An Iowa bill of sale is a written document that records a vehicle sale between a seller and a buyer. It names both parties, describes the vehicle and states the price and the date of sale. Iowa DOT rules cover when you need one. If the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions, the buyer submits the last issued registration receipt or a bill of sale, properly assigned to the applicant.[2]
Last Updated: October 2026. We check this guide against the Iowa Code sections and Iowa DOT pages listed under Sources. If you spot an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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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? | When the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions[2] |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 7 minutes |
A bill of sale is a receipt that proves a sale took place and that ownership passed to the buyer. It is different from an agreement to buy, which covers the terms of a future transaction. A bill of sale closes the deal.
Different types of property need different details. A dog bill of sale names the breed of the animal. A motorcycle bill of sale lists the make, model, year and odometer reading.
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. The owner of a vessel 17 feet or longer that must be numbered applies to the county recorder for a certificate of title within 30 days after acquisition, and the seller hands over the assigned title or, if there is no title, the registration certificate with the form on its back filled in (Iowa Code §§ 462A.77 and 462A.43).[7]
| 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 |
Fill in the Iowa motor vehicle bill of sale in the order the form shows it. The steps run from the date at the top of page 1 to the acknowledgment on page 4. You can create the form online, download the Adobe PDF and write it by hand, or fill in the PDF with our PDF editor. Iowa has no statute that prescribes what a bill of sale must contain. The form covers the details buyers and sellers usually record.
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.
Tick one payment option: all at once, a trade-in with the buyer’s vehicle details, a deposit with a balance date, or a gift. Then tick the payment type (cash, check with its number, cashier’s check or money order) and one taxes box.
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.
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. If you do, sign before the notary. The notary completes the county, the date, the officer’s name and the person appearing, then signs and seals.
When you buy a vehicle, you apply to a county treasurer for a new registration and a new certificate of title. Iowa Code § 321.46 sets the deadline at thirty calendar days after the purchase or transfer.[4] You can count the days with the deadline calculator.
What you hand over depends on the vehicle. For a used vehicle registered or titled in Iowa, the last issued certificate of title, properly assigned to the applicant, must be submitted.[1] The Iowa DOT describes this as the certificate of title with the assignment portion properly completed.[3]
Keep your signed Iowa motor vehicle bill of sale with these papers. If the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions, the last issued registration receipt or a bill of sale, properly assigned to the applicant, is submitted.[2]
Iowa Code § 321.48 covers the seller’s part. A person who transfers title or interest to another person executes and acknowledges an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title.[5]
The seller must also give an odometer statement that complies with federal law, normally on the title, and it is furnished with the buyer's title application. No new certificate of title is issued without it unless a federal exemption applies, and knowingly making or delivering a false odometer statement is a fraudulent practice under Iowa law (Iowa Code § 321.71).[8]
If the seller still owed money on the vehicle, the lender has to release its lien. Under Iowa Code § 321.50(5)(a), when a security interest is discharged, the holder notes a cancellation of the security interest on the face of the certificate of title.[6]
Iowa also requires a damage disclosure statement from the seller. It states whether the vehicle was ever titled as salvage, rebuilt or flood, or was damaged to the extent of a wrecked or salvage vehicle, which Iowa defines as repair costs above 70 percent of the vehicle's fair market value. The statement is not required for a vehicle more than seven model years old (Iowa Code § 321.69).[9]
Buyers commonly bring a few more papers to the county treasurer’s office. Requirements can change, so check the Iowa DOT’s registration process page before you go. Papers people often gather:
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 proof of ownership, signatures, lien releases and title transfers for an Iowa vehicle sale. Each one is based on the Iowa Code section, the Iowa Administrative Code rule or the Iowa DOT page listed under Sources, so you can check the wording yourself.
If the vehicle is not subject to titling provisions, the last issued registration receipt or a bill of sale, properly assigned to the applicant, must be submitted.[2] For a used vehicle registered or titled in Iowa, you submit the last issued certificate of title, properly assigned to the applicant.[1]
Under Iowa Code § 321.48, a person who transfers title or interest to another person executes and acknowledges an assignment and warranty of title upon the certificate of title.[5] Our bill of sale form also has signature lines for the seller, the buyer and a witness.
When a security interest is discharged, the holder notes a cancellation of the security interest on the face of the certificate of title.[6] If the seller had a loan on the vehicle, ask the lender for this release before you title it.
The Iowa DOT lists the certificate of title with the assignment portion properly completed.[3] The buyer then applies to a county treasurer for a new registration and title within thirty calendar days after the purchase or transfer.[4]
Other Iowa Forms
General information, not legal or tax advice.
