Iowa vehicle bill of sale

Fill in the free Iowa bill of sale on this page and print it.

Iowa rule 701-250.2(3) requires a bill of sale, or equivalent documentation signed by the seller, to establish the purchase price for the fee for new registration. The Iowa DOT lists a bill of sale among the items to give an Iowa buyer. Newer Iowa titles have a Transfer/Sale Date and purchase price section in the assignment area that can serve as the bill of sale. If the title does not have that section, a separate bill of sale is still required. A bill of sale signed and dated by both the seller and the buyer, or the assigned title, also lets the buyer drive a currently registered vehicle without plates for 30 days. The Iowa sources reviewed do not require a notary for a bill of sale.

Iowa lists these items:

• Vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model
• Seller's printed name
• Buyer's printed name
• Date of sale
• Selling price, or the relationship if the vehicle is a gift
• Seller's signature and date
• Buyer's signature and date
• Mailing addresses of the seller and buyer

1. Sign the back of the title as seller, exactly as your name appears on the front. Print the buyer's name and address on the top line and print the date of sale. On newer titles, also fill in the purchase price or check 'gift'.
2. If two owners are joined by 'and', both must sign. If they are joined by 'or', either owner may sign.
3. Complete the odometer statement (model year 2011 and newer) and the damage disclosure statement (vehicles seven model years old or newer) in the title's assignment area. If the title has no odometer statement, get Form 411077 from the county treasurer. Some titles, such as those issued before January 1, 2005, need a separate damage disclosure statement (Form 411108).
4. Give the buyer the title, a bill of sale, and the name of the county where the vehicle was last registered and the date the plates expire.
5. Remove your license plates. Put them on a replacement vehicle within 30 days, or turn them in to the county treasurer.
6. If possible, go with the buyer to the county treasurer to complete the transfer. If not, keep proof of the sale: a receipt from the buyer, a copy of the back of the assigned title, or a Notice of Sale (Form 411107) filed with a county treasurer.
7. If you do not buy a replacement vehicle, claim a refund of unused registration fees of $10 or more on Form 411047 within six months.

On the back of the Iowa title, in the Assignment of Title area, on the line marked 'Signature(s) of Transferor(s)/Seller(s)'. Sign exactly as your name appears on the front. The buyer also signs on the Transferee/Buyer line to acknowledge the transfer. Any alteration or erasure voids the title. The assignment area shown in the DOT's title guide has no notary section.

Optional. Iowa doesn't require it, but you can file a Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title.

Plates stay with the seller in Iowa. Remove them when you sell. If you buy another vehicle within 30 days, you can put the plates on it once its fees are paid. Otherwise, turn them in to your county treasurer. With the plates turned in, you can claim a refund of unused registration fees of $10 or more within six months on Form 411047. If you buy a replacement within six months, the unused fees can be credited instead. When the vehicle is sold or given to a spouse, parent or child, the plates and the fee credit can go with it.

Inspection. The Iowa DOT's How to Sell a Vehicle page and seller's checklist list no safety, emissions or VIN inspection for a private sale.

Odometer disclosure. For transfers from December 31, 2020, through December 31, 2030, vehicles of model year 2011 or newer need an odometer disclosure. From January 1, 2031, the cutoff is the current year minus 20. The seller fills in the odometer statement in the title's assignment area and checks a box if the mileage is not actual. If the title has no odometer statement, Form 411077 is available from the county treasurer. A damage disclosure statement is also required for most vehicles seven model years old or newer.

Sales tax. Iowa does not charge sales tax on a private sale. Instead, the buyer pays a one-time fee for new registration to the county treasurer when titling. Iowa Code 321.105A sets it at $10 plus 5% of the purchase price. The seller does not collect it. The price comes from the purchase price on the title or a bill of sale signed by the seller. A gift between individuals with no consideration is exempt. In a trade between two private parties, the trade-in value is not taxed if the same person is on both titles.

The buyer has 30 days to apply for a new title. The title fee is $35.

Forms used in the transfer:

• Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration (411007)
• Odometer Disclosure Statement (411077)
• Damage Disclosure Statement (411108)
• Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title (411107)
• Claim for Refund (vehicle registration), 411047
• Seller's Checklist and Buyer's Acknowledgment

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so check with the Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, and county treasurers if anything about your sale is unusual. Last verified October 20, 2026.

Listing it first? Good photos sell cars faster: see how to take pictures of a car to sell, and read the full guide to selling a car. Buying or selling in another state? Pick it on the bill of sale page.