To apply, you must:
10 Idaho Dealer License Requirements
Idaho Dealer Licenses are issued by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), through its DMV Dealer Services unit. This page covers Idaho's 2 Dealer License types, their requirements, bond size, costs, and how to apply.
Name your Dealership
Your company name is the first step, because you use it through the entire Dealer License process. Idaho's Dealer application accepts an individual, partnership, corporation, limited partnership (LP), limited liability partnership (LLP), or limited liability company (LLC).
An LLC keeps your business separate from your personal life and adds trust to the name. A corporation, LLC, LP, or LLP submits its status from the Idaho Secretary of State and a list of officers or members with the application.
With an LLC or corporation, you can add an officer or member later. The application has its own checkbox for it, filed with the full packet. A sole proprietorship has 1 signature line, so adding anyone means forming a partnership, LLC, or corporation.
Choose your Dealer License Type
Idaho issues 2 main Dealer License types, Retail and Wholesale, chosen with 1 checkbox on the same application, ITD 3170. One license covers cars, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, and boats alike. The same law licenses 4 more roles, listed in the table below.
| License Type | What It Lets You Do |
|---|---|
| Dealer's LicenseRetail on the application | Buy and sell new and used vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, snow machines, travel trailers, truck campers, motor homes, and boats, to the public and at the dealer auctions. Owners can act as their own salesmen |
| Wholesale Dealer's LicenseWholesale on the application | Wholesale used vehicles to Idaho-licensed Dealers only, including at the dealer auctions. No display area or repair room required |
| Vehicle Salesman's License | Sell for a licensed Idaho Dealer. Your sponsoring Dealer certifies you're over 18 and passed their background check; $36, valid 3 years while you stay with that Dealer |
| Vehicle Manufacturer's License | For a manufacturer of vehicles; requires the same liability insurance as a Dealer |
| Distributor, Factory Branch, or Distributor Branch License | For a distributor, factory branch, or distributor branch, licensed under the same chapter |
| Representative License | For a factory branch or distributor representative |
Get your Dealer Bond (Surety Bond)
An Idaho Dealer License requires a bond of $10,000 to $40,000, set by dealer type, filed with the Idaho Transportation Department (Idaho Code §49-1608). The bond protects customers if you break Idaho's dealer laws. A $20,000 Retail Dealer Bond costs only $200 a year at the base rate, after a credit check.
You can file a surety bond, a certificate of deposit, or a cash deposit with the director. The bond form is page 4 of the application, ITD 3170. A new Dealer keeps the bond for 3 consecutive years. If it is canceled or lapses, ITD suspends the license until a valid bond is shown.
Retail Dealers also pay $300 a year into the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery (ICAR) Fund, a state restitution pool separate from the bond. Wholesale Dealers are exempt from it.
| License Type | You Pay | Bond Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer's License (Retail)Idaho - Vehicle or Vessel Dealer (Retail - $20,000). Credit check required | $200/yearabout $17 a month | $20,000 |
| Wholesale Dealer's LicenseIdaho - Vehicle or Vessel Dealer (Wholesale - $40,000). Credit check required | $400/yearabout $33 a month | $40,000 |
| Dealer's License, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, truck campers, or snow machines onlyIdaho - Vehicle or Vessel Dealer (Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, or Snowmobiles Only - $10,000). Credit check required | $100/yearabout $8 a month | $10,000 |
Get your Dealer Liability Insurance
An Idaho Dealer License requires liability insurance on the vehicles you own or control and use in the business (Idaho Code §49-1608A). The certificate stays on file with ITD. The rule is the same for Retail and Wholesale, and your insurance agent sets the price.
The minimum limits:
- $25,000 bodily injury or death, 1 person, per accident
- $50,000 bodily injury or death, 2 or more persons, per accident
- $15,000 property damage, per accident
The certificate must be issued for “any auto” or state that it complies with Idaho Code 49-1608A.
Set up your Dealer Office (Principal Place of Business)
An Idaho Dealer License requires an enclosed commercial structure in Idaho, open to the public at all reasonable times (Idaho Code §49-117(17)). A Wholesale Dealer skips the display area and the repair room; everything else in the table below applies to both.
A home qualifies under the state's own test: “A home residence that zoning has approved may NOT be used unless the dealership is either a separate building or a ground floor with a separate entrance and no entrance to the residence.”
| Retail | Wholesale | |
|---|---|---|
| Display area | Room to display 5 or more vehicles or vessels, adjoining the building, separated from neighboring businesses | Not required |
| Repair room | Adequate room to repair vehicles | Not required |
| Office | A clearly defined area with a locking space for records, a desk, a filing cabinet, and a listed business phone answered in the dealership's name | Same as Retail |
| Sign | An exterior sign, permanently affixed, readable from the main road; ITD recommends at least 24 square feet with 4-inch lettering | May be painted on the office window next to the entrance door |
| Home | A separate building, or a ground floor with its own entrance and no entrance to the residence, with zoning approval | Same as Retail |
| Zoning | Signed and stamped by your county or city zoning official on the application | Same as Retail |
| Records | Kept at the licensed location, or off-site with 30 days' written notice to ITD and produced within 3 business days of a request | Same as Retail |
Attend the 8-Hour Prelicensing Class — used-only and wholesale-only Dealers
A new used-only or wholesale-only Idaho dealership must complete an 8-hour prelicensing class before submitting the license application (Idaho Code §49-1637). The closed-book exam is part of the class; there is no separate state exam. Franchised new-vehicle Dealers are exempt.
