Are self-driving cars legal in North Dakota?
Self-driving vehicles are taking to roads across the country, but the rules vary by state. Here’s what North Dakota law says about their use on public highways.
Yes.
North Dakota has a law on the books that explicitly legalizes self-driving cars. Vehicles must meet applicable legal, registration, title and insurance requirements. A human driver is not required if the engaged automated driving system can bring the vehicle to a reasonably safe state following a system failure.
EPG, which looked at data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, reported in July 2026 that autonomous driving was fully legal in 21 states. An additional 11 states allowed testing or limited pilot programs. Meanwhile, a few states and regions, such as New York, had imposed explicit safety requirements and restrictions.
While the remaining states lack legislation on self-driving cars, they do not outright ban them, creating a legal gray area.
State legality often differs between passenger and commercial vehicles, with additional regulations imposed on the latter.
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Sources:
- NCSL: Autonomous Vehicles Legislation Database
- EPG: Where Are Autonomous Vehicles Legal?
- North Dakota Legislative Branch: Autonomous vehicle operations, Section 39-01-01.2, pages 10-11.
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