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Idaho License Plate Lookup

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License Plate Search

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License Plate Lookup in Idaho

An Idaho license plate lookup is a process of retrieving information on a vehicle by using the license plate number to initiate a query on a search tool. It may also reveal information about the driver's criminal driving history. A license plate lookup may be carried out by law enforcement officials or other members of the public. Before approaching the vehicle and the driver, law enforcement may conduct a license plate lookup to reveal any outstanding warrants for the owner's arrest, parking fines, or other concerns that they should be aware of before. Generally, license plates are tagged with vehicle registrations by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), which are maintained in the state database and may be publicly available. You only need to know the license plate number to conduct a license plate lookup.

License plate lookups are performed for several purposes. Most of the time, it is used when an individual is considering purchasing a used vehicle and wants to learn more about the vehicle's history and related Idaho traffic records. You may conduct a license plate lookup using free or paid services from third-party vendors or visit the ITD Division of Motor Vehicles to request a records search. You may use the Idaho vehicle title or registration record search tool to obtain information associated with a license plate.

You will typically obtain basic vehicle information, such as make, model, type of engine, year, mileage, and registration status if you use third-party online sites to request a license plate look, especially if the services are conducted for free. For more extensive information on the history of a vehicle, it is recommended that you visit an Idaho Division of Motor Vehicle office close to you. Vehicle reports obtained from the DMV are typically accurate and up to date. A comprehensive vehicle report typically includes:

  • Driver criminal history
  • Vehicle registration
  • Mileage and odometer readings
  • Title Information
  • Recent vehicle inspection information
  • Vehicle's registration details
  • Vehicle information and description
  • Accident history
  • Repossession history
  • Weather/natural damage
  • Maintenance history

What is an Idaho License Plate?

An Idaho license plate is a unique number plate assigned to Idaho-registered vehicles for identification and registration purposes. Idaho requires most classes of vehicles to have front and rear plates, while motorcycles and trailers are only required to affix rear plates. The Idaho Transportation Department issues standard license plates and special interest plates to motorists. Special interest plates may be issued for charities, organizations, including colleges, military veterans, and historic and custom vehicles.

The Idaho Transportation Department also allows motorists to show their support for a particular cause or hobby through the license plates issued. These include agriculture, white water rafting, Idaho mountain biking, aviation, and firefighters.

Idaho permits motorists to personalize their license plates subject to approval by the ITD. The state also issues souvenir plates for novelty purposes. Souvenir license plates cannot be used legally as a license plate affixed to vehicles.

Passenger License Plates vs. Commercial License Plates

The Idaho Transportation Department distinguishes between passenger and commercial vehicles and issues license plates accordingly. Passenger vehicles include pickup trucks, neighborhood electric vehicles, or other motor vehicles having a maximum gross weight of 8,000 pounds. In Idaho, commercial vehicles weighing between 8,001 and 26,000 pounds are licensed through Motor Carrier Services (MCS) or the local county assessor's office.

Commercial vehicle license plates will only be issued to commercial vehicles after completing registrations through the MCS or local county assessor offices. There are two primary types of vehicle registrations for commercial vehicles in Idaho: the full fee registration and the International Registration Plan (IRP). For more information on the prerequisites to completing registrations for the different classifications of commercial vehicles, visit the motor carrier services tab of the DMV page on the ITD website.

The requirements for obtaining a passenger license plate are the same as obtaining a standard license plate in Idaho.

How Do I Get a License Plate in Idaho?

You can obtain an Idaho license plate when completing your vehicle registration process in the state. To complete the vehicle registration and obtain license plates in Idaho, you must possess an ITD portal profile and complete the process on the ITD portal. To set up your profile, you will be required to provide your Social Security number and an Idaho driver's license or ID card.

To obtain a personalized license plate in Idaho, you must check if the license plate text you intend to use is available before creating an account on the ITD portal and ordering the plate. You are also required to have a current title and registration to purchase the plate online. Note that some special plates may have additional requirements for purchase eligibility and therefore cannot be purchased online. To check the availability of a license plate, use the plate check availability tool on the ITD portal.

