Protect yourself from internet sales and individuals selling vehicles without telling you it
has been salvaged, flood damaged or junk. Vehicles with these brands can be worth
much less than their listed sales price, and worse can yet, can be unsafe. Obtain a
NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Information System) history report at
vehiclehistory.org.
If you do not obtain a title from a seller, it will be difficult to obtain a title in your
name. Sellers are required to provide you with a title that has been properly signed over
to the purchaser. If a seller has a loan on the vehicle, the lienholder likely holds the
title and will not release it unless the loan has been paid off.
Always file a release of liability when you sell your vehicle. This will help protect you
from liability for incidents that occur after the vehicle has left your hands. Examples of
such liability include property damage and injury/death caused by hit and runs
committed in your sold vehicle, accrued parking tickets, towing, repair, and storage
charges should the purchaser fail to title and register properly. The ROL is the bottom
tear off portion of your title or can be filed online, here.
It is illegal to acquire and resell a vehicle without titling in your name unless you
have a dealer's license. Transferring without titling also does not relieve you of your
obligation to pay tax on your purchase. Avoid fines or worse- get it titled.
Get a NMVTIS Vehicle History Report before you buy
Buying a vehicle? Get the title
Report any change of address
If you move, report your change of address to any county Assessors DMV office or online
here within 30 days of moving. This ensures you won’t miss important notifications such
as registration renewal reminders or driver's licensing notices.
Title before selling
File a Release of Liability (ROL)
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Keep your license plates when selling a vehicle
The license plates you display on your vehicle is yours to keep*. When you sell/transfer
a vehicle, take the plates off your vehicle. By keeping your plates, you can transfer
them to another vehicle and receive credit for any remaining time on your registration.
This also helps eliminate any confusion for the purchaser.
* This excludes black and white restricted plates.
Always list the true selling price of the vehicle
It is a felony to list a false selling price on a bill of sale or title. The DMV and State Tax
Commission can look up the fair market value of a vehicle and compare. Any other false
statements made on vehicle documents is also considered a
felony that can result in fines or imprisonment.
Bring proper identification to the county DMV
Signing the title for someone else? Provide the authorizing document
If an individual signs for someone else, the document authorizing the signature must be
provided when you apply for title. For example, if you sign off a title on behalf of the
owner, you need to provide the document that authorizes you to do so, such as a power
of attorney. A title will not be issued until either an original, or a certified or verified
copy of the authorizing document has been submitted.
Use the duplicate title if one has been issued
If a duplicate title has been issued because the original was lost, mutilated or illegible
the original title is void. If you have a duplicate title for your vehicle and find the
original, destroy the original. If you lose the duplicate title you will need to
apply for another one.
If you are a current Idaho resident, bring your Idaho driver’s license or ID card. If you
are new to Idaho, bring your out of state driver’s license. Those new to Idaho or who do
not have a state credential will need their social security number (SSN) or your
individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Bring the same information for each
person that will appear on the title and registration. Business entities will need to
provide their employer identification number (EIN). If you do have these items, please
call your local county assessor or 208-334-8663 for instructions.
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