Idaho VIN Search

Idaho Vehicle Identification Numbers

The Idaho state law regarding Motor Vehicles can be found in Title 49, Chapter 14 and they specifically states that any person who alters, destroys, or otherwise changes a vehicle identification number, or any number on a vehicle, is committing a crime and can be charged with a felony. Additionally, anyone who knowingly disposes of or sells a vehicle, or parts of a vehicle which has had any numbers altered is also guilty of a felony.

Residents of Idaho are expected to transfer the title of a vehicle within 30 days of delivery. If the vehicle was purchased from a dealer in the state of Idaho, the dealer will prepare the application for title and file it with the Idaho Transportation Department or a county assessor motor vehicle office within 30 days. If the vehicle was purchased from a private party or from a dealer out of the state of Idaho and a lien is required, then the financial institution may file the paperwork. However, if the documents are not filed within 30 days of transfer then there may be a $20 late-filing penalty which will be the responsibility of the consumer.

These are the documents that are required to be filed within the 30-day period:

• Title (for used vehicles) – must be property signed and released by the previous owner and the lienholder, if any. For new vehicles you will need the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, which must be property released by the dealer and assigned to the new owner;
• Bill of Sale – a form which includes a description of the vehicle, the sales price, the buyer’s full name, original signature of the seller, and the date. A bill of sale is not required if the seller has entered the sales price on the title in the space for this information;
• Odometer Disclosure – this is required for the transfer of any motor vehicle which is less than ten (10) years old and under 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW);
• Vehicle Identification Number Inspection – this must be completed by a member of law enforcement, a DMV employee, a military police officer, or an Idaho licensed vehicle dealer. (For lienholders who are out-of-state, the vehicle identification number inspection can be performed by the County Assessor’s office, Sheriff’s office, or Police Office where the owner resides.);
  • The state of Idaho uses a website for both official state business and for authorized subscribers to search the Idaho Transportation Department’s title and registration database; and
  • The National Insurance Crime Bureau also has a database which is free to the public and will be able to inform you based on the VIN if the vehicle has been reported stolen but not recovered, or if has been reported as a salvage vehicle by a cooperating NICB insurance company;

Title Status Inquiry

Idaho Transportation Department’s Registration and Title Database:

Tile or Registration Record Search

National Insurance Crime Bureau database:

Vincheck

Idaho Laws regarding Motor Vehicles and VIN

Idaho Title Searches

Bill of Sale Form

Vehicle Identification Number Inspection Certification

Idaho Department of Transportation Registration and Title Searches

Registration Fees

Why are VIN checks so important in Idaho?

VIN fraud is illegal and is a felony in the state of Idaho, including when the VIN is removed during the restoration of a car. One of the best ways to protect yourself from becoming the victim of vehicle fraud is to obtain a Vehicle History Report, which will include information such as:

• Information on the past owners, including:
  • The number of owners the car has had; and
  • The odometer readings at the time of each change in ownership.

Some VIN checks may even tell you information as specific as the dates of servicing of the vehicle or if it has previously been sold at an auction.

Where do you get a VIN check in the state of Idaho?

Idaho is one of the few states which contributes data to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, yet they may not be the best option for searching for information when buying a vehicle in Idaho. The database provides data on cars that have been in recycling yards, junkyards, and salvage yards. There is also a free database which is run by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB.) They provide free VIN checks to the public which will tell you if the car has been reported stolen and not found, and if the vehicle has been in a salvage yard. The state of Idaho Transportation Department has its own website which allows you to search the Motor Vehicle Search and Registration Records and there are other private and public websites which can be easily found by a quick search on the Internet.

NMVTIS

NICB

Idaho Transportation Department

Form for Idaho Motor Vehicle Record Request

Lemon Law in Idaho

Lemon laws in the State of Idaho are formally called Idaho’s Motor Vehicle Warranties statute and are in Title 48 Chapter 9 of the Idaho Code. The lemon law in Idaho don’t cover motorcycles, tractors, trailers, or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs,) and the only vehicles that can be covered by the Idaho lemon law must meet the following conditions:

• Must have been purchased or leased in Idaho;
• Weighs no more than 12,000 pounds; and
• Is used primarily for personal business or for family/household reasons.

Providing that your vehicle meets the above criteria, it is covered under the Idaho lemon law until (and if) one of the following occurs:

• The manufacturer’s warranty expires;
• The odometer on the vehicle hits 24,000 miles or more; or
• Two (2) years have passed since you took possession of the vehicle.
• NOTE: If you believe that your car may be a lemon, you must report the defect to the manufacturer and try to have it repaired before one of the above events ends.