The class fee is capped by law at $350, and every approved provider offers it at least monthly. ITD's 3 approved providers are listed on its Vehicle Dealers page:
- Idaho State Independent Automobile Dealers Association, (208) 463-7709
- Independent Training Services, (208) 557-4066
- Automobile Dealer Training Association
After that, every owner of a used-only or wholesale-only dealership completes 4 hours of continuing education a year to renew. That fee is capped at $200.
Disclose your Criminal History (Personal History Form ITD 3171)
Idaho runs no fingerprint or criminal history check for a Dealer License. Every owner, officer, and director files a Personal History form, ITD 3171, with 1 yes-or-no question.
It asks about any felony in conjunction with a dealership, or a Dealer License ever revoked, suspended, or disciplined. A yes gets explained on the back of the form.
A salesperson's background check is done by the sponsoring Dealer, who certifies on the same form that the salesperson passed it.
If you have a record
- Denial is discretionary, not automatic. ITD “may” refuse a license for a dealership-related felony, title fraud, VIN tampering, consumer protection violations, or odometer law (§49-1602). An unrelated felony or misdemeanor isn't on the list.
- The clock runs from the conviction date. A licensed Idaho Dealer or salesman convicted of a listed offense waits 3 years after a first misdemeanor and 7 after another. A felony means 10 years, and outstanding customer complaints must be settled first.
- Only a conviction counts. The statute doesn't address pending charges, and Idaho's dealer law has no rule on expungement. A court can set aside a conviction and dismiss the case under §19-2604; the form doesn't say whether a set-aside must still be disclosed.
- One partner can sink an entity's application. For a partnership or corporation, ITD may refuse the license over any partner, stockholder, or officer. That covers a license revoked and never reissued, or a violation of the dealer chapter.
- You can appeal. ITD gives at least 20 days to respond in writing, then holds a hearing in Ada County; its written order can be reviewed in district court (§49-1618, §49-1621).
Submit your Dealer License Application (ITD 3170)
You apply to ITD on paper: mail the notarized ITD 3170, its attachments, and the fees to Dealer Services in Boise. There is no online application for a new license. The fee is $190, plus $300 into the ICAR Fund for Retail, and every fee is itemized under costs.
Every applicant, including a sole proprietor, submits an EIN, and every owner, officer, and director files a Personal History form with their SSN. The dealership must be in Idaho.
On the application you appoint ITD's Director as your agent for service of process. ITD asks you to allow 30 days for processing.
Pass the Site Inspection (Motor Vehicle Investigator)
An Idaho Dealer License location is inspected after ITD approves the application, not before. The Dealer Licensing Unit assigns a Motor Vehicle Investigator for your district, who calls you to schedule the visit. The investigator verifies the location, including the display area, office, and sign.
When the location passes, ITD issues a 90-day temporary license. The permanent license is issued after a successful 90-day follow-up audit by the investigator.
Get your Dealer License Plates
Idaho dealer license plates cost $21.75 each, with no cap on how many you order, plus a $12 renewal sticker each year. You order them from ITD on the Dealer Plate Order form, ITD 3635, and they renew with your license.
Dealer tags let you drive your inventory. A Retail Dealer or a licensed full-time salesman can also be assigned a plated vehicle for full-time personal use. Family members are excluded, and a Wholesale Dealer gets no personal use.
- A prospective buyer can keep a plated vehicle for up to 96 hours
- A part-time salesman may use a plate only to demonstrate a vehicle to a buyer
- Laden plates, $178.15, move inventory between locations or auctions on a power unit up to 26,000 lbs, never for personal use
- Loaner plates go on in-stock vehicles loaned to customers during repairs; you or your family can drive on them, salesmen and employees can't
Dealer License Cost
An Idaho Dealer License costs $190 to start and $175 a year to renew, Retail or Wholesale. That $190 is what ITD's fee page and form list; Idaho Code §49-1607 states $200, so confirm with ITD. Retail Dealers also pay $300 a year into the ICAR Fund. Every other fee on this page is in the table.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dealer's LicenseRetail or Wholesale | $190 initial$175 renewal, each year |
| ICAR Fund feeIdaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund, Retail Dealers only | $300 a year |
| Dealer Bond | $200 a year, $20,000 Retail$400 a year, $40,000 Wholesale$100 a year, $10,000 motorcycle, ATV, UTV, truck camper, or snow machine onlyAll 3 after a credit check |
| Liability insurance | $25,000 / $50,000 / $15,000 policy, priced by your agent |
| Prelicensing class | Up to $350, capped by law |
| Continuing education | Up to $200 a year, capped by law |
| Vehicle Salesman's License | $36 with an Idaho driver's license or ID$26 without one, plus $10 for the sheriff's-office photo |
| Owner or officer ID card | $0 |
| Duplicate license or ID card | $18 each |
| Supplemental lot or change of location | $44 |
| Temporary supplemental lotAn off-site sales event | $44 for 1 Dealer$88 for 2 or more Dealers |
| Dealer plates | $21.75 new plate$12 renewal sticker$178.15 laden plate$168.40 laden renewal sticker$5 to $14.60 to replace a lost or damaged plate, sticker, or registration |
| Temporary 30-day registrationsFor out-of-state buyers only, sold in books of 20 | $180 per book |
Dealer License Renewal
An Idaho Dealer License is valid for 1 year, from the month you're licensed through the last day of the month before your anniversary month. Renewal is $175, plus the $300 ICAR Fund fee for Retail.
