Vehicle lifts in Idaho: plate rules, hitch carriers and IDVR

Most Idaho households that carry a scooter or power chair on the back of a car or truck run into the same worry sooner or later: if the platform sits behind the bumper, is the license plate still legal? The second question tends to follow quickly: is there any state help toward the cost of a lift?

Idaho law does not ban hitch carriers, and it does not single them out. What it does is set firm rules for where a plate sits and how it is lit, and a loaded platform can easily break both. Here is what the statutes say, in their own words.

What Idaho's vehicle code asks of your plate

Idaho Code 49-428 governs plate display. Plates go on the front, if the vehicle has a front mounting bracket, and on the rear. The working rule for a carrier is subsection (2): "Every license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned to prevent the plate from swinging, be at a height not less than twelve (12) inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate, be in a place and position to be clearly visible, and be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible" (Idaho Code 49-428).

"At all times" and "clearly visible" are the phrases that matter. A scooter on a folded platform, or a platform folded up empty, can block a plate that was perfectly visible on the bumper. Many lifts solve this with a plate mount on the carrier itself, which is why so many Harmar lifts list a license plate mount in the box.

Lighting has its own sections. The lamp that lights the plate must shine white: Idaho Code 49-910(3) says "the light illuminating the license plate shall be white" (49-910). Tail lamps must emit a red light "plainly visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear" and sit between 20 and 72 inches high (49-906). If your carrier blocks the factory lamps, plan for lights on the carrier.

One more rule is worth knowing even though it rarely applies to a lift: when a load extends "to the rear four (4) feet or more beyond the bed or body," Idaho Code 49-913 requires a red light at night and a red or fluorescent orange flag at least 18 by 18 inches at other times (49-913). Measure how far the loaded platform reaches past your bumper.

We found no Idaho statute that names wheelchair or scooter carriers specifically. If you are unsure whether a setup complies, the Idaho Transportation Department or your local law enforcement agency is the right place to ask.

Lifts suited to Idaho driving

• Keep the device inside, out of snow and road grime: the Harmar AL065 mounts on a Class II or greater hitch yet lifts a manual wheelchair, small power chair or scooter into the vehicle. It handles 200 lb, its heaviest component is 23 lb, and the backup camera stays usable.
• Pickup trucks: the Harmar AL435T Tailgater is a 3-axis hoist for 400 lb whose powered offset arm reaches 43 in to the curb or over a 24 in tailgate. Expect possible drilling: Harmar says truck hoists of this kind may need holes in the bed floor to bolt down.
• Smaller cars that cannot take tongue weight: the Bruno ASL-700 Chariot rolls on its own suspension, so the load rests on the Chariot rather than the car. It lifts 350 lb and carries its own license plate holder, brake and running lights and turn signals, which speaks directly to the plate and lamp rules above.
• RV travel: Harmar engineered the AL300RV for the stress an RV puts on a lift. It carries 350 lb, needs a Class III or greater hitch and comes with a drop hitch adapter that adjusts up to 26 in.

Winter, wildfire smoke season and long highway miles

NOAA's Idaho climate summary lists severe winter storms, wildfires, floods, droughts, and heat and cold waves among the state's extreme weather. Snowfall runs from about 10 to 20 inches a year in the southern lowlands to more than 100 inches in the higher mountains, and most precipitation falls from November through May.

Snow and slush on an outside carrier can cover a plate and its lamp within a few miles, so wipe both at fuel stops; the "free from foreign materials" language in 49-428 covers road grime as much as anything bolted on. A cover helps an exposed scooter, and many of the Harmar lifts list one as an option. If the device's electronics worry you, an inside hoist keeps it out of the weather entirely.

Help with the cost in Idaho

The Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR) helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep work. A state purchasing directive exempts IDVR purchases of "Vehicle Modification to meet individual mobility needs" from competitive bidding because those purchases are specific to each person served (Idaho Division of Purchasing, Policy Directive 16-01). IDVR's own service programs page describes help with rehabilitation technology tied to employment. Whether a lift fits your plan is a question for an IDVR counselor.

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project offers device loans, demonstrations, reuse and financial loans, per the AT3 Center. Its site mentions help securing a low interest loan to purchase assistive technology.

Shipping a vehicle lift to Idaho

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. See the Idaho shipping page, and use the vehicle lift fit check to match a lift to your vehicle and device.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Idaho

Is a hitch-mounted scooter carrier legal in Idaho if it covers my plate?

Idaho Code 49-428 requires every plate to be clearly visible and legible at all times, at least 12 inches from the ground. A carrier that blocks the plate does not meet that, even though carriers themselves are not banned. The usual fix is to move the plate to a mount on the carrier, which many Harmar lifts include, and keep it lit with a white light under 49-910.

Does Idaho require a light on a relocated license plate?

Idaho Code 49-910(3) says the light illuminating the license plate shall be white. Separately, 49-906 requires red tail lamps visible from 500 feet to the rear. If a carrier blocks the factory lamp or tail lamps, add lighting on the carrier. The Bruno ASL-700 Chariot, for example, comes with its own plate holder, brake and running lights and turn signals.

Will Idaho Vocational Rehabilitation help pay for a vehicle lift?

A state purchasing directive lists vehicle modification to meet individual mobility needs among the purchases IDVR makes to help people prepare for, get and keep jobs. That tells you IDVR buys such equipment for some participants, not that every applicant qualifies. Ask an IDVR counselor whether a lift can be part of your employment plan.

Which lift keeps my scooter out of Idaho snow?

An inside hoist does. The Harmar AL065 mounts on the hitch but lifts the device into the vehicle, with a 200 lb capacity and a heaviest component of 23 lb. For pickups, the AL435T Tailgater sets the device in the bed. NOAA notes more than 100 inches of annual snowfall in Idaho's higher mountains, so keeping electronics covered is worth planning for.

Browse the vehicle lift collection, try the vehicle lift fit check, or take the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Idaho Code 49-428, display of plate
• Idaho Code 49-910, color of lamps
• Idaho Code 49-906, tail lamps
• Idaho Code 49-913, projecting loads
• Idaho Division of Purchasing, Policy Directive 16-01 (IDVR)
• Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, service programs
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Idaho (2022)
• Idaho Assistive Technology Project
• AT3 Center: Idaho
• Harmar AL065 (Faith Mobility product page)
• Harmar AL435T Tailgater (Faith Mobility product page)
• Bruno ASL-700 Chariot (Faith Mobility product page)
• Harmar AL300RV (Faith Mobility product page)