Selling an RV, trailer or boat in Idaho: titles and registration

Which ones need a title

• Motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheels: titled, like cars.
• Utility trailers: titled if they weigh 2,000 pounds or more unladen (empty). Under 2,000 pounds they're exempt from titling under Idaho Code 49-501 and are registered only.
• Truck campers: titling is optional for campers acquired before January 1, 2009.
• ATVs, UTVs, motorbikes and snowmobiles: titled unless the engine is under 50cc.
• Boats: see the boat section below.

Selling a titled RV or trailer

1. 1Sign the title over with the buyer's name, the date and the real sale price. Idaho law makes it a felony to put a false price on a title or bill of sale.
2. 2Fill out a bill of sale that you both sign, and keep a copy. The buyer needs the original to prove the price for sales tax.
3. 3For a motorhome, file a release of liability within 5 days ($3.50, online at the Idaho DMV online services site or at a county DMV office), exactly as for a car. For trailers, ask your county office whether one applies.
4. 4The buyer titles it within 30 days at a county assessor's motor vehicle office ($14 title fee plus a county fee, or a $20 late penalty after 30 days) and pays 6% sales tax on the price.

Selling a small utility trailer (under 2,000 pounds)

With no title, the bill of sale is the buyer's proof of ownership, so make it complete: the trailer's VIN or serial number, its empty weight, the price, the date, and both of your names, addresses and signatures. Give the buyer the current registration too. The buyer registers it at a county office: $5 a year, $20 for five years or $30 for ten.

What an RV buyer pays to register it

Idaho charges RV fees based on market value: $8.50 for the first $1,000 of value plus $5 for each additional $1,000. Camp trailers, tent trailers and fifth wheels also pay a $4 registration fee, and every RV registration expires December 31. Telling a buyer this up front avoids surprises at the DMV counter.

Selling a boat

• Title: required for a boat that's model year 2000 or newer with a permanently attached means of propulsion (an inboard or inboard/outboard motor, a sail, a personal watercraft) and for any non-exempt boat over 12 feet. Drift boats, canoes, kayaks, inflatables, rafts, paddle boats and documented vessels are exempt (Idaho Code 67-7040). Older boats can be titled optionally. Titled boats transfer through the county DMV just like a car.
• Registration: boats, ATVs, UTVs, motorbikes and snowmobiles are registered through Idaho Parks and Recreation, not the DMV: online, by phone at 1-888-922-6743, or at one of more than 200 vendors around the state. The buyer registers in their own name; the emailed receipt works as temporary proof for 60 days.
• Trailer included? A boat trailer is a separate vehicle with its own title or registration. List both in the bill of sale.

Common questions

Does a utility trailer need a title in Idaho?

Only if it weighs 2,000 pounds or more empty. Utility trailers under 2,000 pounds are exempt from titling (Idaho Code 49-501) and are registered only: $5 a year, $20 for five years or $30 for ten.

Where do I register a boat in Idaho?

Through Idaho Parks and Recreation, not the DMV: online, by phone at 1-888-922-6743, or at a registration vendor. Titles for boats that need one are handled by the county DMV.

Do kayaks and canoes need a title in Idaho?

No. Canoes, kayaks, drift boats, inflatables, rafts and other non-motorized paddle vessels are exempt from Idaho's vessel titling act.

How are RV registration fees calculated in Idaho?

On market value: $8.50 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each additional $1,000. Camp trailers, tent trailers and fifth wheels add a $4 registration fee, and all RV registrations expire December 31.