT lists full-time sites in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot and Williston. Part-time sites, such as Beulah, Bottineau, Bowman, Harvey, Linton, Oakes, Rolla, Valley City, Wahpeton and Watford City, open only on certain days each month. Apart from Bismarck, Minot, Grand Forks and Fargo, all sites close for lunch from 12 to 1 p.m.
  • Motor vehicle branch offices. These are spread across the state. Some are in county treasurer offices or chamber offices, and each lists its own hours. Many are marked as "title issuing" branches. NDDOT notes that branch fees apply for services at most branches; the Bismarck office in the NDDOT building does not list a branch fee.

For offices near you, see the North Dakota DMV office list on this site, and check NDDOT's location pages for current days and hours.

Check whether you need to visit at all

NDDOT's online services for drivers include:

  • Online license renewal, for those who are eligible
  • Requesting a replacement license or ID
  • Changing your address, email or emergency contact
  • Checking your license status and ordering a driving record
  • Taking the Class D knowledge test online
  • Filling in a driver license pre-application before you visit, to speed up your appointment

For vehicles, you can renew registration online, order a duplicate registration card, change your address, buy a temporary registration and check a title's status.

NDDOT also runs kiosks at participating locations during regular business hours. At a kiosk you can renew vehicle registration, renew your license, request a replacement license or ID, schedule a road test and update your address.

Appointments

At driver license sites, appointments are required. NDDOT says all business at these sites is by appointment only and walk-ins are not allowed. That covers renewals, replacements, transfers from another state, knowledge tests and road tests. You can book:

  • Online through NDDOT's scheduler
  • By phone at 1-855-633-6835

The scheduler does not offer same-day appointments. Your confirmation is emailed to you, and you bring the confirmation number to the visit. Under NDDOT's newer scheduling system, you can also get text and email reminders. NDDOT says some offices will also have kiosks where you check in and join a digital queue.

Some timing rules to know:

  • Knowledge tests must be scheduled no later than one hour before closing. At sites that close for lunch, they must also start no later than one hour before noon.
  • Road tests are given only in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot and Williston, by appointment.

Motor vehicle branches also take appointments through the same scheduler or phone number. Some, such as Fargo, Dickinson and Grand Forks, also accept walk-ins; at most of these, appointments take priority. If the online scheduler shows no times, NDDOT suggests contacting your local branch.

All sites close on state holidays, and on Christmas Eve they close at noon. The full list is on the driver license sites page.

What to bring to a driver license site

For a permit, license or ID card, NDDOT asks for:

  1. Proof of identity, date of birth and legal presence: one document such as a certified U.S. birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport or passport card, or a valid permanent resident card. No photocopies or hospital certificates are accepted.
  2. Proof of name change, if your name differs from that document. Accepted examples are a certified marriage certificate, a certified adoption document or a certified court order.
  3. Your Social Security number.
  4. Proof of North Dakota residence address, such as a current utility bill, lease, pay stub or financial statement. It must show your name and physical address; a P.O. box does not count.

A REAL ID needs two residence documents and a document showing your full Social Security number. NDDOT publishes a printable REAL ID checklist on its REAL ID page. All documents must be originals or certified copies. For details, see the North Dakota driver license and ID card guide and REAL ID explained.

If you are renewing in person, bring your current license and the fee. If you wear corrective lenses, bring them for the vision screening. Glasses are not allowed in license photos.

What to bring to a motor vehicle branch

NDDOT's checklist for a vehicle purchase includes:

  • A current state or government-issued photo ID
  • The title or manufacturer's certificate of origin, properly completed, with no write-overs, cross-outs or white-out
  • An odometer disclosure for 2011 and newer vehicles
  • A damage disclosure (SFN 18609), completed by the seller, for vehicles less than nine model years old
  • A bill of sale for purchases from a dealership

For a renewal, bring the renewal invoice or the vehicle's VIN, plate number or title number.

Paying

For motor vehicle transactions, NDDOT lists cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Online payments take credit or debit cards. NDDOT lists these driver license fees:

  • Written test: $5
  • Road test: $5
  • Non-commercial permit or license: $15
  • Duplicate license or permit: $8

At the counter and accessibility

To get a learner's permit you pass the Rules of the Road knowledge test and a vision screening. Applicants under 18 also need a sponsor's signature. The knowledge test may be attempted once per day. It is offered in more than a dozen languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Russian and Vietnamese. Automated American Sign Language and audio testing is available at the eight full-time sites.

NDDOT says all offices are ADA and LEP (limited English proficiency) accessible. TTY users can call Relay North Dakota at 711.

For vehicle paperwork, see the North Dakota vehicle registration and title guide.

Sources · checked October 29, 2026

We wrote this summary ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMVorganization.org is independent and not a government agency.

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