What it actually costs · Idaho Dealer School
How much does an Idaho dealer license cost?
The fees ITD collects from a new retail dealer are $190.00 for the application and $300.00 for ICAR — $490 to ITD.
The short answer
An Idaho dealer license starts at $190.00 for the application plus $300.00 for ICAR for a retail dealer — $490 to ITD. Your $20,000 surety bond, your liability insurance, dealer plates, the 8-hour class, and your location are extra. The bond premium and the insurance premium are set by your surety and your insurer, not by ITD.
Idaho state fees, paid to ITD
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial dealer license | $190.00 |
| ICAR fee (retail only; wholesale-only exempt) | $300.00 |
| Renewal | $175.00 |
| Owner / officer ID card | $0.00 |
| Salesperson ID, Idaho DL or ID card | $36.00 |
| Salesperson ID, no Idaho DL | $26.00 + $10.00 for the photo at the county sheriff's DMV office |
| 30-day temporary registrations | $180.00 per book of 20 |
| Supplemental lot / change of location | $44.00 each |
| Temporary supplemental lot | $44.00 ($88 for 2+ dealers) |
| Duplicate / reprint | $18.00 |
| Bond | $20,000 retail · $40,000 wholesale · $10,000 motorcycle/ATV/UTV/snowmobile |
| Liability insurance minimums | $25,000 / $50,000 / $15,000 |
For a new retail dealer, that is $190.00 + $300.00 = $490 to ITD. A wholesale dealer does not pay ICAR. Credit card payments to ITD carry a service fee.
Current plate prices are printed on the order form the investigator gives you at inspection (ITD 3635 for dealer plates, ITD 3169 for loaner plates) — ITD updates them without notice, so use the form's price.
The costs ITD does not collect
| Cost | What is required |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | $20,000 coverage for most dealers, $40,000 wholesale, $10,000 motorcycle and powersports only. You pay the surety a premium, and the surety sets it. |
| Liability insurance | At least $25,000 bodily injury for one person, $50,000 for two or more, $15,000 property damage. Your insurer sets the premium. |
| Place of business | An enclosed commercial structure in a zone that allows your type of business |
| Business filings | Secretary of State status or assumed name filing, a seller's permit from the Idaho State Tax Commission, an EIN |
See the Idaho dealer bond for how the bond works and Idaho dealer lot requirements for the place of business.
The reassignment, secure power-of-attorney and insurance-agreement forms come only from the Idaho association.
The 8-hour class
Every owner or responsible party of a used-vehicle or wholesale dealership takes the class, and each person pays for their own seat. Ours is $99 per person at Idaho Dealer School.
Every year after
The license runs on an annual cycle. The law sets twelve licensing periods, and a license stays in effect through the last day of the month before the month you were first licensed. Each year a dealer pays the $175.00 renewal, plus the $300.00 ICAR fee, paid with the initial application and at each renewal (wholesale-only dealers are exempt), plus the plate renewal fees on ITD's current order form. All your dealer plates renew with the license, and one renewal payment covers the license, the plates, and ICAR if it applies. The bond stays in force, and every owner or responsible party listed on the license takes the 4-hour course before the renewal application goes in.
Common questions
What is the ITD fee for a new Idaho dealer license?
$190.00 for the initial application on ITD's fee list and form ITD 3170, plus $300.00 ICAR for a retail dealer — $490 to ITD.
Does a wholesale dealer pay ICAR?
No. Wholesale dealers are exempt from ICAR. Their bond is $40,000 instead of $20,000.
How much does the dealer bond cost?
The bond amount is set by law, $20,000 for most dealers. What you pay for it is a premium the surety quotes you, and ITD does not set it.
What does renewal cost?
$175.00 for the renewal, plus $300.00 ICAR, paid with the initial application and at each renewal (wholesale-only dealers are exempt), plus the plate renewal fees on ITD's current order form. One payment covers the license, the plates, and ICAR if it applies.
What does it cost to license a salesman?
$36.00 with an Idaho driver's license or ID, filed on form ITD 3171. A salesperson without an Idaho driver's license or ID card pays $26.00 on the ITD 3171, then $10.00 for the photo at the county sheriff's DMV office: same total, two steps. A copy of the signed and submitted ITD 3171 acts as the temporary salesperson license for 60 days. A salesman license is valid for three years.
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