TITLE 49

MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 5

VEHICLE TITLES

49-523.  Procedure when department unsatisfied as to ownership or security interests — Temporary registration procedure. (1) If the department is not satisfied as to the ownership of the vehicle or that there are no undisclosed security interests in it, the department may register the vehicle, but shall either:

(a)  Withhold issuance of a certificate of ownership until the applicant presents documents reasonably sufficient to satisfy the department as to the applicant’s ownership of the vehicle and that there are no undisclosed security interests in it; or

(b)  As a condition of issuing a certificate of ownership, require the applicant to file with the department all documents held as to the applicant’s ownership of the vehicle, together with a bond in the form prescribed by the department and executed by the applicant, or a deposit of cash in a like amount. The bond shall be in an amount equal to one and one-half (1 1/2) times the value of the vehicle, as determined by the department, and conditioned to indemnify any prior owner and secured party and any subsequent purchaser of the vehicle or person acquiring any security interest in it, and their respective successors in interest, against any expense, loss or damage, including reasonable attorney’s fees, by reason of the issuance of the certificate of ownership of the vehicle, or on account of any defect in or disclosed security interest on the right, title and interest of the applicant in and to the vehicle. Any such interested person has a right of action to recover on the bond for any breach of its conditions, but the aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall not exceed the amount of the bond. The bond, or any cash deposit, shall be returned at the end of three (3) years, or prior to that time if the vehicle is no longer registered in this state and the current valid certificate of ownership is surrendered to the department, unless the department has been notified of the pendency of an action to recover on the bond.

(c)  As to a vehicle at least ten (10) model years old, an applicant who is a resident of the state of Idaho may file with the department, before its authorized representative, a verified statement of facts setting out in detail the manner in which the applicant came into possession of the vehicle, the establishment of ownership, and a summary of the applicant’s attempts to contact any prior owners of the vehicle. Upon receipt by the department of the verified statement and all documentation relating to the applicant’s possession of the vehicle, and completion of an inspection of the vehicle identification number by an authorized representative of the department, the applicant shall execute a document in the form provided by the department releasing the department of any and all damages that may be suffered by the applicant, along with warranties that the applicant will pay any and all damages suffered by any person or entity as to the issuance of a title for that vehicle by the department. The department shall then issue a certificate of title to the applicant in a form set out by this section. The certificate of title shall include the statement, "ISSUED ON STATEMENT OF APPLICANT," in permanent letters on its face. The title issued pursuant to this subsection shall be presumed to indicate legal ownership of the vehicle at the end of the three (3) year period from the date of issue of that title, provided the vehicle is still registered in the state of Idaho, and there are no actions or claims pending against the applicant that place legal ownership in question. The department and the state of Idaho shall be immune as to any damages suffered by any person or entity as a result of the issuance of a certificate of title as provided by this subsection.

(2)  Every dealer desiring the privilege of issuing temporary registration permits for the operation of vehicles shall make application to the department. If the privilege is granted, the dealer will receive a series of permits, consecutively numbered by the department, secured by the dealer at a fee of nine dollars ($9.00) for each permit. A permit subsequently issued by a dealer to a purchaser shall be valid for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. The dealer shall issue temporary registration permits in numerical sequence, one (1) only for each vehicle sold to a bona fide purchaser. Each permit, and the attached stub, shall be completed in duplicate, in ink or by typewriter, at the time of issuance. The expiration date on the original permit shall be filled in by rubber stamp or broad-tipped marking pen, and the print shall be at least three-fourths (3/4) inch high and one-eighth (1/8) inch wide. The original permit shall be displayed in the rear window of the vehicle for which it is issued, except when issued for a convertible, station wagon, motorcycle, or other vehicle for which this would not be practical. In these exceptional cases, the permit should be conspicuously displayed in a place where the number of the permit and the expiration date may be easily read and where protected from exposure to weather conditions that would render it illegible.

(3)  The dealer shall keep a written record of every temporary registration permit issued. This record shall include the name and address of the person or firm to whom the permit is issued and a description of the vehicle for which it is issued, including year, make, model, identification number, and the date of issue. This record shall list all permits in numerical sequence and shall be open to inspection by any peace officer or designated employee of the department.

(4)  The fees collected from dealers by the department under the provisions of this section shall be transmitted by the department to the state treasurer for deposit in the highway distribution account.

(5)  Upon application for title and for registration of a vehicle for which temporary registration has been issued under this section, the county assessor shall collect and fees shall be deemed due from the date of issuance of the temporary registration permit rather than from the date of application for title or registration.

(6)  The department or a county assessor may issue temporary vehicle registration permits in emergency situations, or for two (2) thirty (30) day periods per vehicle, per owner, if such owner is attempting to sell the vehicle. The fee for a temporary registration shall be nine dollars ($9.00) and shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) days. The temporary fees collected by the department shall be transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the highway distribution account. Temporary fees collected by an assessor shall be distributed as follows: five dollars ($5.00) shall be deposited in the county current expense fund and four dollars ($4.00) shall be transmitted to the department for deposit through the state treasurer in the highway distribution account.

History:

[49-523, added 1988, ch. 265, sec. 138, p. 653; am. 1991, ch. 153, sec. 12, p. 368; am. 2009, ch. 331, sec. 5, p. 956; am. 2014, ch. 38, sec. 14, p. 81; am. 2024, ch. 41, sec. 1, p. 245.]