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All motor vehicles and trailers operated upon the highways of this state must be registered except farm tractors, implements of husbandry, road rollers, road machinery, and any other vehicles exempt under IC 49-426.
Registration and licensing fees are payable to the assessor of the county in which the owner resides, except that in the case of commercial vehicles or commercial combinations having a maximum gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds and farming combinations having a gross weight in excess of 60,000 pounds, payment is to be made to the Idaho Transportation Department in Boise. County assessor offices have the option of registering non-IRP vehicles through 60,000 pounds.
License plate display
Idaho issues two registration plates to be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. Trailers and semitrailers are issued one plate to be displayed on the rear. Truck tractors are issued one plate to be displayed on the front of the vehicle.
International Registration Plan
Idaho is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP), which is a vehicle registration system allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.
The IRP allows carriers with vehicles licensed in participating jurisdictions qualified as fleet vehicles to prorate registration fees. The IRP defines a fleet as a power unit (one or more) weighing more than 26,000 pounds, or having three or more axles regardless of weight, or a combination of vehicles having a combined gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.
Idaho has implemented staggered IRP registration.
Full Fee vehicle registrations may be renewed via Access Idaho’s Internet site, with payment by credit card or Access Idaho account. When renewing online, optional Temporary Vehicle Clearances (TVCs) will be available at no additional charge.
Information is available at http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/ — click on the DMV (Motor Vehicles) link.
Idaho IRP add/delete policy: Idaho law allows a refund of the unused portion of the registration fee, when the registrant does not transfer the plate to another vehicle and when the registrant has sold or wrecked the vehicle. This law applies to both Idaho based and non-Idaho based IRP registered vehicles.
Temporary Permit: A temporary permit may be issued for a period of 45-days and a fee.
Hunter's Permit: A 30-day permit for the unladen movement of a vehicle is available.
A fee applies for the 30-day unladen weight permit.
If annual registration is purchased within thirty calendar days of issuance, the amount of the permit fee may be applied to the Idaho registration fee. Permit fees are not refundable.
Agency: The Idaho Transportation Department; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).
Fees
The registration fees for Idaho-based carriers contain a distance factor, which allows reduced rates for vehicles operating at 7,500 or less miles per year, and also for vehicles operating at 7,501 to 20,000 miles, 20,001 to 35,000 miles, 35,001 to 50,000 miles, and over 50,000 miles per year. Carriers operating at fewer than 2,500 miles per year pay a flat rate regardless of weight. The flat rate is not available to IRP carriers.
The weight component of the fee is based upon the maximum gross weight, which is defined by Idaho as the scale weight of a vehicle, equipped for operation, to which is added the maximum load to be carried as declared by the owner in the registration application. For combinations, the maximum gross weight of all vehicles in the combination is used.
Full Fee Registration (Idaho and Foreign–based): Full Fee is a type of motor carrier registration or license for which Idaho’s “full” registration fees are charged in accordance with Section 49-434, Idaho Code. Fees (charged on a January-to-December basis) are reduced by 1/12 monthly for carriers who license later in the calendar year. Any commercial carrier may fully register (Full Fee) vehicles over 8,000 pounds to operate in Idaho, including vehicles not eligible for other types of licensing and those who do not want to trip permit.
Full Fee registration fees for vehicles over 60,000 pounds are based on the per-vehicle mileage for the preceding year (previous July through June). IRP registration fees for vehicles over 60,000 pounds are calculated by dividing the number of power units in the fleet into the total fleet miles for all jurisdictions for the preceding year to arrive at an average-miles-per-vehicle figure.
Full Fee Mileage Guidelines (for full fee power units over 60,000 pounds GVW): Full Fee power units being licensed for over 60,000 pounds combined gross weight must show actual mileage for the previous July 1 through June 30 time period, unless no actual miles were traveled during that time period, in which case mileage may be estimated.
Commercial vehicles weighing from 8,001 through 26,000 pounds can be licensed through Motor Carrier Services or through the local county assessor’s office. Idaho-based vehicles over 26,000 pounds and non-Idaho-based vehicles regardless of weight must be licensed through Motor Carrier Services. Idaho farm vehicles through 60,000 pounds must license at a county assessor’s office. Idaho farm vehicles over 60,000 pounds and those from out-of-state must be licensed through Motor Carrier Services.
Pilot Project for 129,000 pounds: Effective July 1, 2003, carriers may haul up to 129,000 pounds on certain non-interstate highways in Idaho. The increased weight will be shown on the registration or by purchasing a Temporary Weight Increase Permit. An overlegal Pilot Project permit will also be required. There are other requirements and restrictions; contact Overlegal Permits for more details or visit their website at http://trucking.idaho.gov/.
Annual trailer registration fees
Annual trailer registration fees apply to:
- Trailer or semitrailer in a combination of vehicles
- Rental utility trailer with a gross weight of 2,000 pounds or less
- Rental utility trailer with a gross weight over 2,000 pounds
Permanent trailer registration
Idaho offers a non-expiring “North American permanent trailer plate.”
- Trailers and semitrailers, non-expiring registration fee (plus plate fee, administrative fee, and a temporary vehicle clearance fee).
- Rental utility trailers, optional extended-registration (not more than 5 years):
- 2,000 pounds and under.
- Over 2,000 pounds.
Permanent trailer registrations are not transferrable.
The North American permanent trailer plates are available to non-residents of Idaho (no re-titling required; however, periodic proof of ownership may be requested by the state).
Customized permanent plates displaying the carrier's business logo are also available for an additional charge.
Administrative fees
- Identification
- Plate Transfer
- EMS (Full Fee power units)
- TVC, in addition to vehicle registration fees when issued by Motor Carrier Services; if registering for IRP or Full Fee online, may print TVC’s at no charge.
- Plate: single, set
- Insurance & Safety: Full Fee intrastate power units only
- Sticker: single, set (no charge for first issuance or renewal)
- Cab Card: no charge for first issuance or renewal
- Hazardous Materials Endorsement