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The bottom line: Idaho is one of the more seller-friendly states: no emissions test, no notarization, and no safety inspection required.
Your main jobs are signing the title correctly, removing your plates, and filing the release of liability online within 5 days of the sale. The buyer handles registration and taxes after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Idaho does not require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $14. Get Form ITD 3367 from your county assessor’s office. Processing takes about 7 to 10 business days.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to register the car or face a $20 late fee.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Idaho requires you to file within 5 days of the sale for $3.50. File online at accessidaho.org.
- Bill of sale: Not required by Idaho law if you write the sale price on the title, but strongly recommended for both parties’ protection.
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Step-by-Step Process for Idaho
Step 1: Prepare Your Idaho Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Idaho driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form ITD 3367 and submit it to your county assessor’s motor vehicle office with your ID and $14. Processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. If a lien is listed on the title, the lienholder fills out the green lien release section directly 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.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Idaho, especially in Boise, Meridian, and Nampa where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Idaho ended its emissions testing program in July 2023, so older cars move easily in local listings. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car. You can also compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor at once.
Best for Newer Cars
Buys newer, low-mileage cars
Offers pickup or free drop-off
Competitive trade-in value
Best for Used Cars
Instant offer in 2 minutes
Instant offer and free pickup
Get paid on the spot
Best for Junk Cars
Sell your car in 30 minutes
Easy-to-use
Buys non-running cars
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Idaho Title Transfer
Idaho titles have colored sections to guide each party. The seller fills in the red section (labeled “1”):
- Date of sale: Write the exact date you’re transferring ownership
- Buyer information: Full legal name (no nicknames) and complete address
- Odometer reading: Required for vehicles model year 2011 and newer that weigh under 16,000 lbs
- Sale price: The actual amount agreed on (entering false information is a felony in Idaho)
- Your signature: Sign exactly as your name appears on the title
Important rules:
- Use only black or blue ink
- No corrections, cross-outs, or white-out allowed. Any changes require a new duplicate title.
The buyer fills in the teal section (labeled “2”) with their name, address, and signature. If there’s a lien, the lienholder fills in the green section.
Joint ownership:
- Names joined by “OR”: only one person needs to sign
- Names joined by “AND”: both people must sign
The buyer has 30 days to register the car at their county assessor’s motor vehicle office. Missing this deadline costs them a $20 late fee.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Idaho if you enter the sale price on the title in the designated space. That said, a separate document protects both parties and gives you a clean paper record of the transaction.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. Use the official state form Form ITD 3738, or use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Idaho License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Idaho, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer them to another car you own (you’ll receive credit for the remaining registration period) or destroy them. The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File online with the Idaho ITD after you sell the car. You must do this within 5 days of the sale date. The fee is $3.50.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. Without it, you could face issues if the new owner gets tickets, is in an accident, or abandons the car before registering it.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Idaho DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Division of Motor Vehicles
- County Assessor Motor Vehicle Offices (for title and registration)
- Release of Liability Online Filing: accessidaho.org/itd/driver/release
Phone Support:
- ITD Titles Unit: (208) 584-4343
Idaho Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $14.00 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Release of liability | $3.50 | Within 5 days of sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 30 days from the sale date to register the vehicle at their county assessor’s motor vehicle office. If they miss this deadline, they’ll owe a $20 late fee.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Idaho?
No, Idaho doesn’t require title notarization for a standard private sale. 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.
When is a bill of sale required in Idaho?
A separate bill of sale isn’t required by Idaho law as long as you write the sale price in the designated space on the title. 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). It doesn’t need to be notarized.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Idaho?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. The lienholder must sign the green lien release section on the title or provide 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.
My car was inherited. What additional Idaho forms do I need?
If there’s a will or power of attorney, the executor or POA representative can sign the title as the seller using Form ITD 3368 (Power of Attorney). If there’s no will or POA, you can apply for a title transfer using a death certificate after 30 days.
Transfers to immediate family members may qualify for a sales tax exemption using a Sales Tax Exemption Certificate. Check with your county assessor’s office for the exact requirements.
Both my spouse and I are on the Idaho title. Do we both need to sign?
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.
What if I make a mistake on the Idaho title?
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 (linked in Step 1 above) for $14 at your county assessor’s office.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Idaho require anything special?
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.
Do Idaho license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Idaho license plates stay with you. Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer the plates to another vehicle you own (with credit for the remaining registration period) or destroy them.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Idaho?
Yes. Idaho law requires you to file within 5 days of the sale. File online at accessidaho.org/itd/driver/release for $3.50. You can also do it in person at your county assessor’s office for the same fee.
Failing to file means you could remain legally responsible for any tickets, accidents, or towing charges the new owner runs up before registering the car.
Article Update History
All forms, fees, and filing deadlines were verified against official Idaho Transportation Department sources.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.