Selling a car in Iowa: the paperwork
| Iowa seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title, form 411107 |
| Duplicate title | Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title, Form 411033; $30 |
| Bill of sale | Required |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Iowa
We buy cars in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City and Iowa City, and in every other town in Iowa a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Iowa
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Iowa, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Iowa car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Iowa?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Iowa title, apply to the Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division with Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title, Form 411033. The fee is $30.
Can I junk a car without a title in Iowa?
Sometimes. An owner without a title can sell a vehicle 12 or more model years old to a licensed vehicle recycler for scrap if the price is under $1,000 (Iowa Code 321.52). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Iowa title, apply to the Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division with Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title, Form 411033. The fee is $30.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Iowa?
In Iowa, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Seller removes plates. They can go on a replacement vehicle bought within 30 days; otherwise turn them in to the county treasurer.
How do I tell the Iowa DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title, form 411107, with the state after the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Iowa?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Iowa a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Iowa DOT: How to Sell a Vehicle
- Iowa DOT: Changes to the Vehicle Title Certificate (bill of sale rule)
- Iowa DOT: Title a Vehicle
- Iowa DOT forms portal: Form 411033 Application for Replacement Title
- Iowa Code 321.42 (replacement title fee)
- Iowa Code 2026, section 321.52
- 761 IAC 400.20, junked vehicle (recycler verification for sales under 321.52(2)(b))
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.