Free Iowa Gift Bill of Sale
Iowa charges a fee for new registration — $10 plus 5% of the purchase price, not a sales or use tax — and immediate family gifts may be exempt; confirm with your county treasurer. To claim an exemption, note the gift and your relationship to the recipient when the recipient files the title application (Form 411007). The title transfer must be completed within 30 days at a county treasurer's office.
Free PDF includes a light diagonal watermark. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.
Gifting a vehicle to a family member is a zero-dollar transfer, but the DMV still needs a bill of sale to process the title change. Our guide explains how the bill of sale and title work together and what recipients must show to claim the family-gift tax exemption. Read: Bill of Sale vs Title: What's the Difference? →
Iowa Gift Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
0%
Title Required
Yes
Inspection
Not required
Iowa Gift Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Sign the back of the existing Iowa title over to the recipient, completing the odometer disclosure section
- Complete Form 411007 (Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration) and note the gift and the family relationship
- Prepare a bill of sale showing $0 consideration and the donor-recipient relationship
- Gather any lien release if a lienholder appears on the current title
- Visit a county treasurer's office within 30 days of the gift
- Submit the signed title, Form 411007, and bill of sale to the county treasurer
- Pay title and registration fees (no fee for new registration is owed if a family-gift exemption applies)
Common Pitfalls
- Going to the wrong office — Iowa title transfers are handled by the county treasurer, not a state DMV; any county treasurer can take the application
- Not documenting the family relationship — ask the county treasurer what it needs to grant an exemption
- Missing the 30-day window — Iowa imposes a penalty fee for late title transfers; the penalty is assessed against the recipient
- Assuming every relative qualifies — confirm with the county treasurer which family gifts are exempt; other transfers owe the fee for new registration
- Unresolved liens — a title with an active lienholder cannot be transferred without a lien release letter from the lender
Iowa Gift Bill of Sale — FAQs
Is Iowa's vehicle transfer tax called a sales tax or use tax?
Neither. Iowa Code §321.105A calls it a "fee for new registration" — $10 plus 5% of the purchase price, paid to the county treasurer. Check with the treasurer how a family gift is treated before your visit.
Where do I go to transfer a vehicle title in Iowa?
Iowa title transfers are handled at the county treasurer's office, not a state DMV branch. Any county treasurer can take the application. Bring the signed title, Form 411007, and the bill of sale.
Which family gifts are exempt from Iowa's fee for new registration?
Confirm the qualifying relationships with your county treasurer before the visit, and note the relationship when you claim the exemption.
Do I need a notary for an Iowa gift transfer?
Iowa's title-transfer rules and the DOT seller's checklist show no notary step for a title assignment, but no official source states outright that none is needed — verify the current requirements on the Iowa DOT website before your visit.