Selling or junking a car in Iowa, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Iowa DOT (Motor Vehicle Division) using Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (Form 411033).
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller signs the back of the title as seller, prints the buyer's name and address on the top line, and adds the sale date. Iowa DOT's seller checklist also covers odometer and damage disclosure statements, taking off the plates, and filing a notice of sale.
- Deal with your plates. Iowa DOT's seller checklist tells sellers to take off the plates and turn them in to the county treasurer's office.
- File the Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title. A seller can file Form 411107 with the county where the vehicle is registered as proof that the vehicle was sold and the title handed over.
How to sign over a title in Iowa
The seller signs the back of the title as seller, prints the buyer's name and address on the top line, and adds the sale date. Iowa DOT's seller checklist also covers odometer and damage disclosure statements, taking off the plates, and filing a notice of sale.
Official page: iowadot.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Iowa
Owners use Form 411033 to get a replacement title through their county treasurer. The form can be filled in online and printed, but it is handled by the county.
- Form: Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (Form 411033) — download
- Available online: no
- Official page: iowadot.forms.govos.com
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title
A seller can file Form 411107 with the county where the vehicle is registered as proof that the vehicle was sold and the title handed over.
- Form: 411107
- Official page: iowadot.gov
Why it matters: release of liability when selling a car.
License plates after you sell
Plates generally need to be returned or surrendered to the state. Iowa DOT's seller checklist tells sellers to take off the plates and turn them in to the county treasurer's office.
Source: iowadot.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Iowa
When a vehicle is sold for junk, the seller either assigns the title or gets a Junking Certificate (Application Form 411123) from the county treasurer and assigns it to the buyer. A junked vehicle cannot be titled again, except that vehicles 25 years or older can be retitled through the bonding process.
Official page: iowadot.forms.govos.com. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Iowa
If you do not have proper title documents, you can apply for a bonded certificate of title. No bond is needed for vehicles worth $1,000 or less that are 12 model years or older.
Official page: iowadot.gov
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Iowa title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Iowa?
Owners use Form 411033 to get a replacement title through their county treasurer. The form can be filled in online and printed, but it is handled by the county. The form is Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (Form 411033).
Do I need to notify Iowa when I sell or junk my car?
Iowa uses the Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title. A seller can file Form 411107 with the county where the vehicle is registered as proof that the vehicle was sold and the title handed over.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Iowa?
Iowa DOT's seller checklist tells sellers to take off the plates and turn them in to the county treasurer's office.
Can I junk a car without a title in Iowa?
If you do not have proper title documents, you can apply for a bonded certificate of title. No bond is needed for vehicles worth $1,000 or less that are 12 model years or older. Confirm the details with the Iowa DOT (Motor Vehicle Division).
Official sources
- Iowa DOT (Motor Vehicle Division) — homeiowadot.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titleiowadot.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (Form 411033))iowadot.forms.govos.com
- License plates after a saleiowadot.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesiowadot.forms.govos.com
- Selling without a titleiowadot.gov
Summarized from official Iowa government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Iowa DOT (Motor Vehicle Division) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.