To complete a registration for a vehicle in Idaho:

  • The vehicle must be owned by a resident or business in Idaho.
  • The owner of the vehicle must have completed the vehicle title. A vehicle owner may apply for registration immediately after submitting the required documents to a county assessor's motor vehicle office.
  • New residents in Idaho must complete vehicle title and registration within 90 days.

Per Idaho regulations, anyone whose principal home has been in Idaho for 90 continuous days qualifies as an Idaho resident, although residency may be declared at any time earlier; vehicles may also be titled and registered at the time residency is declared by the new resident.

To complete vehicle registration and title, the following are required:

  • Personal identification.
  • Complete a VIN inspection. A VIN inspection may be performed by a deputy of either the county assessor motor vehicle or the county sheriff's office.
  • The current vehicle title and registration. If the automobile is not titled in the registrant's name, it is recommended that the registrant ensures that the title has been signed over by the seller and the bill of sale has been obtained from the seller. The ITD requires that the lienholder's address and name be provided if a lienholder holds the title. A duplicate title obtained from the state of initial issuance is required if the vehicle title has been lost.
  • Cash or check payment of the applicable fees and taxes.

Although additional processing and administration fees may apply, the total cost to register a vehicle depends on:

  • County of residence
  • Type or weight of the vehicle
  • Vehicle age
  • Inspection requirements

The State of Idaho set a basic annual registration fee for passenger vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 8,000 pounds as follows:

  • $69 for vehicles between one and two years.

  • $57 for vehicles between three and six years old.

  • $45 for vehicles seven years or older:

    • For electric vehicles: An additional $140 per year. Neighborhood electric vehicles are exempt.
    • For plug-in hybrid vehicles: An additional $75 per year.

The ITD charges $25 for the initial issuance of personalized license plates and $15 for the annual renewal fee, in addition to the registration fee. The Department charges $35 for the initial issuance of motor specialty license plates and $25 for the annual renewal fee, in addition to the registration fee. For a complete list of all fees for other types of vehicles and the titling process for vehicles in Idaho, visit the registration tab of the Division of Motor Vehicles page of the ITD website. You may also contact:

Idaho Transportation Department
3311 W. State Street
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707-1129
Phone: (208) 334-8000

Third-party aggregate sites are a reliable alternative for obtaining license plate information. These sites are maintained by independent establishments which collate the information from government-run repositories. Obtaining records from these sites often proves substantially easier than government alternatives. However, requestors may be required to provide any information required to facilitate the record search and pay any required fees to access the record of interest.

How Can I Find the Owner of a License Plate in Idaho?

A license plate lookup may be performed to find the owner of a vehicle registered in Idaho with an Idaho license plate. An Idaho license plate lookup will provide publicly available information on a license plate's registration in the state. While this information may not include the car owner's name or contact information for privacy reasons, it will consist of information that aids in identifying the vehicle owner.

If you need this information for legitimate reasons, contact the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and request a record search. Additionally, law enforcement officials may be contacted to identify the license plate owner if a crime has been committed.

Idaho License Plate Renewal

You can renew your Idaho license plates by renewing your vehicle registration. Most Idaho vehicle registrations are eligible for renewals online. If you receive an error message during the process, the portal will provide further instructions on how to proceed. The renewal cost will be computed during the renewal process. The ITD portal allows users to review the line items and online service fees before purchasing. For more information on making payments on the ITD portal, you may check the Online Transaction Payment Policy. Persons looking to complete boat and off-highway vehicle registrations and renewals may do so through the Idaho Parks and Recreation or local accessor offices.

To complete the renewal process, the following are required:

  • Proof of physical address in Idaho.
  • A state-issued driver's license or identification card.
  • The vehicle plate number.
  • The last six digits or characters of the vehicle identification number.
  • A credit or debit card or PayPal account. A MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover credit or debit card is accepted. Additional service fee applies for online renewals.
  • EIN filed with the state Tax Commission. This applies to businesses.

The ITD also permits renewals to be completed by mail. To complete a vehicle registration by mail, mail your renewal with a check to your local DMV with no extra fees. The mailing address is included on the renewal notice. You may use the DMV office search tool on the ITD website to locate the nearest DMV office.

Can You Look Up License Plates with VIN?

