2 Best Auto Transport Companies in North Dakota For 2024

1. Understand North Dakota Residency

This step applies if you’re relocating from another state and plan to establish your permanent and principal residence in North Dakota (but does not apply to temporary residents like college students or snowbirds). North Dakota legally requires new residents to take specific steps regarding auto insurance, car registration, and more. These steps depend upon the date you establish residency. It may be challenging to establish an exact date of residency, but ND suggests residency occurs when you maintain a permanent abode and spend more than 210 days (seven months) in the state. To prove residency, you must also be able to show two documents from this list:

• A government-issued property tax form
• A mortgage, deed, or lease agreement
• A homeowners or renters insurance policy
• A utility bill with your ND address
• A residential (non-cellular) telephone bill

Or, one document from the above list and one document from this list:

• North Dakota driver's license
• Valid North Dakota vehicle registration or vehicle title
• ND financial institution statement
• Credit, debit card statement
• Paystub from ND employer

2. Update Your Insurance to Comply with ND Laws

In North Dakota, you must purchase an auto insurance policy from an ND licensed insurance company. The following minimum coverage amounts must be purchased before you title and register your vehicle:

• Liability insurance:
  • $25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 per accident: Helps pay expenses for people injured in an accident that is your fault.
  • $25,000 property damage: Covers damage to another’s car or property when you are at fault.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, both of which must include:
  • $25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 per accident: Helps pay expenses for people injured in an accident where the at-fault driver is not insured or doesn’t carry sufficient coverage.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
  • $30,000 per person in an accident: Helps pay expenses for people injured in an accident no matter who is at fault.

Many drivers choose additional protection to minimize their risk if an accident occurs. Since the required insurance does not include damage to your car, you may want to consider collision insurance. Additional protections also include comprehensive coverage, rental reimbursement, and towing and labor coverage. An umbrella policy is always a wise choice for those who have significant assets.

3. Title and Register Your Vehicle

If you bring a car into North Dakota from out of state, you must apply for title and registration within 60 days of establishing residency. You’ll register your vehicle in person at a North Dakota DMV office and be prepared to submit:

• A completed Application for Certificate of Title & Registration of a Vehicle (SFN 2872)
• Proof of identity
• Your out-of-state registration
• VIN verification
• Your signed vehicle title and 5% excise tax: If you have a lien, provide the name, address, and loan account number of the lienholder.
• Fees for title, registration, taxes (including the 5% excise tax), and license plates

4. Obtain a Valid North Dakota Driver License

Within 60 days of establishing residency, you must obtain a North Dakota driver license. You must make an appointment at dot.nd.gov or call 1-855-633-6835. At your appointment, you must provide:

• A valid out-of-state driver's license
• Proof of identity
• Proof of Social Security Number
• Proof of ND residency (see #1 above).
• Pass a vision test
• Pay the required fee

5. North Dakota Rules of the Road

Now that you know North Dakota’s requirements for vehicle registration, auto insurance, and obtaining a driver's license, it will help to familiarize yourself with the state’s basic rules of the road. Many driving laws will be the same as in your previous state, but it’s essential to prepare if some laws are different from what you’re used to. These are some of North Dakota’s general driving rules:

• Right of way: Motorists must yield right of way to pedestrians at intersections, crosswalks, and whenever not doing so would result in an accident.
• Seat belts: Drivers must make sure all front-seat occupants wear a seat belt. Passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Children under age seven must be in a booster or safety seat.
• Texting: Drivers may not read, create, or send a text while operating a motor vehicle.
• Parking: Parking within ten feet of an intersection with a crosswalk is illegal.
• Accidents: If an accident causes $1,000 or more damage or injury, you must report the event to the police. And obviously, you must report any accident involving a fatality to the police.
• Speed limits:
  • When children are present in a school zone, the speed limit is 20 mph.
  • On gravel or loose surface roads, the speed limit is 55 mph if there is no posting.
  • On paved two-lane country or township roads, the speed limit is 55 if not posted.
  • The speed limit on a two-lane highway is 65 mph.
  • On a divided four-lane highway, the speed limit is 70 mph.
  • The speed limit on I-29 and I-94 is 75 mph.
• Turn signals: At a minimum of 100 feet before making a turn, a motorist must use their turn signal or appropriate hand signal.
• Headlights: Drivers must dim high beams within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle or 300 feet of the car in front.
• Right turn on a red light: After coming to a complete stop, a driver can turn right on a red light if no signs prohibit it, and the intersection is free of pedestrians and vehicles.

