Iowa Vehicle Bill of Sale
Iowa charges no vehicle sales tax; a one-time 5% fee for new registration runs through the county treasurer.
Introduction
An Iowa vehicle bill of sale records the private sale of a car, truck, motorcycle, or other vehicle between a buyer and a seller. Iowa does not mandate a standalone DMV bill-of-sale form. The Iowa Department of Transportation builds a bill-of-sale field into the certificate of title itself, and depending on which version of title certificate your county is using, you may use the updated title as the bill of sale under the Transfer/Sale Date section. A separate bill of sale is still required only when the title certificate does not include that section. The most distinctive Iowa rule is the tax mechanic: Iowa imposes no sales or use tax on a vehicle. Instead, a one-time fee for new registration of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price is collected by the county treasurer at titling, under Iowa Code 321.105A, so the stated purchase price on the bill of sale or title drives that 5% fee. Title and registration are processed by any county treasurer, not a central DMV, and the transferee must apply for a new title and registration within thirty calendar days of purchase under Iowa Code 321.46. Notarization is not required. DocDraft drafts an Iowa vehicle bill of sale from your facts, with attorney review available.
Key Things to Know
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There is no standalone official form. Iowa does not mandate a separate DMV bill-of-sale form; the Iowa DOT builds a bill-of-sale field into the certificate of title, and depending on which version your county uses, the updated title may serve as the bill of sale under the Transfer/Sale Date section.
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Notarization is not required. Iowa transfers title by the seller's signed assignment on the certificate of title, and the Iowa DOT sell-a-vehicle guidance lists no notarization requirement for the bill of sale or the title transfer.
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Odometer disclosure is required. A statement of the number of miles must be given to the buyer and must be correct. For transfers from December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer requires odometer disclosure, handled on the back of the title for used vehicles or on Odometer Statement form 411077 for new vehicles.
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Iowa charges no vehicle sales or use tax. Instead a one-time fee for new registration of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price is imposed under Iowa Code 321.105A, so the price stated on the bill of sale or title is the figure the 5% fee is calculated on.
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Title at any county treasurer within 30 days. Title and registration are processed by any county treasurer, not a central DMV, and the transferee must apply for a new title and registration within thirty calendar days of purchase under Iowa Code 321.46.
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A separate bill of sale is conditional. The assigned title alone transfers ownership; a separate bill of sale is required only when the county's title certificate lacks the Transfer/Sale Date section.
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The fee-for-new-registration mechanic is the distinctive Iowa feature. Rather than a sales tax, the county treasurer collects a 5% fee for new registration on the purchase price at titling, which makes the stated price on the bill of sale or title the basis for what the buyer pays.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Bill of Sale in Iowa, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Bill of Sale guide walks through them.
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Iowa Requirements for Bill of Sale
Iowa does not mandate a standalone DMV bill-of-sale form. The Iowa DOT builds a bill-of-sale field into the certificate of title under the Transfer/Sale Date section, and depending on which version your county uses, the updated title may serve as the bill of sale. Notarization is not required; Iowa transfers title by the seller's signed assignment on the certificate of title.
Identify the buyer and the seller by full legal name and address. These details support the bill-of-sale record that accompanies the title transfer at the county treasurer.
Describe the vehicle by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, model, body type, and color so it can be matched to the certificate of title at transfer.
Record the odometer reading. A statement of the number of miles must be given to the buyer and must be correct. For transfers from December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2030, any vehicle of model year 2011 or newer requires odometer disclosure, handled on the back of the title for used vehicles or on Odometer Statement form 411077 for new vehicles.
State the sale price and date. Iowa charges no vehicle sales or use tax. Instead, the county treasurer collects a one-time fee for new registration of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price under Iowa Code 321.105A, so the price stated on the bill of sale or title drives that 5% fee. Confirm the current fee with your county treasurer.
Iowa imposes no sales or use tax on a vehicle. The distinctive Iowa mechanic is a one-time fee for new registration of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price, collected by the county treasurer at the time the buyer applies for a new initial registration and certificate of title under Iowa Code 321.105A.
Title and registration are processed by any county treasurer, not a central DMV. Under Iowa Code 321.46 the transferee must apply for a new title and registration within thirty calendar days after purchase or transfer.
Bring the assigned certificate of title, the odometer disclosure, and your bill of sale to the county treasurer's office. Keep a copy of the title and bill of sale as proof of the transaction and the stated price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Often the assigned certificate of title alone transfers ownership in Iowa. Depending on which version of title certificate your county is using, you may use the updated title as the bill of sale under the Transfer/Sale Date section. A separate bill of sale is required only when the title certificate does not include that section. Keeping a signed bill of sale is still useful as a record of the price and date, and the stated price drives the fee the buyer pays at the county treasurer.
No. Iowa transfers title by the seller's signed assignment on the certificate of title, and the Iowa Department of Transportation sell-a-vehicle guidance lists no notarization requirement for the bill of sale or the title transfer. Notarization is therefore an optional safeguard rather than a legal requirement for a private vehicle sale in Iowa.
No standalone official form is mandated. The Iowa DOT builds a bill-of-sale field into the certificate of title under the Transfer/Sale Date section, and depending on which version of title certificate your county is using, the updated title may serve as the bill of sale. A separate bill of sale is still required only when the title certificate does not include that section. Check with your county treasurer about which title version applies before you complete the transfer.
Iowa imposes no sales or use tax on a vehicle. Instead, a one-time fee for new registration of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price is collected by the county treasurer at titling, under Iowa Code 321.105A. The stated purchase price on the bill of sale or title is the figure the 5% fee is calculated on. Confirm the current fee with your county treasurer before you apply for the title and registration.
You apply for a new title and registration at any county treasurer's office, not a central DMV. Under Iowa Code 321.46 the transferee must apply within thirty calendar days of purchase or transfer. Bring the assigned certificate of title, the odometer disclosure, your bill of sale, and payment for the ten dollar plus 5% fee for new registration due on the purchase price.
An Iowa vehicle bill of sale should identify the buyer and seller, describe the vehicle by VIN, year, make, and model, state the sale price and date, and record the odometer reading. The stated price matters because the county treasurer collects a 5% fee for new registration on it. Iowa requires the odometer statement for model-year 2011 or newer vehicles transferred between December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2030, handled on the title or on Odometer Statement form 411077.