Iowa Administrative Code

for registration or renewal of registration for a motor vehicle weighing 55,000 pounds or more, the owner shall present to the department or to the county treasurer proof of compliance with the federal heavy vehicle use tax required by 26 CFR Part 41 in effect as of April 1, 2021…

vehicle that does not meet the equipment requirements of Iowa Code chapter 321, due to the particular use for which it is designed or intended, or which is a driverless-capable vehicle as defined in rule 761—380.2(321). Registration may be accomplished upon payment of the appropr…

operation of law under Iowa Code section 321.47 that is not currently registered in this state, the registration fee and penalties due shall be computed as follows: 400.19(1) If the vehicle is ordered confiscated or forfeited by a court under a judgment or forfeiture, the fee sha…

registration plates—general provisions. 400.2(1) Vehicles subject to registration. a. A vehicle subject to registration under the laws of Iowa shall be required to be registered from the time the vehicle is first operated or moved upon a highway in this state. b. The department s…

400.20(1) Junking certificate. The owner of a vehicle that is to be junked or dismantled shall obtain a junking certificate when required by Iowa Code section 321.52. 400.20(2) Required verification. a. One of the following shall satisfy the required verification when a vehicle o…

month of purchase or transfer of a vehicle, except that the registration fee on a vehicle acquired outside of this state shall be based on the month that the vehicle was brought into Iowa. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 307.12(1)“j,” 321.105 and 321.135. [A…

price and weight for a particular motor vehicle model registered under Iowa Code section 321.109(1), the department shall determine a list price and weight. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 307.12(1)“j,” 321.109, 321.157 and 321.159. [ARC 9266C, IAB 5/14/25, …

department to the anatomical gift public awareness and transplantation fund shall be a minimum of $1. The county treasurer and the department will remit contributions collected monthly to the funds specified in Iowa Code section 321.44A. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Co…

defined in Iowa Code section 321.1, is authorized to hold a motor vehicle for resale or trade under the following conditions. 400.24(1) Assignment to dealer. The certificate of title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin for the vehicle shall be assigned to the dealer by the se…

the owner’s county treasurer annually at the time of renewal that the truck tractor is not operated more than 15,000 miles annually. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 321.1(75) and 321.121. [ARC 9266C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

400.26(1) The registration fee for a vehicle from another state or country shall be due in the month that the vehicle becomes subject to registration in Iowa. 400.26(2) A vehicle registered in another state or country shall become subject to registration in Iowa and payment of th…

400.27(1) A vehicle owner who is a nonresident and a member of the armed services is not required to register the vehicle in Iowa if it is properly registered in the person’s state of residence. 400.27(2) A vehicle owner who is a nonresident and a member of the armed services may…

for the reduced registration fees under Iowa Code section 321.109(1)“b” or 321.124(1)“h”(1)(f), the owner of the vehicle must provide a written self-certification at the first registration and at each renewal of either of the following: 400.28(1) That the automobile, multipurpose…

motorcycle or autocycle primarily designed or converted to transport less than 1,000 pounds of property will be registered as a motorcycle or autocycle. A motorcycle or autocycle primarily designed or converted to transport 1,000 pounds of property or more will be registered as a…

400.3(1) Application form. To apply for a certificate of title or registration for a vehicle, the owner of the vehicle shall complete an application form prescribed by the department, which may be electronic. In addition to the information required in Iowa Code section 321.20, th…

400.30(1) An automobile converted to a truck with a carrying capacity of 1,000 pounds or more will be registered as a reconstructed motor vehicle. 400.30(2) A vehicle manufactured as a truck tractor or motor truck will not be registered as a motor home unless the vehicle has been…

400.31(1) Conversion to real property. When a manufactured or mobile home is converted to real property under Iowa Code section 435.26, the process shall be as follows: a. If a security interest is noted on the title and the secured party is given a mortgage for the land on which…

Code section 321.119 is transferred to a person not entitled to register the vehicle as a church bus or the bus is used in a manner other than provided by law, the church bus shall be registered under the provisions of Iowa Code section 321.122. The registration fee shall be pror…

400.33(1) The owner of a vehicle upon which the registration fee is not delinquent may surrender all registration plates for the vehicle to the county treasurer where the vehicle is registered and has the right to register the vehicle later upon payment of the annual registration…

400.34(1) Monthly basis. The penalty on the delinquent payment of a registration fee shall be computed on a monthly basis, rounded to the nearest whole dollar. If multiple penalties are assessed, the penalties shall be first added together and then the sum shall be rounded to the…

400.35(1) A peace officer, county treasurer, or the county treasurer’s designee may submit a request using Form 411012, Request for Cancellation of Title or Revocation or Suspension of Registration and Plates, or 411013, Request for Suspension of Registration and Plates, as appli…

registration of a vehicle, the county treasurer may issue new plates for the vehicle. If the new plates replace a current series of plates, there shall be a replacement fee as provided in Iowa Code section 321.42. If the vehicle is not currently registered at the time the suspens…

in excess of the gross weight for which it is registered when transporting a load of raw farm products or soil fertilizers under Iowa Code section 321.466 except that nothing in this rule shall be construed to allow operation of a special truck on the public highways with a gross…

400.38(1) Vehicles registered by county treasurer. a. The department will refund annual registration fees for vehicles registered by the county treasurer pursuant to Iowa Code section 321.126. b. Except as provided in Iowa Code section 321.126, the owner may submit a claim for re…

owner an assigned vehicle identification number for a vehicle, an assigned component part number for a component part, and an assigned product identification number for a fence-line feeder, grain cart, or tank wagon. An identification number will be assigned only if the departmen…

