New to Idaho

SUMMARY: New Idaho Residents

Upon moving to Idaho, there are a number of things to take care of to establish residency—these include registering your vehicle, exchanging your out-of-state driver's license, and registering to vote. Depending on your new Idaho county, you may need to have your vehicle inspected. Additionally, if you're an active duty military member, certain exemptions may apply to you based on your status.

Whether you're looking to register a vehicle or obtain a driver's license in Idaho, this page will guide you in the right direction.

Idaho State Departments

As a resident of Idaho, you need to know where to go for your vehicle and licensing needs. In this state, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the Idaho Transportation Department handles these services.

You may also have interactions with these additional agencies:

  • The Idaho Secretary of State, which oversees voter registration and elections.
  • The Department of Parks and Recreation, which handles boat licensing and registration services.
Just Moved?

Find all the information you need to finish your moving requirements with the DMV.

Registering Vehicles in Idaho

If you're new to Idaho and bringing your out-of-state car with you, you have 90 days to register it once you've established residency in the state. For detailed information regarding this process, please refer to our Car Registration in Idaho page.

If you need to register a motorcycle, follow the instructions on our Motorcycle License page.

Special Vehicles

If you own a vehicle other than your standard automobile, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or snowmobile, the process of registration will vary to some degree. To learn more about this topic, please refer to our guide on Special Vehicles in Idaho.

Car Insurance Requirements

Before the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will process your registration application, you must show proof you have adequate car insurance coverage. While you should be able to stay with your current provider, changing states can be a great time to review your options and compare rates.

To get started on your research and find the best coverage for your particular situation, visit our Car Insurance page.

Inspection Requirements

Depending on the Idaho county that you live in, you may be required to pass an emissions inspection for your vehicle. If you'd like more information about this topic, you'll find it on our Vehicle Inspections in Idaho page.

ID Driver's Licenses and ID Cards

If you need to get a driver's license in Idaho, the process is pretty straightforward. If you have an out-of-state driver's license, you must transfer it over to Idaho within 90 days of your relocation.If you have a CDL you must transfer your CRL within 30 days.

Make sure you have everything you need, by visiting our Applying for a New License page.

If you're a teenager, you must make sure that any training you received in your previous state meets the graduated driver's licensing (GDL) requirements in Idaho. For more information, please refer to our Applying for a Teen Driver's License in Idaho page.

NOTE: If you need to transfer your out-of-state commercial driver's license (CDL), visit our Applying for a New CDL page.

Identification Cards

If you need a form of identification and you don't drive, you can obtain an Idaho identification card from the ID DMV. To find out how to get one, please check out our page on Idaho Identification Cards.

Voter and Organ Donor Registration

There are a couple of things that may slip your mind when moving to a new state. The most prominent of those are updating your voter registration and organ donor information.

When you move, your information doesn't automatically get updated; you need to re-register as a voter and/or organ donor in your new location once you've established residency. For more information, visit our following pages:

Military Members Stationed in Idaho

If you're an active-duty member of the U.S. military, currently stationed in Idaho but a resident of another state, you may find some helpful information on our Drivers in the Military page.

ID DMV Offices and Resources

Do you know where your local Idaho DMV office is? You can find out in just a few clicks with our DMV Office Finder tool.

Before you get on the road in Idaho, you may want to review the ID DMV's driver's manuals. You may learn about new laws that didn't apply to you before in your previous state:

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