An Iowa bill of sale is a legal document that shows the transfer of ownership rights over a motor vehicle between two parties. Although a vehicle bill of sale is needed for a car title transfer procedure in some states, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) does not have a strict requirement for filing such a document.

However, the document is nevertheless highly recommended for both vehicle sellers and purchasers. A car bill of sale contains information about the vehicle in question, as well as details about the buyer and seller, making it a useful document in certain situations. Learn how to complete an Iowa bill of sale form and where to find a template by reading the sections below.

When is a bill of sale necessary in Iowa?

A vehicle bill of sale in Iowa is one of the documents recommended when selling or buying used motor vehicles in the state. The Iowa DOT requires a completed bill of sale template in certain cases when the vehicle is sold within the borders of the state, along with a completed odometer statement, a title registration, name of the previous county of car registration, expiration date of the license plates and a damage disclosure statement.

However, a DMV bill of sale is not needed when the vehicle is sold to out-of-state residents. In such situation, vehicle owners will only need to provide a completed odometer statement, a damage disclosure statement and a certificate of title. Ultimately, printing and completing a bill of sale PDF is important for both the vehicle seller and buyer if they wish to avoid future legal issues.

Who needs an Iowa bill of sale?

The Iowa car bill of sale must be transferred from the vehicle seller to the buyer at the time of purchase. The seller should complete the form and submit it along with other documents to the buyer if the vehicle buyer is an Iowa resident.

Having a simple bill of sale may help when transferring the ownership rights and obtaining a car title certification for the vehicle in question. The seller should keep a copy of the document in order to have proof of the sale and purchase procedure for future reference.

In other words, the generic bill of sale in Iowa may prove the transfer of the vehicle if potential legal issues arise in the future, as it holds information about the vehicle, price and sale date, as well as the seller’s personal details and the name of the buyer. A used car bill of sale is thus important for the protection of both buyers and sellers when the vehicles were not bought from a car dealership.

How to Complete a Bill of Sale Form in Iowa

A DMV bill of sale form should be completed by the vehicle seller and handed over to the vehicle buyer.

After getting a bill of sale template, sellers are required to complete it by providing the following information:

  • Personal information about the vehicle seller
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN), make, year and model
  • Vehicle purchaser’s name
  • Date of sale
  • Vehicle seller’s signature

Because the bill of sale form may be important in settling any future disagreements about the vehicle transaction, buyers are recommended to check the information carefully before submitting the form to the IA DOT. Signing the document affirms that the information it contains is valid and accurate.

Before completing and signing a sample Iowa bill of sale, buyers may also wish to request an Iowa vehicle history report to learn about the background of the car they are interesting in purchasing.

Last updated on Tuesday, March 10 2020.