Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) Customer Service

Calling the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles was both a pleasant and straightforward experience. When I called, I was first presented with the choice of speaking to the DMV or getting the state's 511 information on road closures, to which I chose the former. Given how much winter weather hits the state, I thought this was a helpful and necessary touch.

Once I got through the menu, I was given an automated message that said I could do most transactions with the DMV online and would save money if I chose to go online. I then had to push two buttons to get to the section for driver's licenses, which led me immediately to a customer service representative.

When she answered, she asked how she could assist me, and I told her I was a new resident of Idaho and wanted to know how long I had before I needed to get an Idaho driver's license. She told me I had 90 days from the date of my move. I asked her what I would need to bring to get my new license, and she told me that I'd need to bring proof of citizenship, which could either be a birth certificate or a passport.

She said I would also need to provide my Social Security number, my out-of-state license, and at least one piece of mail establishing my Idaho residency. If I brought two forms of mail, I would be eligible to receive a Real ID-compliant license, for which there would be no extra fee. She then asked if I was over 18. When I confirmed I was, she said I would also need to take the state's written knowledge exam, which she explained carried a $5 fee.

I then asked what the cost was for an Idaho license, and she said I could either get a four-year license for $32 or I could get an eight-year license for $60. I finally asked her about the cost to register my vehicle in Idaho, and she said that would depend on the age of the vehicle, with older vehicles getting charged a lower fee. With no other questions, I thanked her for her assistance and she thanked me for calling.

Overall, I was very impressed with how easy it was to get assistance when calling the Idaho DMV. I had hardly any wait time, and almost all of the time I spent waiting was because I was navigating the menu to reach the right team member. When I did get connected with a representative, I had no trouble getting any of my questions asked and even got some extra information related to my questions that I hadn't yet asked. The tone of our conversation was both professional and pleasant, and I found it easy to ask any questions that I had. If I were to need any assistance from the Idaho DMV as an actual customer, I would not hesitate to call for assistance.