Archives February 2025

Selling a car, truck, or SUV in Idaho does not have to be a confusing and complicated process. The friendly team of Vehicle Acquisition Specialists at SellMyCarIdaho.com have put together a list of 7 steps to make selling your ride easier. If you choose to sell your vehicle to us, they will be right there with you, guiding you through the process, the entire way.

Step 1.) Gather all of the necessary documents

Title: Make sure if you have the title in hand, that it has no active lien holder listed.
Do not sign the title if selling to SellMyCarIdaho.com – we have a form for that!
If the vehicle still has a loan on it & the bank has the title, that is OK, we can assist with the payoff during the purchase. If selling to a private party, use the app/website (or call) of the lender you make payments to & get the 10-day payoff balance. This will be different (slightly more than) your current amount owed, as it will calculate the interest that will accrue during the payoff transit period.
Bill of Sale: This is more of a CYA for private party sales, in addition to the tab at the bottom of your title. When selling to our team, we have a Bill of Sale that will be included in the documentation, to give all parties peace of mind.
Odometer Disclosure Statement: This is required for the new title to have the proper mileage. 
Release of Liability Form: This is a great way to protect yourself during private party sales. The Idaho Transportation Department has a PDF available, here.

Step 2.) Set a competitive price to sell my car

There are many tools to allow consumers to get an idea of value for their vehicle. Take into account maintenance items that need to be done (tires, brakes, etc), mileage, physical condition, wear & tear, to accurately account for the current state of your car for sale.

This is especially easy with our team, as we will perform a full vehicle evaluation, with current market conditions to provide the absolute most we can offer on your car.

Step 3.) Advertise my car for sale

Take some high quality, eye-catching images (and video, too) of your car, showcasing how great your car is. Highlight features & options that you enjoy and feel other drivers may enjoy, such as heated seats, power seats, heated steering wheel, the stereo system, moonroof, etc.

Then, write an engaging description that touches on the items you took photos of, the condition, mileage, maintenance records, and any other relevant information depicting what makes your car for sale on that particular site stand out.

Once the description is written & looks great, post it for sale on sites and apps such as Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, KSL, and others that may apply to the car you have for sale.

Step 4.) Working with potential buyers

Once you have waded through the seemingly endless “Is this available?” messages and have found someone who seems serious, meet with them in a well-lit, public location. Make sure someone knows who you are planning on meeting & when the meet is set to happen. The potential buyer will likely want to test drive the vehicle, be sure to verify their identity with their driver’s license (this is also good practice in the event of an accident, that they are not unlicensed).

Upon returning from the test drive, the buyer may wish to negotiate, offering a number that may be in line with your expectations, or may be way lower than you would accept. This is where the negotiation process can go one of two ways: Fast or Drawn Out.

Once both parties have come to an agreement on the amount to be transferred for the car sale, congratulations, you are almost done!

Step 5.) Finalize the sale of my car

Title In Hand Steps:

Sign the title in the appropriate spot, with the full name displayed on the title
Complete the Bill of Sale with both party’s names, agreed upon sales amount and pertinent vehicle details (Year, Make, Model, Vin)
Complete the Odometer Disclosure Form
Remove your license plates
In Idaho, plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle
Complete the Release of Liability Form

Lender Holds Title Steps:

Transfer funds from the sale to the lender your loan is with.
It may be beneficial to speak with your exact lender for the steps their process requires for the title work to be properly completed & transferred to the new owner.
Complete the Bill of Sale with both party’s names, agreed upon sales amount and pertinent vehicle details (Year, Make, Model, Vin)
Complete the Odometer Disclosure Form
Remove your license plates
In Idaho, plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle
Complete the Release of Liability Form

Step 6.) Cancellations & Refunds after I sell my car

Call your insurance company to inform them of the sale of your vehicle, so you can save on your monthly insurance bill
Submit the Release of Liability Form the to the Idaho DMV
If your vehicle had any vehicle service contracts, maintenance plans, warranty coverage, etc from time of purchase, speak with the place you purchased everything from to cancel those contracts (they will need a copy of the Odometer Disclosure Form) for a pro-rated refund.

Alternate (Easier) Steps To Sell Your Car in Idaho

For those who would prefer a more hands-off, hassle-free way to sell a car in Idaho, the Vehicle Acquisition Specialists are here to guide you through the entire process, while also removing the anxiety of messaging countless internet people the same questions over and over again. 

When following these steps, trying to “sell my car” in Idaho can be much easier. Regardless of if you decide to sell to a private party you find on Marketplace, via a ‘For Sale’ sign in the window, or to the team at SellMyCarIdaho.com, we hope this checklist and steps for selling a car in Idaho will make for a smooth transaction.

Text us to start the conversation at 208-944-9266.