Iowa Vehicle Bill of Sale
Use this form for a private-party vehicle sale in Iowa. It records the sale between seller and buyer and supports the transfer you’ll complete with the Iowa DOT, including the odometer disclosure. This form also carries Iowa's damage disclosure; the state charges a 5% one-time new-registration fee on the purchase price instead of sales tax.
Go to the formPrint and sign—or sign electronically with Secure Relay
Secure Relay provides legally binding electronic signing, whether everyone signs together or from separate devices.
How Secure Relay works
- Fill in the details and choose who signs howEach party signs on this device or by relay.
- Sign on this deviceEveryone in the room can sign here.
- Relay to the next partyA link or QR code carries the document and every signature so far.Sign together on one deviceRelay by link or QR
- They review the locked document and signAnd relay it onward if others remain.
- Every party receives the completed document
Electronic signatures are legally binding under the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. §7001).
Common questions about selling a vehicle in Iowa
Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa requires a bill of sale for all private-party title transfers. This requirement was implemented pursuant to Iowa Department of Revenue Code 34.2(3) and is enforced by all 99 county treasurers. The bill of sale must be fully completed by both the buyer and the seller and must accompany the title transfer application. This requirement applies even to gift transfers — a bill of sale with a $0 purchase price must still be submitted.
Does an Iowa bill of sale need to be notarized?
No — not for a standard transfer. Iowa does not require notarization of the bill of sale for routine private-party vehicle sales. However, the county treasurer may require notarization if there are errors, alterations, or corrections on the title or other transfer documents, or if there are questions about the legality of the application under Iowa Code §321.13. For a clean, error-free transaction, no notary is needed.
What is the one-time registration fee?
Iowa charges a 5% one-time new registration fee on the purchase price instead of a traditional sales tax. This fee is collected by the county treasurer at the time of title transfer and registration. The distinction matters: Iowa does not call this a "sales tax" — it is a registration fee calculated on the purchase price. The practical effect is similar, but the legal structure is different. The title transfer fee is an additional $25.
What disclosures are required?
Iowa requires both an odometer disclosure and a damage disclosure. The odometer disclosure is required for vehicles less than 20 model years old under federal requirements (49 CFR Part 580). The damage disclosure is required for vehicles 9 model years old or newer and must be completed on the title paperwork. The seller must truthfully report whether the vehicle has sustained damage. Both disclosures are completed on the title assignment — Iowa integrates them into the transfer process rather than requiring separate forms.
What should the seller do after the sale?
The seller must remove their license plates from the vehicle and return them to the county treasurer's office. Iowa requires plates to be returned — this is the only way to remove them from the seller's motor vehicle record and claim any refund for unused registration (refunds of $10 or more are processed by the Iowa DOT). The buyer has 30 days from the date of sale to present the properly assigned title to the county treasurer for title transfer. During this 30-day window, the buyer can legally drive the vehicle with the signed bill of sale or assigned title if the vehicle was currently registered by the seller.
What if the vehicle has multiple owners?
If the vehicle is titled to more than one person, all owners on the title must sign the bill of sale. Use the "Add a co-seller" option on the form to add the second seller's name and address. Both sellers' names and signature lines will appear on the document. For electronic signing, each co-owner can sign on the same device in sequence, or the document can be passed from one device to another via QR code or shared link. Both buyers can likewise be named on the bill of sale using the "Add a co-buyer" option.
Create your Iowa bill of sale
Governing law
Iowa Code §321.45
Vehicle title transfers in Iowa are governed by the Iowa Code, Chapter 321 (Motor Vehicles and Law of the Road), particularly §321.45 (transfer of title). The 5% one-time new registration fee is collected by the county treasurer at the time of transfer. The bill of sale requirement was implemented pursuant to Iowa Department of Revenue Code 34.2(3). Damage disclosure is required for vehicles 9 model years and newer. Federal odometer disclosure requirements are established by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 327 and 49 CFR Part 580.