To drive a vehicle on Idaho public roads before completing permanent registration, you need an Idaho temporary registration or trip permit. The state offers three options under Idaho Code 49-432: a 120-hour trip permit for moving an unregistered vehicle, a 30-day unladen weight permit for a vehicle traveling without a load, and a 30-day temporary registration for out-of-state buyers who purchased a car in Idaho and need to drive it home. You can get one from a county assessor’s motor vehicle office, through the Idaho Transportation Department’s online portal, or from a licensed Idaho dealer at the time of sale.
Which Permit Fits Your Situation
The right permit depends on why you need to drive the vehicle.
The 120-hour trip permit is the most common option. Five days is usually enough time to get a newly purchased or otherwise unregistered vehicle home or to a county office for full registration. Idaho trip permits run 120 hours, not 72, despite what some older references say.
The 30-day unladen weight permit covers moving a vehicle that isn’t carrying a load, such as an empty trailer or a car being relocated for sale or repair.
The 30-day temporary registration for out-of-state buyers is for nonresidents who buy a vehicle in Idaho and need to drive it back to their home state. County assessors, the Idaho Transportation Department, licensed Idaho dealers, and ITD agents can each issue this one.
Where to Get an Idaho Temporary Permit
You have three practical options:
- County assessor’s motor vehicle office. Handles every permit type. Hours and accepted payment methods vary by county.
- ITD’s online portal. You can self-issue a 120-hour trip permit through the Idaho Transportation Department’s website without visiting an office.1Idaho Transportation Department. Self-Issue Temporary Trip Permit Flyer
- Licensed Idaho dealerships. Can issue the 30-day temporary registration to out-of-state customers at the point of sale.2Idaho Transportation Department. Idaho Administrative Code 39.02.42 – Rules Governing Conditional Vehicle Registration and Temporary Registration
Private sellers cannot issue any temporary permit. If you buy from an individual rather than a dealer, you’re the one who has to get the permit before driving the vehicle on public roads.
What to Bring
Plan to show the following at the county office:
- Proof of ownership. A properly assigned title or a bill of sale showing the vehicle details, purchase price, and both buyer and seller information. If the vehicle is financed, the lienholder may need to submit a title application or lien satisfaction letter.
- Valid identification. An Idaho driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.
- Proof of insurance. An insurance card or digital confirmation showing coverage that meets Idaho’s minimum liability requirements.
For a vehicle model year 2007 or newer, the seller must also provide an odometer disclosure statement. Federal law requires the disclosure for vehicles less than 20 years old, so which model years qualify shifts each year.
Insurance Minimums
You can’t get a temporary permit without proof of insurance. Idaho Code 49-1229 requires every registered or operated vehicle to carry liability coverage meeting the minimums in Idaho Code 49-117.3Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 49-1229 – Required Motor Vehicle Insurance Those minimums are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person per accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people per accident
- $15,000 for property damage per accident
These amounts come from the statutory definition of “proof of financial responsibility” in Idaho Code 49-117.4Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 49-117 – Definitions Idaho law also allows an indemnity bond filed with the director of the Department of Insurance in place of a standard policy, though that route is uncommon for individual owners.
Fees and Credit Toward Registration
Temporary permit fees are set by Idaho Code 49-432 and may be updated periodically, so confirm the current amount with your county assessor’s office or the ITD website before you go in.5Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 49-432 – Temporary Registration for Residents and Nonresidents – Fees
One rule that saves money: if you buy annual registration within 30 calendar days of getting a 120-hour trip permit or a 30-day unladen weight permit, the permit fee you already paid gets credited against the registration fee. No portion of the permit fee is refundable otherwise.
Payment is due at issuance. Most county offices take cash, checks, and major credit or debit cards, and some add a processing fee for card payments. When a dealer issues the out-of-state buyer permit, the fee is usually rolled into the purchase paperwork.
How Many Permits You Can Get
Idaho caps temporary permits at three per vehicle per calendar year under Idaho Code 49-432. Fuel permits, 30-day unladen weight permits, and vehicles operated by licensed transporters and wreckers are excepted from the cap.5Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 49-432 – Temporary Registration for Residents and Nonresidents – Fees The three-per-year rule means you can’t string permits together to avoid registering the vehicle. The system is built to bridge a short gap, not to replace permanent registration.
The permit must be readily available in the vehicle whenever you’re on public roads. If you’re stopped and can’t produce it, an officer will treat the vehicle as unregistered.
If You’re New to Idaho
Moving to Idaho with a vehicle registered in another state? Your out-of-state registration remains valid for the first 30 continuous days of residency. After that, Idaho considers you a resident and requires you to register the vehicle here.6Idaho.gov. Moving to Idaho A 120-hour trip permit can cover a short paperwork delay past the 30-day mark, but it isn’t a substitute for full registration. Bring your out-of-state title, proof of insurance meeting Idaho’s minimums, and a valid ID to the county assessor’s motor vehicle office.
What Permanent Registration Will Cost
Idaho registration fees for passenger vehicles 8,000 pounds or less depend on the vehicle’s age:7Idaho Transportation Department. Registration Fact Sheet – Registering Vehicles in Idaho
- $69 for vehicles one to two years old
- $57 for vehicles three to six years old
- $45 for vehicles seven or more years old
Add-ons include $3.75 per license plate if new plates are needed, $1.25 for emergency medical services, $3.00 for Idaho State Police programs, county administrative fees that vary by location, and county highway district fees in certain areas. Ada County, for example, adds $24 to $40 for its highway district fee.
Electric vehicle owners pay an extra $140 per year, and plug-in hybrid owners pay an additional $75 per year.
Idaho also charges 6% sales tax on vehicle purchases, collected at the time of registration.8Idaho State Tax Commission. Sales and Use Taxes – Basics Guide On a $20,000 vehicle, that’s $1,200 due when you register. Budget for it, especially if you’re coming from a state that handles sales tax differently.
Penalties for Driving Without Registration
Operating a vehicle without valid registration on Idaho highways is unlawful under Idaho Code 49-456.9Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 49-456 – Violations of Registration Provisions It’s an infraction. The Idaho Supreme Court’s penalty schedule for fiscal year 2026 sets the total fine at $101, which includes a $44.50 fixed penalty plus court costs.10Idaho Supreme Court. Infraction Penalty Schedule FY 2026
The costs don’t stop at the ticket. Unpaid fines can put a hold on your vehicle record, blocking future registration until the balance is cleared. Law enforcement can also have unregistered vehicles towed at the owner’s expense, adding impound and storage fees.
If your vehicle is also uninsured, that’s a separate infraction with a $75 fine under Idaho Code 49-236.11Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 49-236 – Penalties A coverage gap can also raise your rates when you shop for a new policy.