The short answer
| Item | Idaho answer |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $14 state fee, plus a county fee. In Ada County: $21 in total. |
| Deadline | 30 days after the vehicle is delivered. |
| Late title | A flat $20. It doesn't grow with time. |
| Tax | 6% state sales tax. |
| Plates | Stay with the seller. The buyer gets new plates. |
How much does a title transfer cost in Idaho?
The title is the document that proves who owns the car. You apply at your county assessor's motor vehicle office.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title | $14 + county title admin fee (set by each county; Ada County $7, so $21 in total) |
| Lien recording (when a lender has a claim on the car until the loan is paid) | $14 |
| Duplicate title | $14 |
| Rush title | $26 |
| VIN inspection (needed for a title from another state) | $5 |
Worked example: dealer purchase, $30,000 car, 1–2 years old, Ada County
- Title (state $14 + Ada County $7): $21.00
- Registration: $69.00
- County registration admin fee: $9.50
- Plates (two at $3.75): $7.50
- EMS fee: $1.25
- Idaho State Police fee: $3.00
- Sales tax (6%): $1,800.00
Total: $1,911.25.
The Idaho calculator below starts from the same $1,911.25.
Ada County readers: the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) fee is charged on top at the counter. It's $40 for a car 1–2 years old. It isn't in the $1,911.25 above or in the calculator's total.
How much tax do you pay on a car in Idaho?
6% state sales tax, collected when you title.
- Private sale: the tax is on the documented price. Bring a real bill of sale or receipt; a cancelled check doesn't count. With no bill of sale, or a price far below market, the tax falls back to the NADA average trade-in value (a standard used-car price guide), and the sale can be flagged for Tax Commission review.
- Trade-in: credit only on a dealer purchase, for the full trade-in allowance. You pay tax on the difference.
- Private swap: no trade-in allowance.
How many days do you have to transfer a title in Idaho?
30 calendar days after the vehicle is delivered.
- Late: a flat $20 penalty once you pass 30 days. It doesn't grow with time.
- Dealers are exempt from the penalty.
- Bought in another state: the 30 days start when the vehicle first enters Idaho.
What documents do you need?
- The title, properly signed over by the seller (or the manufacturer's certificate of origin for a new vehicle).
- A bill of sale or receipt showing the price (needed for the tax).
- The odometer reading, on the application.
- Proof of identity.
- For a vehicle titled in another state: a $5 VIN inspection (a check that the vehicle identification number matches the papers) by a peace officer or authorized agent.
Registration costs (passenger car)
The yearly registration fee depends on the vehicle's age:
| Age | Registration a year |
|---|---|
| 1–2 years old | $69 |
| 3–6 years old | $57 |
| 7 years or older | $45 |
Add plates ($3.75 each), the EMS fee ($1.25), the Idaho State Police fee ($3.00) and a county admin fee that varies by county. Electric vehicles add $140 a year; plug-in hybrids add $75.
Plates
Idaho plates stay with the seller, not the car. The buyer always gets new plates. The seller can move their plates to another vehicle they own for a $5 transfer fee.
Family sales and gifts: two different exemptions
- Sale to a close relative: tax-free with Form ST-133. Only parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or siblings (and step relations of these) qualify. Cousins, aunts, uncles and foster children don't. The exemption fails if the seller never paid tax on the vehicle.
- True gift (no payment, no loan taken over): tax-free with Form ST-133GT.
Title and registration fees apply in both cases.
New residents
The Idaho Transportation Department's own pages disagree. Its New to Idaho page says to title and register within 30 days of moving. Its Registration Fact Sheet says 90 days. Neither figure is settled, so title and register promptly.
Separately, the Tax Commission's Form ST-102 can exempt you from use tax if you bought and used the car out of state at least 90 days before moving.
Seller's steps
- Sign and date the title over to the buyer, or give a bill of sale. Either one works as a 72-hour temporary permit for the buyer (weekends and holidays not counted).
- Keep your plates.
Forms
- ST-133: family sale exemption.
- ST-133GT: gift exemption.
- ST-102: new-resident use tax exemption.
What this guide doesn't cover
Trucks over 8,000 lbs, motorcycles, two-year registrations, ACHD fees for older cars, special plates and dealer paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Idaho?
The state title fee is $14, plus a county title admin fee: $21 in total in Ada County. Sales tax is 6%. A $30,000 dealer car in Ada County comes to $1,911.25 with registration, plus the ACHD fee.
How long do I have to transfer a car title in Idaho?
30 calendar days after the vehicle is delivered. For a vehicle bought in another state, the 30 days start when it first enters Idaho.
What is the penalty for a late title transfer in Idaho?
A flat $20 once you pass 30 days. It doesn't grow with time. Dealers are exempt.
Do I pay sales tax on a private car sale in Idaho?
Yes, 6% on the documented price. Bring a real bill of sale or receipt. Without one, or if the price is far below market, the tax is on the NADA average trade-in value.
Can I transfer a car to a family member in Idaho without tax?
Yes, a sale between parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or siblings (and step relations) is exempt with Form ST-133, if the seller paid tax on the car. A true gift to anyone is exempt with Form ST-133GT. Title and registration fees still apply.
See title transfer fees for all 50 states
Calculate your Idaho fees
Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.
- Title fee$14 + $7 county admin$21.00
- Registration (1 yr)1-2 years old$69.00
- County registration admin fee$9.50
- Plates (2)$7.50
- EMS fee$1.25
- Project Choice fee$3.00
- Ada County Highway District feeAmount not confirmed on an official pagenot available
- Sales tax6% of price$1,800.00
Total excludes items marked "not available".
What you'll pay later
Renewal at today's rates: $82.75/yr + items not available
5-year total: not shown, because the registration fee drops as the car ages.
Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.
Rates and sources for every fee are on the Idaho car registration fee calculator page.
- Idaho Code § 49-504 (title application; 30 calendar days after delivery)
- Idaho Code § 49-504A ($20 late penalty; dealers exempt; clock starts when the vehicle enters Idaho)
- Idaho Code §§ 49-202, 49-402, 49-431 and 49-450 (cited by name, not linked)
- Idaho Transportation Department – vehicle titles, liens, registrations and Registration Fact Sheet pages (cited by name, not linked)
- Idaho State Tax Commission – Motor Vehicle Guide EPB00060, and Forms ST-133, ST-133GT and ST-102 (cited by name, not linked)
- Ada County Highway District – vehicle registration fee schedule (cited by name, not linked)
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.
Related guides
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