Elimination of Registration Stickers
The passage of House Bill 533 during the 2026 legislative session eliminated the requirement to display registration stickers on license plates.
Yes. Idaho residents are still required to maintain active registration on their vehicles and must present registration documents at the request of law enforcement.
Eliminating registration stickers is estimated to save approximately $300,000 per year in materials and production costs.
The savings will be reinvested by the department to further enhance DMV services for Idaho residents.
Law enforcement has multiple systems available to verify whether a vehicle’s registration is current and valid.
No, you are not required to remove any registration stickers that are currently on your license plate. After July 1, 2026, you can remove stickers on your plates if preferred.
The benefit comes from no longer needing to apply new stickers each time you renew your registration, as well as eliminating sticker fees associated with requesting a replacement copy of your registration document.
The Idaho Transportation Department has notified local and state law enforcement agencies, as well as other jurisdictions, about the removal of registration stickers from Idaho license plates. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have electronic access to the Idaho Transportation Department’s database, allowing them to verify a vehicle’s registration status.
Yes. Connecticut (2010), New Jersey (2004) and Pennsylvania (2017) have also eliminated stickers for license plates. Other states such as New York, Texas and the District of Columbia issue windshield stickers for most vehicle classes.
After July 1, 2026, you may purchase a new plate online, over the phone by calling the DMV at 208-584-4343, or by going to any local county DMV office.
Permanent Plates
The passage of House Bill 577 eliminated the requirement to replace license plates every 10 years, allowing plates to remain in use as long as they are readable and legible.
The benefit comes from not having to pay for new plates when your current ones are undamaged and still clearly legible. This allows car owners to delay replacement costs until new plates are actually needed.
You will need to replace your plate under the following conditions:
- Your license plate is stolen
- Your license plate is damaged and cannot be properly displayed
- Your license plate is no longer clearly legible
You may purchase a new plate online, over the phone by calling the DMV at 208-584-4343, or by going to any local county DMV office.
The base fee to replace license plates is $11.80. If you choose to renew your registration at the same time you request a replacement plate, fees for special programs or personalization are not included in the license plate base fee and will be added if applicable.
No. You may continue using your discontinued plate until it needs to be replaced for any reason. When a replacement is required, you will need to switch to a different plate program or obtain standard plates.
No. If you have a personalized plate, another applicant may apply for your plate text if you allow your registration to expire—even for one day. For non-personalized plates, your plate text becomes available to another applicant if your registration remains expired for 60 days.