Transferring an Idaho Vehicle Title

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

An Idaho title transfer moves legal ownership of a vehicle from the seller to the buyer through the county assessor's office. Both parties have specific responsibilities, and Idaho gives the buyer a 30-day window to complete the title application before late penalties begin to apply. The form that does the work is the ITD-3367, and the title fee is a flat $14 regardless of vehicle value.

Before the sale

The seller should:

Locate the original Idaho title (a duplicate cannot be assigned at sale; if lost, apply for a replacement first).
Confirm any lien on the title has been released by the lender (a release letter or a "lien satisfied" stamp on the title).
Read the odometer reading the day of sale and record it on the back of the title.
Sign the assignment block exactly as the name appears on the front of the title.
Cancel any specialty plates that are personal to the seller (vanity plates, vintage plates, military plates) at the assessor's office; standard plates stay with the vehicle.

Bill of sale

Idaho strongly recommends a written bill of sale showing the names and addresses of the buyer and seller, the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, year, sale date, and sale price. The bill of sale isn't a substitute for the title assignment, but it is the primary document the assessor uses to compute the 6% sales tax. Without one, the assessor may apply book value instead of actual sale price, which can be higher than the parties intended.

Buyer's responsibility

The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days of the sale. After 30 days, ITD adds a late penalty on top of the standard $14 title fee. To complete the transfer, the buyer brings to their county assessor's office:

The original Idaho title properly assigned by the seller, with the odometer reading filled in.
The bill of sale.
Proof of Idaho insurance meeting the 25/50/15 minimum.
Idaho driver's license or photo ID.
Lien information if the buyer is financing the purchase.
Payment for the title fee, registration, and 6% sales tax.

Forms involved

The county assessor staff usually prepares the following at the counter:

ITD-3367 — Application for Certificate of Idaho Title.
ITD-3260 — Vehicle Registration Application (filed alongside the title).
ITD-3340 — Notice of Release of Liability (recommended for the seller).

Sales tax

Idaho's 6% state sales tax applies to private-party vehicle purchases at the time of titling. Dealer purchases include the tax in the sale paperwork. Spouse-to-spouse transfers, parent-to-child gifts, and most inheritance transfers are exempt with proper documentation. If you paid sales tax in another state where the vehicle was purchased before the move, Idaho credits the out-of-state amount up to the Idaho rate; bring the original receipt or registration showing tax paid.

Lien releases

If the seller had a loan on the vehicle, the lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. Once paid, the lender mails the released title to the seller (or files an electronic lien release with ITD, which the seller then prints from the online portal). A lien-encumbered title cannot be transferred to a buyer; the seller must clear the lien first. If the buyer is financing, the new lender's information goes onto the title as the new lienholder.

Out-of-state titles

If the buyer is bringing in a vehicle titled in another state, the out-of-state title is surrendered to the Idaho assessor and a new Idaho title is issued. The transaction follows the same 30-day rule (or 90 days for new arrivals establishing residency), and a VIN inspection may be required if the title doesn't show a recent verification. Idaho also issues salvage and rebuilt titles in their own categories, which carry brand designations that follow the vehicle on every future title.

Seller's release of liability

Idaho strongly encourages the seller to file an ITD-3340 Notice of Release of Liability within 5 days of the sale. The release stops parking tickets, toll violations, and other registration-linked liabilities from coming back to the seller after the buyer takes possession. Pair this with notice to the seller's insurance carrier to remove the vehicle from the policy.