Motor Vehicles

Vehicle Registration & Title services are open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No title work after 4:00 pm.

• Staff is available through the lunch hour.
• Phone: 319-642-3921
• Fax: 319-642-7215
• Email: msims@iowacounty.iowa.gov

Bill of Sale

Renew Vehicle Tags

Topics

• Motor Vehicle Registration Renewals
• Motor Vehicle Title Transfers
• Selling a Vehicle (i.e. Bill of Sale requirements, license plates)
• How to Order a Replacement Title
• New to Iowa?
• Dealer Licenses & Information
• Mobile Home Titles
• Trailers

Motor Vehicle Renewals

• Motor vehicle registration is due annually (i.e. vehicles cannot be renewed for six months at a time.)
• Courtesy registration renewal notices go out the month before registration is due. 
• There is a three-month window to renew; payments can be made the month before, the month of or the month after your registration is due without being penalized if driving in Iowa.
• The following vehicles NOT allowed to renew online include:
  • IRP (prorate),
  • Firefighter vehicles due to the annual certification,  
  • Personalized plates that have been expired for more than 30 days, 
  • Customers with outstanding debts.

Renew your vehicle tags online at IowaTaxAndTags.org with an e-Check for .30 cents (less than a postage stamp) or a  debit/credit card. Debit cards incur an administration fee of $0.30 plus a convenience fee of $3.95. Credit cards incur an administration fee of $0.30 plus a convenience fee of 2.35%.

If renewing online, you must have your PIN. Your PIN is located on your renewal notice. Please call or email our office if you do not have this renewal notice. NOTE: This pin is specific to you and should not change, therefore the same PIN can be used annually.

Payment Methods

• In office with cash, check or card (cards accepted for an additional fee), 
  • Accepted credit cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
• Mail (if at the end of the month, mail must be postmarked to not incur penalties)
• Online through IowaTaxAndTags.org

Checks should be made out to Iowa County Treasurer

Pay Online with PIN

Motor Vehicle Title Transfers

A BILL OF SALE will be REQUIRED for all title transfers in Iowa County starting on January 1, 2022.

• Autos, trucks, motor homes, motorcycles, campers, mobile homes, and trailers greater than 2,001 lbs are titled within the state of Iowa.
• Trailers less than or equal to 2,000 lbs are issued registration only.
• New owners have 30 days from the date of purchase to change their title. Penalties start after 30 days.
• New owners can drive their new vehicle for 30 days from the purchase date without plates on as long as previous owners had current registration. 
  • The owner must carry properly assigned title or bill of sale and proof of insurance if stopped by law enforcement.
• Odometer required for vehicles 20 years and newer Odometer Disclosure Statement
• Damage Disclosure Statement required for vehicles 7 years and newer

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO VISIT THE OFFICE

... you may call 319-642-3921 or email copies of your paperwork (include a phone number) to msims@iowacounty.iowa.gov. We will help you complete the necessary paperwork and calculate the amount due for the transfer.

All title transfers require a completed and signed application for certificate of Iowa title and/or registration (Form 411007).

Please be prepared to answer the following questions for us:

• What is the purchase price of the vehicle?
  Note: Beginning Jan 1, 2020, a Bill of Sale will be required with every title transfer.
• Is the vehicle 7 years old or newer?
  If yes, you will need to complete an Iowa Damage Disclosure Statement (Form 411108)
• Is the vehicle a 2011 or newer model?
  If yes, you will need to provide the current odometer in the space provided on the title assignment. 
• Do you need new license plates?
  If so, in what month do you want your sticker due?  If you are transferring plates from a sold vehicle, please provide the Iowa license plate number.
• Is there a lienholder?
  If so, please provide the correct name, address, and FEIN of your bank, credit union, or other entity.

Once we calculate the fees by phone or email, you may then mail the completed documents and payment to us at Iowa County Treasurer, 901 Court Ave., Marengo, IA 52301.

Checks should be made out to Iowa County Treasurer.

Selling a Vehicle

Upon selling your vehicle to a private individual, you should:

• Sign on the signature of seller line on first assignment on the back of the title; if 2 owners with names connected by "and," both need to sign
• Enter the Date of Sale,
• Print on the printed name of seller line back of the title,
• Make sure the buyer completes the top line of the assignment with their legal name and address, 
• Complete a bill of sale including both parties' names, date of sale and purchase price.  Both parties should keep a copy for their records.
• Complete the odometer reading (required for vehicles 20 years and newer),
• Complete the damage disclosure statement (only required for vehicles 9 years and newer),
• ALWAYS take the license plates off the vehicle and return them to our office.
  • This is how we can apply for a refund for any unused registration for $10 or more.
  • Even if there is no refund, this is the only way we can get those license plates out of your name.
  • If the new owner(s) drives away with your license plates on the vehicle, there could be a liability for an accident, ticket or other occurrences they might be involved in.   
  • By signing the title and obtaining a bill of sale to the new owner(s), the buyer is able to drive the vehicle within the state of Iowa for 30 days from the date of purchase. 

Replacement Title

Download Form 411033 from the Iowa DOT website.

There is a 5-day waiting period if the original title is lost.  (If the original has been altered  or spoiled in some way, please submit the original title to us with Form 411033 and we will process a replacement title in the same day.)

