How to Sell a Car in Idaho Privately? (State Guide)

The buyer has 30 days from transfer to register the vehicle at your county assessor's motor vehicle office. If they miss this deadline, they’ll owe a $20.00 late-filing penalty.

Title notarization is not required for a standard private sale in Idaho. The title assignment itself never needs a notary.

The one exception is applying for a duplicate title by mail, which may require notarization. If you go in person to your county assessor’s office, no notary is needed there either.

In limited cases, yes. Idaho Code section 49-502 subsection 2 allows sale without a physical title for qualifying vehicles by delivering a completed duplicate title application with assignment of ownership. The qualifying conditions are: the vehicle must be a 2010 or older model year, weigh over 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, or have no odometer device. The required form is Form ITD 3369 (Duplicate Idaho Title Application With Ownership Transfer).

If your car doesn’t meet these criteria, apply for a duplicate title first using Form ITD 3367 (linked in Step 1).

In Idaho, a separate bill of sale is optional; Idaho provides Form ITD 3738, a generic bill of sale is also accepted, and no bill of sale is required if the sale price is entered on the title in the designated space. That said, it’s smart protection for both you and the buyer.

The official state form is Form ITD 3738 (linked in Step 8 above). Notarization is not required.

Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender.

If a lien is listed on the title, the lienholder signs the green lien release section on the title or provides a written release on official letterhead with the VIN, loan details, and an authorized signature.

If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.

Idaho uses Form ITD 3414 (Affidavit of Inheritance) for intestate small estates, or Form ITD 3413 (Small Estate Affidavit) for other small estates. The threshold is $100,000 gross estate value for small estate procedures.

For an intestate small estate at least 30 days after death: Form ITD 3414 (Affidavit of Inheritance). For other small estates under $100,000: Form ITD 3413 (Small Estate Affidavit). For larger estates: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court. A death certificate is required in all cases.

It depends on how your names appear on the title. If they’re joined by “AND,” both signatures are required. If joined by “OR,” only one person needs to sign.

Don’t try to fix it with white-out or cross-outs. Any corrections or erasures will invalidate the title.

You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form ITD 3367 for $14.00 at your county assessor’s office.

Your paperwork obligations as the seller are the same. Fill out the seller section of the title correctly and file the release of liability within 5 days.

The buyer’s home state may require a VIN inspection when they register the car there, especially if the vehicle has never been titled in their state before. That’s their responsibility to handle.

No. In Idaho, plates belong to you and not the vehicle. You can transfer your plates to another vehicle (with credit for remaining registration), or destroy them.

Yes. Idaho law requires you to file within 5 days.

To file: File online at dmvonline.itd.idaho.gov for immediate processing, or submit Form ITD 3858 with a $3.50 fee by mail or in person at your county assessor's motor vehicle office..

Failing to file means you face continued legal liability for any tickets, accidents, towing, storage, repair, or service charges involving the vehicle after delivery to the purchaser.

You’ll need Form ST-133GT (Use Tax Exemption Certificate, Gift Transfer Affidavit) for gifts; Form ST-133 (Sales Tax Exemption Certificate, Transfer Affidavit) for sales between qualifying family members to claim the use tax exemption. To complete the transfer, both donor and recipient complete and sign Form ST-133GT, then submit it to the county assessor or Idaho Transportation Department along with the title when registering the vehicle.