Moving to Idaho

Look up the school district

Districts set school boundaries, so check the address before you sign. The Idaho Department of Education lists every district, and the Idaho Report Card has each district's and school's published results.

• Idaho Department of Education: School districts
• Idaho Report Card

Find out who provides power, gas and water

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission regulates the investor-owned utilities, such as Idaho Power, Avista and Rocky Mountain Power for electricity and Intermountain Gas and Avista for natural gas. City and co-op utilities are not on its lists, so ask the city for water, sewer and trash.

• Idaho PUC: Electric utilities
• Idaho PUC: Natural gas utilities
• Idaho PUC: Water utilities

Read the state's own moving page

Idaho's official site keeps a short page for new residents with links to each agency.

• Idaho.gov: Moving to Idaho

Get an Idaho driver's license or ID card

ITD says to apply within 30 days of moving to Idaho, even if your old license has not expired. Bring proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, identity, Idaho residency and name. Students at an Idaho college and active-duty military (and dependents) with a valid out-of-state license do not need one.

• Idaho Transportation Department: New to Idaho
• ITD: Driver's licenses and ID cards

Title and register your vehicles

ITD's New to Idaho page says to title and register within 30 days of moving. Take the vehicle to your county DMV office for a VIN inspection, with its current title and registration (or your lienholder's name and address) and your ID. County sheriff or assessor offices run the DMV counters.

• Idaho Transportation Department: New to Idaho
• ITD: DMV locations

Move your car insurance to Idaho

Tell your insurer you moved. ITD says your liability insurance must be with a carrier admitted in Idaho, and the state checks coverage electronically.

• Idaho Transportation Department: New to Idaho

Skip the emissions test

Treasure Valley vehicle emissions testing ended on July 1, 2023, after the Legislature repealed it.

• Idaho DEQ: Vehicle emissions

Register to vote

To vote here you need to have lived in Idaho for at least 30 days before the election. Online registration needs a current Idaho driver's license or ID and closes 11 days before an election. You can also register in person at early voting or on Election Day with a photo ID and proof of residence.

• VoteIdaho.gov: Registering to vote

Apply for the homeowner's exemption

If you own and live in the home, apply with your county assessor. The exemption takes 50% of the value of the home and up to one acre off your property taxes, up to a maximum set in state law. It lasts until you sell or stop living there.

• Idaho State Tax Commission: Homeowner's exemption

File as a part-year resident

For the year you move, Idaho's part-year resident return is Form 43.

• Idaho State Tax Commission: Form 43

Wait six months for resident hunting and fishing licenses

Idaho Fish and Game counts you as a resident after six months living here, and you show an Idaho driver's license or ID to buy resident licenses.

• Idaho Fish and Game: Residency requirements