Signing Over A Car
Idaho Code § 49-503 and Idaho Code § 49-504A — no title, no ownership, and a $20 penalty after thirty days
No title, no ownership. Apart from the exceptions the section lists, a person who acquires a vehicle from its owner acquires no right, title or interest in it until a certificate of title is issued to that person.
Thirty days. When ownership changes, the new owner pays a $20 penalty if the title is presented for transfer more than thirty days after the vehicle was transferred. For a vehicle bought in another state, the thirty days begin when it first enters Idaho.
Dealers taking a vehicle for resale pay no penalty. A dispute over a sale is for a court and a licensed Idaho attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Idaho Code § 49-503 — Issuance of certificate of title requisite to acquisition of title
- Idaho Code § 49-504A — Penalty for late filing, transfer of certificate of title
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Idaho attorney.