State guide
North Dakota
North Dakota’s abandoned-motor-vehicle chapter is housed in the Century Code chapter now administered through the Department of Environmental Quality, while title paperwork runs through NDDOT Motor Vehicle. The state definition is strict on public property: more than 48 hours illegally or without essential parts, and private-property removals can be requested by the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- Under N.D.C.C. 23.1-15-01, an abandoned motor vehicle includes one left more than 48 hours on public property illegally or lacking essential parts, or left on private property without consent or in an inoperable condition unless kept in an enclosed garage or storage building.
- Removing one from private property
- Under N.D.C.C. 23.1-15-03, a commercial towing service may remove and take custody of an abandoned motor vehicle on private property when requested by the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- NDDOT’s towing-company instructions say a registered commercial towing company seeking title must obtain owner information with SFN 51269, send the required notices, and then submit proof of notice plus SFN 60662 and SFN 2872 to Motor Vehicle Division.
- State agency
- North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality; North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in North Dakota
State abandoned-motor-vehicle statute chapter with definitions, notice, reclaim and disposal rules.
Official PDF text of the chapter, useful for mailing, notice and reclaim details.
Motor Vehicle Division instructions for towing companies seeking title to an abandoned vehicle.
Official forms index for SFN title and registration documents used in the abandoned-vehicle title process.
State title-registration chapter including ownership obtained by means other than a voluntary transfer.
Key facts for North Dakota
- North Dakota defines an abandoned motor vehicle as remaining more than 48 hours on public property illegally or lacking essential parts.
- On private property, a commercial towing service may remove an abandoned vehicle if requested by the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant.
- The taking party must give notice within 10 days, or within 10 days after communications with the owner, lienholder or secured party have ceased.
- Certified-mail notice must warn that failure to reclaim within 30 days waives rights and consents to disposal.
- If owners or lienholders cannot be identified, notice may be published once or posted on the official government website for at least 30 days.
- NDDOT’s towing-title instructions require SFN 51269, SFN 60662 and SFN 2872.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in North Dakota
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Police - Parking & Abandoned Vehicles Cass | Fargo | 701.451.7660 | Official city page for abandoned vehicles on public streets; officers tag and recheck after 48 hours. |
| Fargo Inspections Department Cass | Fargo | 701.241.1561 | Official Fargo page says this office handles complaints about unlicensed or inoperable vehicles on private property. |
| Bismarck Environmental Health - Nuisances / Complaints Burleigh | Bismarck | 701-223-1212 | Official city page says abandoned or unlicensed vehicles on private property may be reported by complaint form, while prolonged street parking goes to police. |
| Central Dakota Communications Center (CenCom) Burleigh | Bismarck | Not published* | Official Bismarck communications page lists abandoned vehicle calls under the non-emergency number. |
| Grand Forks Police Department - I Want To Grand Forks | Grand Forks | Not published* | Official police page says cars parked on a street for over 48 hours and not moved should be reported here for ticketing and towing. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the vehicle is on private property, ask a registered commercial towing service whether it can take custody under Chapter 23.1-15.
- Before chasing title, confirm whether the vehicle qualifies for immediate disposal, because low-value vehicles with no identifiable owner follow a different path.
- Keep copies of every certified-mail notice, returned envelope, publication or website posting, because NDDOT requires them with the title packet.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from North Dakota's population center, for comparison only):
- How can I report an abandoned vehicle?, South Dakota · about 141 miles
- RequestTracker - Community Development, South Dakota · about 141 miles
- Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota · about 289 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.North Dakota Century Code Chapter 23.1-15
Website →Phone: (701) 328-2916 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the North Dakota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.