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An Iowa bill of sale is a signed receipt for a vehicle sale. Iowa Code § 321.46 gives the buyer thirty calendar days after purchase to apply for a new title. This guide covers the form's fields, the signatures and the Iowa title papers.
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| Document Name | Iowa Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | Iowa Car Bill of Sale, Iowa Automobile Bill of Sale |
| DMV | Iowa Department of Transportation |
| Bill of Sale Required? | The Iowa DOT title page lists a Bill of Sale on Iowa Certificate of Title or a purchase agreement for a used vehicle with an Iowa title. A bill of sale stands in for the title only if the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions (Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-400.4(2)). |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 7 minutes |
An Iowa vehicle bill of sale is a receipt that proves a vehicle sale took place between a seller and a buyer, with the price, the date and the vehicle's details written down and signed.
The bill of sale differs from a purchase agreement. A purchase agreement sets the terms of a future sale, while the bill of sale closes the deal that already happened.
The bill of sale also differs from the certificate of title. The title carries the seller's assignment of ownership, and the bill of sale shows the price, the date and the terms the parties agreed on.
Other kinds of property use their own versions. A dog bill of sale names the breed of the animal. A motorcycle bill of sale lists the make, model, year and odometer reading. The cards below cover the Iowa motor vehicle, boat, firearm and general versions.
Iowa motor vehicle bill of sale form lets you record the sale of a car, truck or other motor vehicle. Once filled out, it is a record of the sale that you can keep with your title papers.
| Alternative Name | Car Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Buyer’s Signature | Signature line on the form |
| Notarization | Acknowledgment page on the form |
| Download | PDF Template |
Iowa boat bill of sale records the sale of a boat between two private parties. It lists the boat, the seller, the buyer, the price and the date. The Iowa DNR boat application is listed under Relevant Official Forms below. A boat sale is filed with the county recorder.
| Alternative Name | Vessel Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Seller signs |
| Buyer’s Signature | Buyer usually signs |
| Notarization | Check the requirements for your transaction |
| Download | PDF Template |
A firearm bill of sale records the transfer of a firearm. It lists the firearm, the seller, the buyer, the price and the date. The Iowa permit application is listed under Relevant Official Forms below.
| Alternative Name | Gun Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Seller signs |
| Buyer’s Signature | Buyer usually signs |
| Notarization | Check the requirements for your transaction |
| Download | PDF Template |
A general bill of sale records the key details of a deal. It works for most types of property that you buy from or sell to a private party.
| Alternative Name | Generic Bill of Sale |
| Seller’s Signature | Seller signs |
| Buyer’s Signature | Buyer usually signs |
| Notarization | Check the requirements for your transaction |
| Download | PDF Template |
An Iowa bill of sale serves as the ownership paper when the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions: under Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-400.4(2), if the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions, the last issued registration receipt or bill of sale, properly assigned to the applicant, shall be submitted.
For a used vehicle registered or titled in Iowa, the bill of sale goes with the title rather than in its place. Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-400.4(2) says the last issued certificate of title, properly assigned to the applicant, shall be submitted, unless the applicant is an insurer applying for a salvage certificate of title.
The Iowa DOT's guide for sellers lists the certificate of title with the assignment portion properly completed. The assignment portion is the part of the title where the seller signs ownership over to the buyer.
Johnson County's treasurer says that, effective December 1, 2019, a bill of sale is required when transferring titles to motor vehicles and trailers purchased from a private party (Johnson County, Vehicle Bill of Sale). The county treasurer who handles your title can confirm the papers its office takes.
The bill of sale lists the parties, the vehicle and the terms of the sale, so either side can show later who sold what, for how much and on which date.
The Iowa DOT title page lists its own Bill of Sale on Iowa Certificate of Title form. The county treasurer who handles the title can say which details, such as the purchase price, it expects. The form covers the details buyers and sellers usually record.
The odometer reading on the bill of sale matches the odometer statement the seller gives with the title. Under Iowa Code § 321.71(7), a certificate of title is not issued for a motor vehicle equipped with an odometer by the manufacturer unless the seller's odometer statement, made in compliance with federal law and regulations, is furnished with the application for certificate of title, or unless an exemption applies under 49 C.F.R. § 580.17.
The miscellaneous provisions of the form sell the vehicle as is, carry the seller's statement of ownership and make the bill of sale the entire agreement. An as-is sale means the buyer takes the vehicle in its current condition. The provisions have no fields, so both parties read them before signing.
The damage disclosure statement is a separate seller statement that goes with the sale of a newer vehicle, on its own official form listed below.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Iowa motor vehicle bill of sale template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
The motor vehicle bill of sale form runs in seven steps, from the date at the top of page 1 to the acknowledgment on page 4.
