How Many Cars Can You Sell in Idaho Without a Dealer License?

When a dealer license is needed

ITD's dealer license rule lists the situations:

• Seller not titled owner. Selling or exchanging a vehicle that is not titled in your name.
• Five or more in a year. Selling, exchanging or soliciting the sale of five or more vehicles or vessels in any one calendar year, even if titled in your name.
• Five or more on display. Displaying five or more vehicles or vessels for sale or exchange at any one time, even if titled in your name.
• Someone else's property. Displaying vehicles or vessels for sale on property not legally controlled by the vehicle's owner.

ITD's dealer page adds soliciting, consigning, and engaging in the business of selling or exchanging vehicles, or any acts customarily associated with that business.

When a dealer license is not needed

ITD's dealer page lists activities that do not require one:

• Selling fewer than five vehicles or vessels, titled in your name, in a calendar year.
• Insurance companies, financial institutions or public utility companies disposing of vehicles incidental to their primary business.
• Manufacturing or selling specialty vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, urban transit buses, street sweepers and hazardous material response vehicles.

Auctions

The same count applies to auctions. ITD's page says a dealer license is needed to offer five or more vehicles or vessels at auction in a calendar year, or to run an auction for vehicles not titled to the entity offering them or to the auction company. Running an auction for a licensed Idaho dealer does not by itself require one.

If you are past the line

Getting licensed starts with the prelicensing class for every owner or responsible party of a new used-vehicle or wholesale dealership, then the business name, the place of business, the bond, insurance and form ITD 3170. See what an Idaho dealer license costs and form ITD 3170, line by line.

Common questions

Can I sell four cars a year without a license?

Yes, if all four are titled in your name and you do not display five or more for sale at one time.

Can I sell a friend's car for them?

Selling or exchanging a vehicle not titled in your name requires a dealer license.

Is it per calendar year or any twelve months?

Per calendar year. Idaho's dealer rules and ITD's page both say "calendar year".

Can I park cars for sale in a store parking lot?

Displaying vehicles for sale on property not legally controlled by the vehicle's owner requires a dealer license.

Does this apply to boats too?

Yes. ITD's rules count vehicles and vessels that are required to be titled.