Anybody whose name is on the face of the title MUST sign the replacement application. 

The replacement title must be ordered in the county where the original title was processed.

The fee is $25.00.

New to Iowa?

 To register your vehicle in Iowa, you will need:

• Your out-of-state title, or your out-of-state registration and
• Completed and signed application for certificate of Iowa title and/or registration (Form 411007) by all owners. 

Iowa law requires you to register your motor vehicle within the county that you reside within 30 days of the date you establish residency. Iowa registration is required even though you still have valid license plates in another state. You would contact your previous state for the best way to dispose of their license plates.  

If you are providing an out-of-state registration, you will be required to obtain an Iowa title if /when you sell the vehicle in Iowa. If your title is at a lienholder, you may contact them to notify them of your change of residency and request the title be mailed to us for updating. You can always wait until the vehicle is paid in full and bring the title in at that time. 

Fees are as follows:

• Iowa Title Fee = $25.00
• Iowa Lien Fee = $10.00
• Iowa Registration = Variable.  
  In Iowa, vehicle rates are based on make, model, year, weight and list price. However, vehicles that are 12 years or older are a flat rate of $50/year. You may call or email our office with the VIN of your vehicle to verify the annual fee. 

Dealer Licenses & Information

If you’re interested in becoming a licensed motor vehicle dealer within the state of Iowa, please find more information directly from the Iowa DOT on their website or you can receive more information by contacting motor vehicle enforcement at (866) 908-4636 or by email at invbureau@iowadot.us.

Dealer Complaints

Complaint forms from the Bureau of Investigation and Identity Protection are used for resolving situations such as:

• Not receiving or delivering title in the allotted time
• False odometer statements
• Complaints concerning licensed dealers or license violations
• Complaints involving driver’s license fraud and related identity theft

Further information can be found on the Iowa DOT website.

Mobile Home Titles

• Mobile homes are titled in the county or state where the mobile home is located. 
  • If the mobile home is changing locations within another county, a tax clearance is required from the county the mobile home sits in before the title can be transferred to the new owners. This ensures there are no delinquent taxes on this property. To obtain a tax clearance, the owner who sells the home between July 1 and December 31 must have paid the September installment of property taxes. The owner who sells the home between January 1 and June 30 must pay the March property taxes.
     
• Mobile homes can be taxed as real property if it sits out in the county or taxed as a mobile home if it sits in a park. Property taxes for these are due annually with installments being made in September and in March.
   
• Mobile homes have titles that need to be transferred just like a vehicle title within 30 days of purchase. The new owner(s) will also be required to complete an application for certificate of title and/or registration form (Form 411007).
   
• Fee for new registration (Use Tax) is only paid on a prorated portion of the purchase price if the mobile home is brand new. No fee for new registration is collected upon transfer of a used mobile home.
   
• Tiny Homes/House on Wheels provided the dimensions don’t exceed 8’6” x 45’ and the wheels/frame are permanently affixed, title as a towable recreational vehicle. If such a vehicle will be used as a place for habitation for more than 90 consecutive days, it should be titled as a mobile home.

Trailers

All trailers used upon the Iowa roadways are required to be registered and plated.

Iowa differentiates trailers by empty weight: 

• Trailers that weigh 2001 lbs or more are titled and have an annual fee of $30/year. 
• Trailers that weigh 2000 lbs or less do not get title, only are issued a registration, and have an annual fee of $20/year. 

Upon the purchase of a regular trailer, the title must be signed over to the new owner. If the title cannot be found, the previous owners can order a replacement title. The new owner(s) will also be required to complete an application for certificate of title and/or registration form (Form 411007) as well as have a completed bill of sale at the time of transfer.  

Upon the purchase of a small regular trailer, the previous owner must sign the bottom portion of the most current registration over. If the most current registration cannot be found, the previous owner(s) can order a replacement registration for $3.00 from their county treasurer's office. If a replacement registration cannot be achieved, the previous owner(s) can complete a notarized bill of sale (bill of sale link) with all the required information. The new owner(s) will also be required to complete an application for certificate of title and/or registration form (Form 411007) as well as have a completed bill of sale at the time of transfer.

Homemade Trailers

If you have constructed a trailer from scratch that does not have a manufacturer's VIN on it, you will need to bring in a weigh ticket and the trailer's specifics: length and width as well as color. If the trailer's empty weight is over 2001 lbs, you’ll need to contact the motor vehicle enforcement office to be issued a VIN. You can email: invbureau@iowadot.us to get more information. If the trailer is under 2000 lbs, we will register this trailer as a specially constructed small trailer. 

Upon the purchase of a homemade trailer, the previous owner must sign the bottom portion of the most current registration over. If the most current registration cannot be found, the previous owner(s) can order a replacement registration for $3.00 from their county treasurer's office.  If a replacement registration cannot be achieved, the previous owner(s) can complete a notarized bill of sale with all the required information. The new owner(s) will also be required to complete an application for certificate of title and/or registration form (Form 411007) as well as a completed bill of sale at the time of transfer.

Travel Trailers

All travel trailers & camping trailers have a title regardless of weight. See title transfers for more information.