AutoTaxCalculatorIdaho car sales tax: 6% of the sales price
Idaho vehicle sales tax = 6% × (price − trade-in − manufacturer rebate used at the sale). A $36,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in and a $1,500 rebate owes $1,470.
Idaho Code § 63-3619 imposes the tax at six percent of the sales price of every taxable retail sale, and the retailer collects it from the buyer. Idaho doesn't have a separate vehicle tax. The same tax applies, and it has to be paid before you get plates: the county won't issue a title without proof that the sales or use tax on the transfer was paid (§ 63-3623(l)), or a registration without proof that the vehicle's tax was paid (§ 63-3623(m)).
By law, the dealer can't advertise that it will absorb the tax or leave it off the price.
What counts in the price, and what doesn't
Section 63-3613 defines the sales price as the total you pay, in money or otherwise. It specifically leaves out several things a car buyer runs into:
- Trade-ins: "sums allowed on merchandise accepted in payment of other merchandise," which is the allowance on your old car. This exclusion doesn't apply to new manufactured homes, new park model RVs or modular buildings.
- Factory rebates: manufacturer rebates used at the time of sale as a down payment or a reduction in the price of the vehicle.
- Dealer discounts: discounts that are true price adjustments. Cash discounts offered only for prompt payment don't count.
- Financing: finance charges, carrying charges and interest on a deferred-payment sale.
That rebate rule matters. In many states, such as Michigan, a factory rebate is still taxed. In Idaho it isn't, as long as it's applied at the sale. On a $1,500 rebate, that saves $90.
Family sales and nonresidents
A car sold between family members related within the second degree, such as a parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild, is an exempt occasional sale. There's one catch: if sales or use tax wasn't paid when the seller bought the car, the family sale is taxable. Other private sales are taxed on the price you pay.
Nonresidents who buy in Idaho are exempt only when the vehicle goes straight from the dealer to a point outside Idaho, is registered right away in another state, and isn't used in Idaho more than 90 days in any 12 months.
Title and registration fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title (plus your county's title admin fee) | $14 |
| Registration, vehicle 1–2 years old | $69 |
| Registration, 3–6 years old | $57 |
| Registration, 7 or more years old | $45 |
| Electric vehicle, added each year | $140 |
| Plug-in hybrid, added each year | $75 |
| EMS and Idaho State Police fees | $1.25 + $3.00 |
| New plates | $3.75 each |
| Personalized plates | $25, then $15/yr |
| Late title (after 30 days) | $20 |
Passenger registration covers cars, pickups and other vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 8,000 lbs. Counties add their own admin and mail fees, and since July 1, 2023 each county sets its own title admin fee on top of the $14 state title fee. Some vehicles in Ada County also pay $24 to $40 to the Ada County Highway District. From July 1, 2026, the DMV no longer issues registration stickers, and plates are no longer replaced every ten years.
Worked examples
New $36,000 SUV, $10,000 trade-in, $1,500 rebate at signing
- Sales price: $36,000 − $10,000 − $1,500 = $24,500
- Sales tax: $24,500 × 6% = $1,470.00
- Title $14 + registration $69 + $4.25 state fees + plates $7.50
- Total: $1,564.75 plus your county's admin fees
Five-year-old pickup from a private seller for $15,000
- Sales tax: $15,000 × 6% = $900.00
- Title $14 + registration $57 + $4.25 + plates $7.50
- Total: $982.75. File within 30 days or add $20.
Renewing a two-year-old electric car
- Registration $69 + EV fee $140 + $4.25 state fees
- Renewal: $213.25 plus county fees
Deadlines
- Dealer purchase: an Idaho dealer prepares and files your title application within 30 days of delivery.
- Private or out-of-state purchase: you file with the county assessor's motor vehicle office within 30 days of the transfer to avoid the $20 penalty. A vehicle new to Idaho needs a VIN inspection.
- New residents: 90 days after moving to title and register.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my Idaho registration online?
Yes, up to a year before or after the expiration date, with your plate number, VIN and a card. Self-service kiosks in some grocery stores also renew registrations, with an added vendor fee and card fee.
Is a lost title expensive to replace?
A duplicate title is $14. If the title came back undeliverable or never arrived, there's no fee when you file within 90 days.
Are motorcycles taxed and registered the same way?
The 6% sales tax is the same. Registration is $25 for a motorcycle used on public highways: a $19 registration fee plus the $6 motorcycle safety program fee.
Sources
- Idaho Code § 63-3619: Imposition and rate of the sales tax
- Idaho Code title 63, chapter 36: Sales Tax (§§ 63-3613, 63-3622K, 63-3622R, 63-3623)
- Idaho Transportation Department: Registering Vehicles in Idaho fact sheet
- Idaho Transportation Department: Vehicle Registrations
- Idaho Transportation Department: Vehicle Titles
- Idaho Transportation Department: Title Fee Changes Notice
This calculator gives an estimate. Your county assessor's motor vehicle office calculates the final amount. How we calculate