Idaho License Plate

What is an Idaho License Plate?

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Division of Motor Vehicles, issues license plates and manages vehicle registration according to the Idaho Code, Title 49, Chapter 4. County assessor offices handle in-person transactions, including titling, registration, and license plate orders.

The standard Idaho license plate features a red, white, and blue design with scenic mountains and the inscriptions “Famous Potatoes” and “Scenic Idaho.” Each plate includes a county designation linked to the owner’s county of residence. The cost of license plates is $3.75 each according to Idaho Code § 49-450 and remains valid as long as they are legible and distinguishable.

Types of License Plates in Idaho

• Standard license plates are assigned upon registration and feature Idaho’s scenic design with a county designation. Replacement plates cost $3.75 per plate.
• Over 40 specialty designs fund various causes, from conservation to university programs. The lowest tier costs $25 for initial issuance and $15 annually; newer programs cost $35 for initial issuance and $25 annually. Idaho Code § 49-402(9) sets these fee levels.
• Personalized license plates allow owners to choose their own combination of letters and numbers for $25 at issuance and $15 for each renewal year, ordered through the ITD DMV online portal.
• Disabled Veteran license plates have no registration fee and feature the “D.V.” inscription. Idaho Code § 49-403 limits the exemption to one vehicle at a time.
• Purple Heart recipients pay the standard registration fee but have no license plate fee according to Idaho Code § 49-403A. Former Prisoners of War may have up to two vehicles and must pay regular fees plus $3.75 per plate according to Idaho Code § 49-415.
• The Idaho Old Timer license plate, available for vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1943, costs $25 for the initial program with no annual renewal fee. Only rear display is required. Idaho Code § 49-406 restricts the use of these vehicles to parades, exhibitions, and occasional use.

A full catalog of available designs is listed on the ITD license plates page.

What Vehicles Require License Plates in Idaho?

Any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer operated on Idaho highways must be registered. New residents must title and register within 30 days of moving to the state, according to the ITD new resident guide.

• Passenger cars and pickups up to 8,000 pounds have two license plates and pay an annual fee based on age: $69 for cars one to two years old, $57 for three to six years, and $45 for seven years and older. Idaho Code § 49-402(1) establishes this schedule. County assessor fees range from approximately $15 to $45 additionally.
• One rear license plate for motorcycles, at $19 plus $6 for the Motorcycle Safety Program, totaling $25 per year.
• Utility trailers have one rear license plate. Annual registration costs $5, or owners may prepay $20 for five years or $30 for ten years according to Idaho Code § 49-402A.
• Commercial and farm vehicles from 8,001 to 16,000 pounds pay $48 annually. Over 16,000 pounds, fees are distributed between farm and commercial schedules according to Idaho Code § 49-434.
• Battery electric vehicles pay an annual additional fee of $140; plug-in hybrids pay $75. Both are added to the standard registration fee according to Idaho Code § 49-457.

License Plate Rules in Idaho

• Most passenger vehicles require two license plates, one in front and one in the rear, if the vehicle is equipped with a front mounting bracket. Motorcycles, semi-trailers, and vehicles with Old Timer, classic car, street rod, or custom vehicle plates require only one rear license plate. Idaho Code § 49-428(1) lists each exception.
• Each license plate must be securely fastened, positioned at least twelve inches from the ground, and maintained in a condition free from foreign materials that make it illegible. The plate must be clearly visible at all times. Idaho Code § 49-428(2) regulates these requirements.

Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Idaho Illegal?

Operating an unregistered vehicle on Idaho highways or one not displaying assigned license plates violates Idaho Code § 49-456(1). The owner who permits operation bears the same responsibility.

Possessing or displaying a license plate the driver knows to be fictitious, canceled, revoked, or altered is a separate offense under § 49-456(3). Lending license plates to someone not entitled to use them or using false information in a registration application also falls under this section.

What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Idaho?

Violations of Chapter 4 carry significant weight despite their civil classification. The penalty structure starts with a fixed fine and can reach the legislative ceiling for infractions.

• No display violation: operating without registration or assigned license plates is an infraction under Idaho Code § 49-236(2). The standard fine is $101, as published by ITD.
• The legislative maximum for any infraction is $300, with no possibility of imprisonment. Idaho Code § 18-111 sets this ceiling.
• Fictitious or altered plates: displaying a plate known to be fictitious, canceled, or altered is penalized under § 49-456(3), classified as an infraction under the same structure as § 49-236(2), and subject to the same maximum of $300.
• Lending plates to an unauthorized user or submitting false registration information are treated as separate subdivision violations under § 49-456(4) and (6), each carrying an infraction-level fine.
• Late registration penalties are governed by the same infraction scale of Chapter 4; under the display rule described above, a vehicle with expired registration and no current plates is subject to the same fine range of $101 to $300.