How to Transfer a Car Title in Iowa
Whether you buy new or used, after you drive your car home, there will be some additional paperwork to complete in order to make the purchase official. To complete the process, you'll need to head to an Iowa county treasurer's office either in the county where you reside or in a bordering county. If you find that lines are long in your county, heading to a more rural bordering county could save you time. Once you're there, here's what you need to do to transfer the car title into your name, whether you bought from a dealer or a private seller.
How to Transfer a Car Title When Buying From a Dealer
You might think that buying a new car from a dealer will help simplify the paperwork, but the process is fairly similar to transferring a car title when purchasing privately. The documentation you need to bring does vary slightly, but it's a short list of items. When going to your county treasurer's office, you'll need to bring the following to transfer your car title:
If you paid sales tax at the dealership, you'll only need to pay the fees associated with transferring the car title and registering the vehicle.
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The Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) if the car is new and never previously owned. If the car has been owned before, you'll need the title.
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The bill of sale or purchase agreement between yourself and the car dealership.
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The Application for Iowa certificate of Title (Form 411007) completed in advance.
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The Odometer Statement (Form 411077), which must confirm an accurate reading of the vehicle's mileage.
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The Damage Disclosure (Form 411108) if you're purchasing a brand new vehicle with over 1,000 miles already on it.
How to Transfer a Car Title When Buying Privately In-State
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The car title signed by the previous owner
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A bill of sale between you and the car's previous owner
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The Application for Iowa Certificate of Title (Form 411007) completed in advance
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The Odometer Statement (Form 411077) or the Odometer Statement on the back of the title
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The Damage Disclosure (Form 411108) if the vehicle is eight years old or newer
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A Cancellation of Security Interest (Form 411168) if there is still a lien showing on the title that has been paid At the time of transferring the car title, you may also need to pay registration fees, sales tax, or other transfer fees.
How to Transfer a Car Title When Buying Privately Out-of-State
If you've been searching for a new-to-you used car and you ended up finding the perfect vehicle out of state, don't stress about it. The process of registering an out-of-state vehicle in Iowa is fairly straightforward. Again, the most important thing is making sure the title is free and clear before buying. Here's what you need to bring with you to transfer a car title from out of state:
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The car title signed by the previous owner
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A bill of sale between you and the car's previous owner
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The Application for Iowa Certificate of Title (Form 411007) completed in advance
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The Odometer Statement (Form 411077) or the Odometer Statement on the back of the title
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The Damage Disclosure (Form 411108) if the vehicle is eight years old or newer
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A Cancellation of Security Interest (Form 411168) if there is still a lien showing on the title that has been paidSince you purchased the car out of state, you may need to pay Iowa use tax.
Still Looking for Your Next Car?
If you haven't yet found the perfect car but you're preparing for the process once you do, you're already one step ahead. However, it might be time to look beyond the classified ads. If you want to streamline the car buying process and find the right vehicle, let PrivateAuto help you out. PrivateAuto offers peer-to-peer car buying services along with technology to ensure a safe, stress-free transaction. This includes verified buyers and sellers so you can meet up and make a purchase safely. Want to try it for yourself? Get started today!