Most states which do not cover used cars explicitly state that used vehicles are ineligible for state lemon laws and refer the consumer to the federal “lemon law” (the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act); however, Idaho does not and therefore it appears that a second party that purchases the vehicle for the same purposes (household use and personal transportation) would also benefit from the warranty to the vehicle. The law also presumes that the consumer has notified the manufacturer or dealer and attempted to get the defect repaired. It is interesting to note that the although the period for reporting the defect is two (2) years or 24,000 miles, the dealer or manufacturer has three (3) years to make a reasonable number of repair attempts related to the defect discovered within the first two years or 24,000 miles.

The definition of a “reasonable number of repair attempts” changes from state to state, in Idaho a “reasonable number” is more precisely defined as:

• When the vehicle has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s agents or authorized dealers and the manufacturer had at least one opportunity to try to repair the defective vehicle, but the defect continues to exist;
• The vehicle is out of service because it is in the shop either being repaired or is in the shop waiting on repairs to be performed for a total of thirty (30) days or more; or
• The defect or nonconformity results in total failure of either the braking or the steering system and is therefore likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle were driven. In situations like these, one repair attempt is sufficient to meet the “reasonable number of repair attempts.”

After the consumer has given the manufacturer or the repair shop the reasonable number of repair attempts, the consumer is expected to provide the manufacturer of the car with written notice via certified mail with a return receipt requested. When you send this information to the manufacturer you should include all the information you have on the car, and the defect about which you are complaining, including:

• Bill of Sale;
• Title;
• Description of defect of the car;
• Copies of the dates that the car was either in the shop or was otherwise unable to be used by the consumer;
• Notes that you have taken regarding phone conversations with repair shops, the dealer, or the manufacturer regarding the condition of the car and the defect. Include dates and names if you can.
• Any copies of additional receipts that prove that you have you have spent money on due to the car’s defect, such as: towing fees, hotel receipts (if appropriate,) and receipts from rental car (if appropriate.)

After you send the certified letter to the manufacturer, you must either give the manufacturer one more attempt to fix the defect. If repairs are not made, or are not successful, after the written notice, then the manufacturer is responsible for compensating the consumer with either a new vehicle of comparable value or a full refund of the purchase price of the vehicle.

Pamphlet from the Idaho Attorney General regarding the Lemon Law

Do you need to hire an attorney for a lemon law case in Idaho?

While it is not necessary to hire an attorney for a lemon law case, it may be a wise decision depending on the amount of time that you are able to commit to fighting a large company and your knowledge of the law and the legal system. If you do not have an attorney, the Idaho Bar Association has a Lawyer Referral Service that you can contact at 208-334-4500 or via their website.

You are searching for an attorney who:

• Comes highly recommended – ask friends and family if they know any good attorneys;
• Has experience with lemon law cases in Idaho – each state has their own lemon law with specific time periods, vehicles covered, and you want an attorney who is familiar with the laws specific to the state of Idaho;
• Affordable;
• Trustworthy – someone that you get along with well and whom you trust is imperative when hiring an attorney; and
• Confident – Are they confident representing you in court? Are you comfortable with this person speaking as your agent in a court?

What are some of the benefits of hiring an attorney for a lemon law case?

It is important to remember that the manufacturer of the car and the dealers will have legal experts on their side and you might want the same kind of expertise on your side. A lawyer will represent you in court, but they will also:

• Explain the lemon law in the state of Idaho to you;
• Help you to gather all the necessary documents;
• Help to ensure that the manufacturer is treating you fairly;
• Speed up the court process or the process before going to court; and
• Help you to navigate the courts and the legal terms.

Recommendations to protect yourself from being the victim of a lemon law:

Some recommendations to protect yourself from a possible lemon law include:

• Read and UNDERSTAND the warranty before purchasing the car;
• Keep a copy of the receipt and the information you receive when you purchase and take possession of the car;
• Follow recommendations in the owners’ manual when it comes to recommended car maintenance;
• Contact the dealer immediately if you are having problems;
• If you begin to experience problems keep all the documentation together, including receipts, emails and notes from telephone conversations;
• If you decide to consult with an attorney and do not have one, contact the Idaho Bar Association Lawyer’s Referral Service at 208-334-4500 or online via their website;
• When mailing paperwork to the dealer always use certified mail;
• Contact the Better Business Bureau at 800-955-5100; and
• Contact the Idaho Office of the Attorney General at 800-432-3545 or via the website.

Idaho Office of the Attorney General

Idaho Lawyer Referral Service