To renew, you:
- certify you sold at least 5 vehicles, retail or wholesale, in the past licensing year (§49-1634); fewer is grounds for ITD to deny renewal, with a hearing
- complete 4 hours of continuing education, every owner of a used-only or wholesale-only dealership; franchised Dealers are exempt
Common Questions
Can you get an Idaho Dealer License with a felony?
Yes. A felony isn't an automatic bar to an Idaho Dealer License. ITD may refuse a license for a dealership-related felony, title fraud, VIN tampering, consumer protection violations, or odometer law (§49-1602). An unrelated felony or misdemeanor isn't on the list. A licensed Dealer convicted of a listed offense waits 10 years from the conviction date.
Can you get a Dealer License in Idaho without a lot?
Yes, on the Wholesale Dealer's License. A Wholesale Dealer needs no display area and no repair room. It still needs an enclosed commercial structure with an office and a sign, which can be painted on the window. A Retail Dealer needs a display area for 5 or more vehicles. The full list is under Office.
How many cars can you sell in Idaho without a Dealer License?
In Idaho, you can sell up to 4 vehicles titled in your own name in a calendar year without a Dealer License. A Dealer License is required once you sell 5 or more in the same calendar year (Idaho Code §49-105 and §49-1601).
How long does an Idaho Dealer License take?
ITD asks you to allow 30 days for processing, and no statute sets a decision deadline. ITD can issue a temporary permit for up to 90 days while it investigates your application (§49-1606). After the site inspection you get a 90-day temporary license, and the permanent one follows the 90-day audit.
Do I need a business bank account?
No. The application checklist on ITD 3170 lists every required document, and a bank account or bank statement isn't on it. Neither Idaho Code nor ITD's dealer page asks for one.
Do I need a separate license to sell boats in Idaho?
No. Idaho licenses vehicles and vessels under 1 combined license, the Vehicle or Vessel Dealership License, on the same application, ITD 3170. A boat Dealer and a car Dealer file the identical form under the same statute, Idaho Code Title 49, Chapter 16.
Do salespeople need a license in Idaho?
Yes. Anyone selling for an Idaho Dealer holds a Vehicle Salesman's License, $36 with an Idaho driver's license or ID. Without one it's $26 plus a $10 photo fee at a sheriff's office. It is valid 3 years while you stay with the same sponsoring Dealer, who certifies you're over 18 and passed their background check.
Support
DMV Dealer Services at the Idaho Transportation Department issues every license on this page, franchised Dealers included, and assigns the investigator for your inspection.
| Contact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Department | Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles — DMV Dealer Services |
| Phone | (208) 584-4343 |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday to Friday |
| [email protected] | |
| Address | Dealer Services, Idaho Transportation DepartmentPO Box 34Boise, ID 83707-0034 |
Additional sources (8)
The forms and the portal for each step are linked in the steps. These are the law, the rules, and the agency pages the page was checked against.
- Idaho Code Title 49, Chapter 16 (PDF) — the Dealer and Salesman Licensing Act: license types, bond, insurance, fees, plates, renewal, and grounds for refusal
- §49-1606, license types — what each license permits, the wholesale office exemption, and the 90-day temporary permit
- §49-1607, fees and license periods — the 12 monthly licensing periods and the 30-day renewal cutoff
- §49-1618, denial or revocation requires a hearing — the 20-day written response, the Ada County hearing, and the written final order
- §49-1621, judicial review — court review of an ITD decision in district court
- §19-2604, setting aside a conviction — Idaho's sentencing law on set-asides and reducing a felony to a misdemeanor. The dealer statute has no rule of its own
- §67-9411, the Occupational Licensing Reform Act — bars a licensing authority from denying over a conviction unless it is currently relevant to the occupation. No ITD carve-out exists, and no case has applied it to a Dealer License
- IDAPA 39.02.02, Rules Governing Vehicle and Vessel Dealer License Requirements (PDF) — the department's rules on license triggers, temporary salespeople, and fee refunds
