How to fill out SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate (North Dakota)
A dealer's guide to SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate in North Dakota: what it is, when you need it, what to have ready, and how to fill it out from the deal.
Last checked November 14, 2026
What this form is
SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate is the application a buyer files with North Dakota to put a vehicle in their name. A dealer usually fills in the vehicle, seller, buyer, lien holder and sale information so the buyer can finish titling.
North Dakota's title and registration application and motor vehicle purchaser's certificate, filled from the deal: applicants, vehicle, odometer, price and trade-in. The applicants sign.
When a dealer uses it
Use it when you sell a vehicle that the buyer will title or register in North Dakota. Check with the North Dakota Department of Transportation or the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner for the exact situations and any other documents your sale needs.
Information you need before you start
- The vehicle's VIN, year, make, model and body type
- The odometer reading at the time of sale
- The buyer's full legal name and address, and any co-buyer
- Your dealership's name, address and dealer license number
- The sale date and price
- The lien holder's name and address, if the buyer is financing
- Trade-in details, if there is a trade-in
- The previous title number and state
How to fill it out with DMS Apex
- Add the car to Inventory with its VIN, mileage and title details.
- Start the sale in Sales and enter the buyer, price, fees, trade-in and lien holder.
- Open the deal's documents page and tick SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate.
- Preview it. DMS Apex shows the state's own form with your deal's information filled in.
- Print it, review it, and have the right people sign in ink.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing the odometer reading differently on two documents.
- Leaving out a co-buyer's signature or information.
- Using an old version of the form. Always use the state's current published version.
- Strike-throughs or corrections on a form that does not allow them. Reprint instead.
- Forgetting the lien holder's name and address on a financed deal.
North Dakota tax and fees at a glance
| Item | North Dakota |
|---|---|
| State tax | 5% state rate |
| Trade-in | Reduces the tax |
| Documentary fee | Not taxed |
| Service contract | Not taxed |
| Starting title fee | $5 |
DMS Apex fills North Dakota's published form and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the North Dakota Department of Transportation or the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner. Always check current requirements with the state.
Download the blank SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate (PDF)
Common questions
Where do I get the SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate?
The form is published by North Dakota. You can download a blank copy from this page, and DMS Apex fills it from your deal and prints it.
Does DMS Apex fill in SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate automatically?
Yes. It fills the vehicle, seller, buyer, lien holder and sale information from the deal. You review it and sign.
Do I need other forms with SFN 2872 Application for Title and/or Registration, Purchaser's Certificate?
Usually. A North Dakota deal also needs a Buyer's Order, the odometer statement where required, and the Buyers Guide. Check with the North Dakota Department of Transportation or the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner for anything else.
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