Are you looking to ship your vehicle to North Dakota from another part of the country? Caravan Auto Transport’s network of vetted, licensed, and insured auto transporters offers safe, efficient transport of your automobile to its destination without running up the miles on the odometer. These reputable North Dakota car shipping companies provide the following services:

Open Car Transport

The most common method of car transportation, open transport carriers are ideal if you’re looking for an affordable shipping option with speedy delivery. As the name suggests, your car is loaded onto an open-air trailer along with several other vehicles headed to the same destination.

Enclosed Auto Transport

If you desire enhanced security or protection for your vehicle, you may wish to arrange enclosed carrier shipping. Inside a covered trailer, your car has protection from harsh weather conditions and road hazards like dust and dirt. Shipping your vehicle in a closed carrier also enhances its safety during transit by keeping the car concealed.

Door-to-Door Car Shipping

With a door-to-door car shipping service, you choose the desired pick-up and drop-off locations rather than having to arrange getting your vehicle to or from a transport terminal. Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient choice for shipping your car to or from North Dakota, saving you time and effort.

Expedited Shipping

In a hurry to get your car from one location to the next? Upgrading to expedited shipping ensures seamless pick-up and drop-off of your vehicle on your schedule. As a priority customer, you receive fast, timely service, so you can get back to driving that much quicker.

Classic and Antique Car Transport

When it comes to transporting a classic car, you want an auto transport company that can deliver your vehicle without a single dent or scratch. From a vintage Mustang to an antique DeVaux Sports Coupe, our network of classic auto transporters has the expertise and equipment to transport your classic car safely, so it arrives in pristine condition.

High End and Luxury Auto Shipping

Exotic car transporters use specialty equipment, like hydraulic lifts and sophisticated tie-downs, along with enclosed trucks, to keep your valuable car safe during every mile of transit. An enclosed car hauler ensures the ultimate protection for your high-end or luxury vehicle, protecting it from dirt, dust, and debris along the way.

From moving off to college to heading south for the winter, there are numerous reasons you may be interested in shipping a car to North Dakota or somewhere outside of the Peace Garden State. Caravan Auto Transport’s network of auto shippers streamlines the car hauling process no matter your reason for transporting your vehicle to or from ND.

Moving and Relocation

When moving cross-country or out-of-state, many people choose to ship their cars rather than add a long road trip to an already stressful and exhausting relocation experience. Leave the logistics of moving your vehicle in the hands of professionals with either open or enclosed vehicle shipping services.

Snowbirds

Do you fly south for the winter? Given North Dakota’s freezing winter temps and snow-covered landscape, it’s not hard to understand why. If you head south during the winter months, start enjoying your escape from frigid North Dakota that much sooner by shipping your car and meeting it at your southern destination -- whether you’re wintering in balmy, laid-back Key West, or sun-drenched San Diego.

Military

North Dakota is home to two military bases. From Grand Forks Air Force Base, about 75 miles west of Fargo, to Minot Air Force Base, north of Bismarck, over 7,000 military personnel are stationed in the Peace Garden State. If you’re one of the brave men and women serving our country, we’re happy to provide you with free quotes and connect you with top-notch car transportation to or from North Dakota.

Online Car Buyers

Whether you’ve found the perfect vehicle on Craigslist, eBay, or AutoTrader, you may need some assistance getting it home, especially if it’s sitting on the other side of the country. Instead of flying out to pick it up and putting hundreds or thousands of miles on the odometer just to get it to your driveway, arrange for a hauler to transport your new car for you.

College Students

From ND’s oldest university, the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, to the private University of Jamestown, North Dakota has no shortage of top-tier colleges and universities for those seeking to further their education. If you have a college student moving to North Dakota from out-of-state (or vice versa), have their vehicle shipped straight to campus with a fast, affordable auto transport service.

On average, it costs between $500-$1500 to ship a car to North Dakota. Anticipate paying around $1 per mile for the first 1-500 miles, then approximately $.75 for every mile after that. Several factors influence the final cost of shipping your vehicle, including the origin and destination zip codes, the method of transport (open vs. enclosed), the speed of shipment, the type of vehicle, and the time of year. The best way to get an accurate estimate of car shipping costs is by requesting free quotes from our network of auto transport companies.