400.4(1) New vehicle. An application for a new vehicle must be accompanied by a manufacturer’s certificate of origin, properly assigned to the applicant. A manufacturer’s certificate of origin is not acceptable if the assignment to the applicant is made by any person other than t…

400.40(1) Pursuant to Iowa Code section 321.71 and 49 U.S.C. Section 32705, an odometer disclosure statement shall be submitted with an application for certificate of title for a motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is exempt. The statement shall provide a current odometer read…

400.41(1) Placement of validation sticker. The validation sticker shall be affixed to the lower left corner of the rear registration plate. EXCEPTIONS: For motorcycle, autocycle and small trailer plates, the validation sticker shall be affixed to the upper left corner of the plat…

issued for trailer-type vehicles shall be carried in the vehicle that is described on the receipt or in the driver’s compartment of the towing vehicle. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 307.12(1)“j” and 321.32. [ARC 9266C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

400.43(1) If the transferor failed to provide a damage disclosure statement or if the transferee lost the statement, and the transferee has attempted in good faith to contact the transferor to obtain a statement, the transferee may file a sworn statement of these facts. The trans…

certificate of title, vehicle registration, license, or permit is to be revoked, suspended, canceled, or denied under this chapter. The notice will be mailed to the person’s mailing address as shown on departmental records and takes effect after 20 days from the date mailed. A pe…

400.45(1) Maximum speed. If the department has reason to believe that a particular vehicle or model is capable of speeds exceeding 39 miles per hour, the department may conduct independent tests to determine the maximum speed of the vehicle or model. If the department determines …

postal service. To obtain without cost the reissuance of registration documents that were sent by the county treasurer to the owner through the United States postal service and that were lost or damaged in transit, the owner of the vehicle shall file application for reissuance be…

400.47(1) Credit for unexpired registration fee. The applicant may claim credit, as specified in Iowa Code section 321.46(3), toward the registration fee for one newly acquired replacement vehicle. a. The credit may be claimed only when the owner of the newly acquired vehicle is …

400.48(1) Registration plates may be reassigned if one of the owners listed on the registration receipt before the transfer is also a listed owner following the transfer. 400.48(2) Registration plates may be reassigned when credit is allowed toward a new registration for a vehicl…

Registration plates, certificate of title forms and registration forms that are consigned to county treasurers by the department shall be stored in a secure location only accessible to authorized persons as designated by the county treasurer or department. This rule is intended t…

400.5(1) Application shall be made to the department’s motor vehicle division for the following: a. Titling and registration of vehicles owned by the government. This requirement does not apply to manufactured or mobile homes subject to a public bidder sale as explained in Iowa C…

plates that have been surrendered to the county treasurer to Iowa state prison industries for recycling. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 307.12(1)“j,” 321.5 and 321.171. [ARC 9266C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

treasurer shall file the report provided for in Iowa Code section 321.153 in a manner prescribed by the department. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 307.12(1)“j” and 321.153. [ARC 9266C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

coverage law. This rule applies to instances when a peace officer issues a citation and removes the registration receipt and registration plates of a motor vehicle registered in this state when the driver of the motor vehicle is unable to provide proof of financial liability cove…

400.53(1) The department may authorize the use of an electronic lien and title (ELT) system to provide an electronic record of the certificate of title to a security interest holder, to subject a vehicle to an electronic lien, and to allow for the submission and receipt of forms …

follows: 400.6(1) Information and forms for vehicle registration, certificate of title, or other procedures covered under Iowa Code sections 321.18 through 321.20B, 321.22 through 321.26, 321.28 through 321.32, 321.34, 321.35, 321.37 through 321.63, 321.65 through 321.74, 321.78,…

Iowa Code sections 321.24, 321.52, 321.69, 321.71 and 322G.12, a certificate of title or registration receipt or both shall contain the following information when applicable: 400.7(1) Registration expiration date. 400.7(2) Registration month, as explained in rule 761—400.3(321). …

400.8(1) A secured party may note the cancellation of a security interest on any of the following: a. Form 411168 (Cancellation of Security Interest). b. The secured party’s letterhead if the written statement is notarized and contains the same information as Form 411168. c. The …

may be assigned to another secured party without losing the seniority of the security interest by complying with the procedure in Iowa Code section 321.50 or with the following procedure: 400.9(1) Notice of assignment. In the cancellation portion of the title certificate, the sec…

“Current firefighter” means a member of a paid or volunteer fire department who has at least one year of service and is in good standing, as determined by the fire chief. “Retired firefighter” means a former member of a paid or volunteer fire department who has a minimum of ten y…

shall be allowed unless the plates were issued in error or in conflict with the statutes or rules governing their issuance. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 307.12(1)“j” and 321.34. [ARC 8937C, IAB 2/19/25, effective 3/26/25] [Filed 2/8/95, Notice 1/4/95—publ…

401.2(1) Plates available without application. Except for the special registration plates listed in subrules 401.2(2) and 401.2(3) and collegiate plates issued under Iowa Code section 321.34(7) and 321.34(7A), all special registration plates authorized under Iowa Code section 321…

321.34(5), 321.34(12), and 321.166, the following provisions apply to all personalized and special registration plates: 401.3(1) Plates will be issued with a minimum of two characters. 401.3(2) Plates with a processed emblem, and plates issued under Iowa Code section 321.34(13), …

401.4(1) Application. An organization meeting the criteria of Iowa Code section 321.34(13)“a” and 321.34(13)“b” must apply to the department for approval of the decal design and issuance on Form 411346. The department is to notify the organization of approval or denial of the pro…