Idaho Vehicle Bill of Sale

Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Idaho?

Yes. The Idaho Transportation Department recommends and effectively requires a bill of sale for private vehicle sales. The state provides Form ITD 3738 for this purpose. A bill of sale is not needed only if the sale price is recorded directly on the title in the designated space. The form includes fields for the VIN, title number, year, make, model, odometer reading, sale price, delivery date, brand disclosure, and signatures of both parties. The stated purchase price determines the sales tax due at registration.

Does an Idaho bill of sale need to be notarized?

No. Idaho does not require notarization for the standard private-party vehicle bill of sale or for the title assignment. Notarization is only required for certain substitute-title documents, such as the Duplicate Idaho Title Application (Form ITD 3367) and the Affidavit of Lost Title (Form ITD 3371). For a standard sale with a clean title, the signed bill of sale and properly assigned title are sufficient.

How long do I have to register a vehicle after purchase in Idaho?

The buyer has 30 calendar days from the date of transfer to register the vehicle at the county assessor's motor vehicle office. A $20 late-filing penalty applies after the deadline. Registration requires the assigned title, bill of sale, proof of Idaho liability insurance, and payment for the $14 title fee, 6% sales tax, and applicable registration fees. If the vehicle was titled out of state, a VIN inspection on Form ITD 3403 is also required.

How much is the sales tax on a private vehicle sale in Idaho?

Idaho imposes a flat 6% sales tax on the purchase price of vehicles, with no additional local vehicle taxes. The tax is paid to the county assessor at the time of registration. Under Idaho Code § 49-518(5), entering a false selling price on the bill of sale or title is a felony, so the stated price must accurately reflect the actual transaction. Family transfers between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, or siblings may be exempt if the original owner paid sales tax.

Is an odometer disclosure required in Idaho?

Yes. Idaho requires odometer disclosure for vehicles newer than model year 2010 and weighing under 16,000 pounds. The bill of sale (Form ITD 3738) includes an odometer section with status options for actual mileage, exempt mileage, non-actual mileage, no odometer, and mileage exceeding mechanical limits. The disclosure is also part of the title assignment under federal requirements in 49 CFR 580.

Does Idaho require emissions testing for a private vehicle sale?

Idaho ended its statewide vehicle emissions testing program effective July 1, 2023. Prior to that date, Ada County (Boise) and Canyon County (Nampa/Caldwell) required emissions testing. There is currently no state-mandated emissions or safety inspection requirement for private vehicle sales anywhere in Idaho.

What does the seller need to do after selling a car in Idaho?

After delivering the vehicle to the buyer, the seller must file a Notice of Release of Liability (Form ITD 3858) within five days. This can be done online through the Idaho Transportation Department's Release of Liability service or by mailing the form. Filing this notice protects the seller from ongoing liability for tickets, accidents, towing, and storage charges. The seller should also remove their license plates before delivering the vehicle, as Idaho plates stay with the seller.

Does Idaho require damage or brand disclosure?

Yes. The Idaho bill of sale (Form ITD 3738) includes brand fields that require the seller to certify that all known brands associated with the vehicle — such as salvage, rebuilt, flood, or lemon law buyback — have been disclosed to the buyer. Failure to disclose known brands is a violation of state law and can result in the sale being voided or the seller being held liable for damages.

What if the vehicle has multiple owners?

If the vehicle is titled to more than one person, all owners on the title must sign the bill of sale. Use the "Add a co-seller" option on the form to add the second seller's name and address. Both sellers' names and signature lines will appear on the document. For electronic signing, each co-owner can sign on the same device in sequence, or the document can be passed from one device to another via QR code or shared link. Both buyers can likewise be named on the bill of sale using the "Add a co-buyer" option.