How to Transfer Iowa Title

How do I transfer title of my vehicle in Iowa (IA)?

• The state of Iowa DOES require a Certificate of Title in order to transfer ownership of your vehicle.

• In order to complete your the sale of your Iowa vehicle, you must transfer your title by entering the name of the buyer/purchaser in the buyer/purchaser field. Please PRINT and SIGN your name in the seller/owner field EXACTLY as it appears at the top of the title.
• License plates must be removed at time of pickup.   They must be  surrendered to the county treasurer or  transferred to another vehicle within 30 days.
• For detailed instructions on how to properly fill out and transfer your Iowa title, see the title samples below.

Helpful State Links

Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles
Learn more about Iowa
Iowa Secretary of State