Iowa law requires that motor vehicle owners must register their vehicle with the Iowa Department of Transportation before taking it on the road. Both new and second-hand vehicles must be registered, regardless of whether they are purchased from a dealer or an individual. In addition, new Iowa residents who have registered their vehicle in another state must register their vehicle in Iowa. The initial vehicle registration must be done in person, and registration renewals must be done annually, either in person, online or by mail.

If you have bought a new vehicle or need to update your registration it should be done within 30 days. This is applicable to new residents of Iowa, even if the current registration is still valid.

INITIAL REGISTRATION

If you are registering a motor vehicle in Iowa for the first time, you must complete the following steps:

1. If you have just purchased the vehicle, ask the owner to hand over all details such as odometer reading, title. If you are not altering ownership, bring the out of state title and registration details.
2. Complete a vehicle title/registration form. If there is a lien against the vehicle it should be mentioned on the application. If you are leasing the vehicle you will need to fill up an Application for Certificate of Title/Registration of a Leased Vehicle Form #411179.
3. Visit your County Treasurer's Office, and bring the completed title/registration form with you. In addition, you will need to provide proof of insurance, and the odometer reading, if the vehicle is less than 10 years old.
4. For vehicles that have been registered in another state, you must also bring the original, out-of-state title. If the title is unavailable, bring the registration document, along with proof of sales tax payment.
5. If your vehicle cannot be registered because you do not have the proper title documents you can file a bond as a condition to get title and registration plates. More information on this can be found here.

REGISTRATION FEES

When registering your vehicle at the county treasurer's office, you will be required to pay certain fees, typically as follows:

1. The registration fee, which varies depending on the manufacturer's model year or the vehicle's total weight.
2. Title application fee which is $20.

There may be additional fees when you register, depending on your county. Contact the County Treasurer's Office for the specific requirements.

RENEWING YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Owners of motor vehicles in Iowa are required to renew their vehicle registration annually, and can do so in person, online or by mail. See our Registration Renewal section for complete details.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• If you are a non-resident active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces or a non-resident full-time student attending an Iowa college or university, you are not required to title or register your vehicle.
• The process for registering a motorcycle is generally the same as a car registration; however, there are different procedures for boat registration and custom car registration.
• Auto Insurance is needed to legally operate all vehicles in Iowa.
• See also Renewing Your Vehicle Registration.
• See also Title Transfers and Car Insurance.