How to buy a used car in Idaho without getting burned

Check the title before anything else

• No title, no deal. The Idaho Transportation Department's advice is simply not to buy a vehicle without one. Without it you may not be able to title or register the car in your name.
• The seller's name has to be on it. Check it against their ID. A seller who isn't the titled owner (or a legally appointed agent) can't transfer it.
• Be wary of "I lost the title." Only the titled owner or the lienholder can get a duplicate, so the seller can order one before the sale.
• Look for a lienholder. If a lender is listed, the lien has to be released before the title can be transferred to you.
• Read the brands. Idaho prints brands such as Rebuilt Salvage in the title's "Other Pertinent Data" section, and the brand stays with the vehicle for life. A rebuilt salvage car was once declared a total loss, which usually means a lower value.

Run the VIN

• Match the VIN on the dashboard, the driver's door jamb and the title. A mismatch is a reason to walk away.
• Get a history report from a provider approved by the federal National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, which collects title brands, odometer readings and total-loss records from states and insurers.
• Check for open safety recalls by VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.

Inspect it and test drive it

• Pay an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. It's the best money you'll spend, and a seller who won't allow one is telling you something.
• Start the car cold if you can, and drive it at highway speed, over rough pavement and through some stop-and-go.
• Meet somewhere public. See safe places to meet in Idaho.

Paying safely

• Don't send a deposit for a car you haven't seen in person, and never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency: those are signs of a scam.
• Pay with a cashier's check made out to the titled owner, or do the deal at your bank so the seller can see the money is real.
• If the price is far below similar cars, the seller is in a hurry and can't meet in person, assume it's a fake listing. Compare against cars and trucks for sale in Idaho.

The paperwork at the sale

1. 1Get the title signed over to you, with the real sale price and the odometer reading (required for vehicles newer than model year 2010 that weigh under 16,000 pounds).
2. 2Get a bill of sale signed by both of you. You'll need the original to prove the price when you pay sales tax; the Idaho State Tax Commission won't accept a canceled check instead. ITD's form 3738 works.
3. 3Plan how you'll get it home. In Idaho the seller keeps the license plates, so the car won't have plates when you buy it. Ask your county motor vehicle office about registering it before you drive it on public roads.

Titling it in your name

• Deadline: apply for the title at a county assessor's motor vehicle office within 30 days of the sale, or pay a $20 late-filing penalty.
• Fees: the state title fee is $14, plus a county administrative fee that varies by county.
• Sales tax: 6% of the price you paid, collected when you title it. A sale between a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister is exempt only if the family member paid sales tax when they bought it (form ST-133).
• Out-of-state title? A vehicle that has never been titled in Idaho needs a VIN inspection, done by the DMV, a law enforcement officer or an Idaho dealer.
• Emissions testing: not required. Idaho repealed vehicle emissions testing effective July 1, 2023, and the EPA approved removing the Ada County program.

Common questions

Can I buy a car without a title in Idaho?

Don't. The Idaho Transportation Department warns against it: without a properly signed title you may not be able to title or register the car. If the seller lost it, they can order a duplicate first.

How long do I have to title a car after buying it in Idaho?

Thirty days from the sale. After that, the county charges a $20 late-filing penalty.

Does Idaho require emissions testing?

No. Idaho repealed its vehicle emissions testing requirement effective July 1, 2023, and the EPA approved removing the Ada County program that year.

What does Rebuilt Salvage mean on an Idaho title?

The vehicle was once declared salvage (usually a total loss) and was later repaired to meet Idaho's equipment requirements. The brand stays on the title for the life of the vehicle.