A vehicle's license plate number is linked to its VIN number in public vehicle records. The Idaho BMV obtains information about vehicles when owners complete vehicle registrations. The VIN number is one of the vehicle information that registrants will provide. Hence, if the VIN number is known, you can retrieve the license plate number.

VIN Number Lookup

A VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, is a unique code assigned to an individual vehicle by the manufacturer to distinguish it from all other vehicles. No two vehicles have the exact vehicle identification number. VINs were standardized by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a 17-digit string of numbers and letters. Several of the numbers and letters assigned are assigned values with which vehicle manufacturers are required to comply; other numbers and letter parts of the code may be used by the manufacturers according to their discretion.

By conducting a VIN lookup, you put the VIN in a search tool to obtain information about the vehicle from the database of vehicle registration agencies. Conducting a VIN lookup is one of the safest methods of establishing the vehicle's true identity and ascertaining if the vehicle is suspect or not. Before performing a VIN lookup, you must find the VIN on the vehicle. The VIN number may be imprinted into the chassis of a vehicle, usually in the engine bay or underneath the plastic trim around the driver or passenger door opening. The VIN number may also be repeated in other parts of a vehicle. VIN can be found on the front of the car frame or beneath the spare tire.

By conducting a VIN lookup, you can obtain information about the vehicle such as:

  • Past ownership
  • Vehicle maintenance
  • Flood damage
  • Accident history
  • Airbag deployments
  • Liens held on the vehicle
  • Faulty odometer settings

Can Civilians Lookup License Plates in Idaho?

Yes, civilians can look up license plates in Idaho, pursuant to the Idaho Public Record Act. The general public has the right to inspect public records that are generated and maintained by government agencies. These include motor vehicle records connected to license plates in the state. However, certain pieces of information contained in motor vehicle records are considered confidential, as such, are exempt from the provisions of the state’s Public Records Act.

Per The Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) (18 USC, Section 2721) and Idaho statutes section 49-203, personal information contained in motor vehicle records is confidential. Pursuant to these statutes, this personal information is only disclosable to eligible entities or individuals and for specific reasons. As a result, when civilians look up license plates in Idaho, they can only access public motor vehicle records linked to the license plate. These include the vehicle specifications such as its make, model, and year of manufacture. Civilians may also be able to obtain different reports about the vehicle, such as its accident report, history reports, salvage records, and odometer readings.

What Do Police See When They Run Your Plates in Idaho?

In Idaho, there are different categories of information police officers have access to when they run a motorist license plate. These include the vehicle and license plate details, such as the vehicle’s year, make, model, the name of the registered owner of the vehicle, and the license plate’s expiration date.

Police officers will also be alerted if the vehicle or the license plate has been reported stolen or used in a crime. If the current driver is the registered owner of the vehicle, police officers may also conduct a secondary search to retrieve their driver’s license details as well as other personal details. These personal details include their name, social security number, date of birth, and address. Police officers may also run the driver’s details through their databases and other databases to find if there are any active warrants for the driver’s arrest.

Free License Plate Lookup in Idaho

Individuals who want to look up license plates for free in Idaho would need to use services and online tools provided by different third-party websites online. Although most third-party website charges their users a fee to use the license plate lookup services and tools they offer, some website may provide limited access to these tools for free.

As a result, when free license plate searches are carried out, they typically only yield minimal information about the vehicle associated with the license plate in question. In most cases, inquirers must pay a fee for more thorough information and additional reports.

How to Search for Ticket by License Plate in Idaho

Interested persons can begin their search for tickets by license plate in Idaho through the magistrate division of the district court in the county where the ticket was issued. These court divisions handle traffic cases for their respective jurisdictions. As such, they may maintain records of most tickets issued within their jurisdiction and may offer inquirers assistance in searching for tickets by license plates. Inquirers can use the district court directory provided on the state’s Judicial Branch website to find the contact information and addresses of Idaho’s district courts.

For parking tickets, some cities' parking agencies provide an online search and payment portal interested persons can use to search for parking tickets by license plates. These portals can be found on the parking section of some cities' websites. For instance, interested persons can search for parking tickets issued in the city of Boise through the parking tickets page of the city website.