Idaho dealer license test
Is There a Test for the Idaho Dealer License? Yes.
Yes — but not a separate state exam. The test is part of the 8-hour prelicensing class: a closed-book exam you pass before you apply.
The short answer
Yes. Every owner or responsible party of a newly established used-vehicle or wholesale Idaho dealership attends an 8-hour prelicensing class and passes a closed-book exam before applying for the license. The exam comes at the end of the class, and ITD verifies it was passed before it issues the license. Ours is 40 questions, 32 to pass, up to three attempts.
What the law says
Idaho law requires an applicant for an initial dealer's license to certify that the applicant completed a prelicensing class, including an examination on the material presented, before submitting the license application. The class is eight hours of instruction, and the eight hours include the written examination.
ITD's dealer page applies it this way: all owners of a newly established used-vehicle or wholesale dealership, with an application submitted on or after September 1, 2022, attend an 8-hour pre-licensing class and pass a closed-book written examination before applying.
Who takes it, and who does not
| Applicant | Class and exam? |
|---|---|
| Each owner of a new used-vehicle dealership | Yes |
| Each owner of a new wholesale dealership | Yes |
| Franchised new-vehicle dealers | No, exempt |
| Salesman license applicants | No, exempt |
| Manufacturer and distributor license applicants | No, exempt |
The law also exempts franchise dealers of new recreational vehicles, new motorcycles, new all-terrain vehicles, new snowmobiles and new vessels.
How the exam works in our class
In the Idaho Dealer School class, the exam is 40 questions drawn from all five modules, closed book. Each of the first four modules ends with a short quiz. Your certificate is issued when you pass.
What you do with the certificate
The certificate of completion for the 8-hour prelicensing class and passing test is an item on the ITD 3170 checklist. It goes into the application packet with the bond, insurance and the rest. See form ITD 3170, line by line.
After the license: 4 hours a year
The class is a one-time requirement for the initial license. After that, Idaho law requires a four-hour education program before each annual renewal application, and every owner or responsible party listed on the license of a used-vehicle or wholesale dealership completes at least 4 hours of annual education before the license can be renewed — no manager or stand-in may take it for you.
Common questions
Is there a state-run Idaho dealer exam?
No separate one. The examination is part of the prelicensing class.
Is the test open book?
No. ITD describes it as a closed-book written examination.
Does every owner take the test?
Yes. Every owner or responsible party of a new used-vehicle or wholesale dealership attends the class and passes the exam before applying.
What score do I need to pass?
In the Idaho Dealer School class, 32 of 40, with up to three attempts.
Who answers questions about the education rule?
ITD's dealer page directs education questions to Dealer Operations. Their phone and email are on our resources page.
Keep reading
The 8-hour class Idaho requires
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