Vehicle registration requirements - Idaho

License plate display

Idaho issues two registration plates to be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. However, license plates assigned to motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, utility type vehicles, motorbikes, or semitrailers must be attached to the year. License plates attached to a tractor must be displayed in the front.

License plates must be displayed during the current registration year. The annual registration sticker for the current registration year must be displayed on each license plate, except for trailers, semitrailers, and commercial vehicles exceeding 26,000 pounds.

International Registration Plan

Idaho is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees, allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

Motor vehicles that qualify for apportionment consist of the following:

• A power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or registered weight in excess of 26,000 pounds;
• A power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
• A unit used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds a GVW or 26,000 pounds.

To establish an Idaho-based IRP fleet, you'll need to provide the following information and paperwork:

• Physical stress address within Idaho;
• Proof the registrant is Idaho-based;
• Completed and signed IRP requirements form, required for new and renewal applications; and
• Distance for the jurisdictions operated during the applicable reporting period.

Idaho-based carriers are required to title their vehicles within Idaho. Owner/operators based in Idaho must title their vehicles in Idaho, regardless of who provides registration, but don't have to indicate the lessee on the title.

Temporary vehicle registration: You may purchase a 120-hour temporary vehicle registration in lieu of registering the vehicle. The fee is $60 for a single vehicle and $120 for a combination vehicle. An additional $60 is charged to any non Idaho-based vehicle with a registered or actual weight exceeding 26,000 pounds that is operating on diesel fuel, unless a current IFTA license has been granted. The permit must be purchased before movement on the highways occur, and is only valid for travel within Idaho.

Temporary permit: You may purchase a temporary weight increase permit to operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles hauling reducible loads in excess of the current Idaho registered gross vehicle weight up to 129,000 pounds.

Hunter's or unladen weight permit: An owner-operator vehicle moving between lessee fleets where the vehicle registration was issued in the name of the former lessee is eligible for a 30-day unladen weight permit for the unladen movement from the point of entry into the state to the destination of the new lessee's place of business. The fee for this permit is $60.

Permanent trailer registration: Idaho offers a North America permanent trailer plate for qualifying trailers. To qualify, the trailer must be used for commercial or businesses purposes. The permanent trailer plate costs a one-time fee of $106.75.

Agency: Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles.

Fees: For new IRP fleets with no prior distance history, fees are assessed for all 59 jurisdictions. For renewing fleets and those with prior distance history, fees are assessed for the jurisdictions in which travel occurred. Idaho collects and forwards the registration fees to the respective jurisdictions.