Iowa Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
In Iowa the price you write down is the price the county treasurer charges on. Iowa Code §321.105A imposes a one-time “fee for new registration” of “ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price,” and requires the treasurer to ask every applicant for “the time of purchase, the purchase price, and other information relative to the purchase.” The seller also owes the buyer a damage disclosure statement “at or before the time of sale.” A bill of sale is where the price, the date, the mileage and that disclosure are agreed before the title changes hands.
- Free
- No signup
- Word & PDF
- Iowa pre-selected
How it works
- 01 Iowa is already selected
The governing-law clause names the state; change it only if the sale happens elsewhere.
- 02 Enter the item and the parties
Vehicle, boat or general item — VIN and odometer, or HIN — plus price, payment method, seller and buyer.
- 03 Review clause by clause
The as-is terms, the seller’s title warranty and, for vehicles, the federal odometer statement.
- 04 Download, then file Iowa’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What Iowa actually requires
Iowa rules for a private sale
Last verified September 30, 2026- What the seller must do Assign the title, list liens, hand it over with the car
On a transfer the owner “shall endorse an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title for such vehicle with a statement of all liens and encumbrances thereon,” and “shall deliver the certificate of title to the purchaser or transferee at the time of delivering the vehicle.” The owner must also tell the buyer “the name of the county in which the vehicle was last registered and the registration expiration date.”
- Buyer’s deadline 30 calendar days, at the county treasurer
The transferee “shall, within thirty calendar days after purchase or transfer, apply for and obtain from any county treasurer a new initial registration and a new certificate of title,” presenting “the certificate of title endorsed and assigned by the previous owner.” The applicant pays “a title fee of thirty dollars, an annual registration fee prorated for the remaining unexpired months of the registration year, and a fee for new registration if applicable.”
- Fee on the price $10 + 5% of the purchase price
A “fee for new registration” is imposed “in the amount of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price for each vehicle subject to registration,” and the treasurer “shall require every applicant … to supply information … as to the time of purchase, the purchase price, and other information relative to the purchase.” In a trade between two private persons, “the amount of the trade-in value allowed on the vehicle … traded” is exempt, provided the same person is on the title of both vehicles.
- Damage disclosure Seller gives it at or before the sale
“A damage disclosure statement shall be provided by the transferor to the transferee in a transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle,” and “shall be provided … at or before the time of sale.” At a minimum it states whether the seller knows the vehicle was titled “as a salvage, rebuilt, or flood vehicle in this or any other state” and, if not, whether it was damaged to the extent of a wrecked or salvage vehicle. No title is issued without it.
- Odometer A federal odometer statement, or no title
A certificate of title shall not be issued for a vehicle with a manufacturer-fitted odometer “unless an odometer statement which is in compliance with federal law and regulations has been made by the transferor,” unless a federal exemption applies. The new title records the reading and “actual” if the true mileage is known, “not actual” if it is not, or “exceeds the mechanical limits.” Knowingly making a false odometer statement is a violation of the section.
How this document fits Iowa’s paperwork
Official form: Iowa transfers ownership through the certificate of title, not a bill of sale. Iowa Code §321.45 says a person shall not acquire “any right, title, claim, or interest” in a registered vehicle “except by virtue of a certificate of title issued or assigned to the person.” The bill of sale is the written record of price, date, odometer and terms that sits beside the assigned title.
Put the real price on the bill of sale: the county treasurer asks for it and charges five percent of it, plus ten dollars, as the fee for new registration. Record the odometer reading and the damage disclosure on the same day, because Iowa will not title the car without either. The seller then assigns the title, listing any liens, and hands it over with the keys. The buyer has thirty calendar days to take the assigned title to any county treasurer.
FAQ
Iowa bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Iowa?
- The statutes that govern a private sale are built around the certificate of title, not a bill of sale: Iowa Code §321.45 says no one acquires an interest in a registered vehicle except through a title issued or assigned to them. A bill of sale is still the practical record of the price, and the price matters, because the treasurer asks for it and charges five percent of it.
- How much is the fee to register a used car bought privately in Iowa?
- A thirty-dollar title fee, the annual registration fee prorated for the months left in the registration year, and the one-time fee for new registration of ten dollars plus five percent of the purchase price. In a trade between two private persons, the trade-in value allowed on the vehicle traded is exempt, as long as the same person is on the title of both vehicles.
- How long does the buyer have to title the car in Iowa?
- Thirty calendar days after the purchase. Iowa Code §321.46 requires the buyer to apply to any county treasurer within that time for a new registration and a new certificate of title, bringing the title endorsed and assigned by the seller.
- What is an Iowa damage disclosure statement?
- A statement from the seller, given at or before the sale, saying whether the seller knows the vehicle was ever titled as salvage, rebuilt or flood in any state and, if not, whether it was damaged badly enough to count as a wrecked or salvage vehicle. Iowa Code §321.69 makes it a condition of the new title, and the title then shows on its face whether a prior owner disclosed such damage.
- Can the seller protect themselves after handing over the title?
- Iowa Code §321.46 lets the seller file an affidavit, on forms the department provides, with any county treasurer certifying the sale and the assignment and delivery of the certificate of title. Once it is filed, the seller is presumed to have assigned and delivered the title. A dated bill of sale signed by both of you is the supporting record.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Vehicle-transfer rules are set by each state and change; confirm the current rule with the agency cited and consult a licensed attorney for advice about your situation.