On page 1, enter the date at the top. Then fill in the seller’s and the buyer’s details:
Write the seller’s and the buyer’s names in the agreement line. Then fill in these fields:
On page 2, enter the purchase date and the total purchase price in U.S. dollars.
On page 3, read this part before you sign. It has no fields to fill in. It covers the seller’s statement of ownership, the as-is sale and the entire agreement.
The seller, the buyer and the witness each sign, print their name and date their line.
An Iowa bill of sale carries the signatures of the seller, the buyer and a witness, each with a printed name and a date, on the signature lines of the form.
The bill of sale is separate from the title assignment. Under Iowa Code § 321.45(3), upon the transfer of a registered vehicle, the owner shall endorse an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title with a statement of all liens and encumbrances, and deliver the title to the buyer at the time of delivering the vehicle, except as otherwise provided in that chapter.
The notary page of the bill of sale is optional for the parties. Page 4 holds the acknowledgment for a notary. Iowa has no statute that requires a bill of sale to be notarized, so this page is for parties who choose to use it.
An Iowa bill of sale goes with the buyer's title papers to a county treasurer, where the buyer applies for and obtains a new registration and a new certificate of title within thirty calendar days after purchase or transfer (Iowa Code § 321.46). You can count the days with the deadline calculator.
The buyer's steps:
Requirements can change, so check the Iowa DOT's title a vehicle page before you go. A power of attorney lets someone else title the vehicle for you, and the official forms below include a vehicle power of attorney.
A lien release is a cancellation note on the face of the title: under Iowa Code § 321.50(5)(a), when a security interest is discharged, the holder shall note a cancellation of the security interest on the face of the certificate of title over the holder's signature. A security interest is the lender's claim on a vehicle bought with a loan. If the seller had a loan on the vehicle, ask the lender for this release before you title it.
The Iowa DOT bill of sale is a printable official form that the Iowa DOT title page lists as the "Bill of Sale on Iowa Certificate of Title", with a purchase agreement named as the alternative, for titling a newly purchased used vehicle with an Iowa title.
County treasurers post bill of sale forms too. Linn County's motor vehicle forms page lists a Bill of Sale, a Bill of Sale for a trailer, and a Bill of Sale for a boat and trailer.
The ISCTA bill of sale in the official forms below is a vehicle bill of sale form from the Iowa county treasurers' alliance. The same list holds the odometer statement, the title application, the damage disclosure statement and the vehicle power of attorney.
A vehicle bill of sale form provided by the Iowa State County Treasurers Alliance.
This document is required by federal and state laws upon transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle.
This Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration for a Vehicle form is provided by the Iowa Tax and Tags website and is required during vehicle registration.
The Motor Vehicle Damage Disclosure Statement is required during a vehicle sale if the vehicle is seven model years old or newer (exceptions apply).
Use this vehicle power of attorney document in case you want to authorize somebody to register or title a vehicle on your behalf.
You can use this application form to register a boat, an ATV, a snowmobile, an ORV, or an ORM.
An application for a permit to get a pistol or a revolver, provided by the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
These answers cover the questions Iowa buyers and sellers ask most about a vehicle bill of sale.
A bill of sale alone is the ownership paper only if the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions, together with or in place of the last issued registration receipt, properly assigned to the applicant (Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-400.4(2)). For a used vehicle titled in Iowa, the same rule calls for the last issued certificate of title, properly assigned, unless the applicant is an insurer applying for a salvage certificate of title (Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-400.4(2)).
The buyer has thirty calendar days after purchase or transfer to apply for and obtain a new registration and a new certificate of title from a county treasurer (Iowa Code § 321.46).
Each party keeps a signed copy of the bill of sale: the seller and the buyer sign two copies and take one each. The signed copy shows the price and the date of the sale.
A handwritten bill of sale can list the same details as the printed form: the parties, the vehicle, the VIN, the odometer reading, the price, the date and the signatures. The county treasurer who handles the title can confirm whether it accepts a handwritten bill of sale.
The motor vehicle bill of sale form has a gift option in its payment section, so the form also covers a vehicle given away rather than sold. The rest of the form, including the VIN, the odometer reading and the signatures, is filled in the same way.
A boat, a trailer or a motorcycle uses its own bill of sale. The boat card above covers the boat title papers, Linn County's forms page lists separate trailer and boat and trailer versions, and a motorcycle bill of sale lists the make, model, year and odometer reading.
Other Iowa Forms
General information, not legal or tax advice.
