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An Iowa vehicle registration connects a driver to the Iowa Department of Transportation. All Iowa residents need to register their vehicle with the Iowa DOT to drive their cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats legally.

Registering a Vehicle in Iowa

Before an IA resident’s vehicle registration expires, they must renew it with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Vehicle Services. Iowa residents who’ve already renewed their vehicle registration can contact the IA DOT to check the status of their order.

Iowa Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice

The Iowa DOT will mail IA residents a vehicle registration renewal notice before their current registration expires. This renewal notice will include:

  • Vehicle information.
  • Online renewal PIN, if applicable.
  • Payment instructions.

Iowa residents can renew their vehicle registration up to 1 month before and after the expiration date without having to pay a late fee. After that, Hawkeye State residents will be charged a monthly late fee of 5% of the registration renewal fee or $5 (whichever is higher) until they renew.

NOTE: Iowa residents who’ve lost or never received their renewal notice, may still be able to renew their registration online or in person. Hawkeye state residents may need to provide their current registration renewal receipt audit number and their vehicle information.

Renew Your IA Vehicle Registration

Iowa residents can renew their vehicle registration by mail or in person at their local Iowa DOT county treasurer’s office. Many counties also offer online vehicle license plate tag renewals.

Online

Iowa residents who reside in one of the following counties, can visit their county’s website for more renewal information and check if you can renew online:

  • Buchanan.
  • Clayton.
  • Dickinson.
  • Floyd.
  • Iowa.
  • Johnson.
  • Linn.
  • Montgomery.
  • Polk.
  • Pottawattamie.
  • Poweshiek.

For all other counties, Iowa residents can visit the Iowa State County Treasurer’s Association website to renew their vehicle registration online.

NOTE: IA residents can choose whether to create an account or make a one-time payment. Iowa residents need to provide the following documentation to renew their registration:

  • The IA license plate number.
  • The online registration renewal PIN, which can be found on the renewal notice.

OR

  • The vehicle registration audit number, which can be found on the last vehicle registration renewal receipt.
  • Payment for all applicable fees

NOTE: Iowa residents will be charged an additional service fee when renewing their Iowa DMV vehicle registration online.

By Mail or In Person

To renew an Iowa vehicle registration by mail or in person, IA residents need to present:

  • An IA registration renewal notice OR the vehicle registration information.
  • Payment for all applicable fees

Submit the above in person or by mail to a local Iowa county treasurer’s office.

Fees to Renew Your IA Vehicle Registration

Registration renewal fees in Iowa vary by county. Iowa residents can contact their local Iowa DMV office or check their county treasurer’s website. Iowa residents can also find their registration renewal fees on their renewal notice.

Hawkeye State residents who renew their registration after the grace period of 1 month past the expiration date, will be charged an additional monthly fee of $5 per month, or 5% of the renewal fee (whichever is higher).

Motorcycle Registration in Iowa

Before riding a motorcycle in Iowa, residents need to register their motorcycle with the Iowa Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Below are the steps IA residents need to take to register their motorcycle as a new resident and as a current Iowan who recently purchased a bike.

New to Iowa

Upon establishing Iowa residency, Hawkeye residents have 30 days to register their motorcycle with the MVD by submitting the following items at a local county treasurer’s office:

  • A completed:
    • Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration (Form 411007) if the resident owns the bike.
    • Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration for a Leased Vehicle (Form 411179) if the resident is leasing the bike.
  • Current out-of-state motorcycle title
  • Valid Driver’s license (photo ID)

OR

  • Social security card.
  • Payment for the appropriate motorcycle registration fees and taxes.

Registering an Iowa Motorcycle

The steps to registering a motorcycle with the Motor Vehicle Division will differ depending on whether residents bought their bike from a dealership OR from an individual.

Motorcycles Sold by Dealers

When residents buy a motorcycle at a dealership in Iowa, the dealer will usually complete the registration for them. The dealership may provide individuals with temporary tags and registration paperwork until their official permanent documents arrive in the mail. If the dealership does not register the bike, IA residents need to follow the applicable steps below.

Motorcycles Sold by Individuals

Hawkeye State residents have 30 days from the purchase date to register a motorcycle bought from a private seller. To do so, Iowa residents need to submit the following items to their local county treasurer’s office:

  • A completed:
    • Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration (Form 411007) if you own the motorcycle.
    • Application for Certificate of Title and/or Registration for a Leased Vehicle (Form 411179) if the motorcycle’s on a lease.
  • A proof of ownership document:
    • Manufacturer’s certificate of origin (new bikes).
    • The motorcycle’s title signed by the buyer AND seller (used bikes).

(If the title doesn’t have space to include an odometer reading, include an Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 411077) with your application.)

  • Proof of purchase document:
    • A bill of sale.
    • Loan documents (if applicable).

(IA residents may need to contact the lender to obtain the proper paperwork)

  • The applicable motorcycle registration fees and taxes.

Motorcycle Registration Fees & Taxes

Below are the base fees Iowa residents may have to pay to register their motorcycle with the Iowa Motor Vehicle Division:

  • Motorcycle registration:
    • Models 1 to 5 years old: $20.
    • Models 6 years old and up: $10.
    • Taxes: Vary according to your IA county of residence—call your local county treasurer’s office for specifics.

Boat Registration and Licensing in Iowa

Iowa residents who wish to operate a boat may need to register it with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

IA Vessels Requiring Registration

The Iowa DNR requires all boats operated on state waters to be registered, with the following exceptions:

  • Inflatable watercraft measuring 7 ft or shorter.
  • Canoes and kayaks:
  • 13 ft or shorter.

AND

  • Not propelled by a sail or motor.
  • Boats registered out of state being operated in Iowa for 60 days and under.

Iowa residents who are unsure whether their boat requires registration can call the IA Department of Natural Resources at (515) 725-8200 or email for clarification.

Registration Procedures for Boats in Iowa

To apply for an original boat registration with the Iowa DNR, IA residents need to provide the following items to their county recorder’s/registrar’s office:

  • A completed Application for Boats, Snowmobiles, ATVs and ORVs (DNR Form 542-8067)
  • A proof of ownership document, such as a bill of sale
  • The manufacturer’s certificate of origin.

(Hawkeye State residents who purchased a used vessel, need the boat’s registration AND title (if it’s from a titling state).

  • Payment for the necessary boat registration fees.

Iowa boat registrations are valid for 3 years and expire on April 30th of the renewal year.

Fees for Iowa Boat Registration

The IA Department of Natural Resources’ vessel registration fees changes from year to year.

Boat Registration Renewals & Replacements

Registrations are valid for 3 years and expire on April 30th of the renewal year. IA residents can renew their registration starting January 1st of their vessel registration’s renewal year. If Iowa residents renew their registration late, IA residents will pay a $5 penalty.

When it’s time to renew, Hawkeye State residents can take their current boat registration card and the applicable renewal fees to their county recorder’s/registrar’s office.

Replace a Lost Registration

Iowa residents whose boat registration is lost or destroyed can apply for a duplicate registration by providing the following at their county registrar’s/recorder’s office:

  • A completed Application for Boats, Snowmobiles, ATVs and ORVs (DNR Form 542-8067).
  • The fee for a duplicate registration (varies from county to county).

Boater Qualifications in Iowa

IA residents who are between 12 and 17 years old and want to operate watercraft with 10 horsepower or more, need to complete a DNR-approved boater education course.

After completing the course, IA residents will be given a watercraft safety certificate. Iowa residents must be able to present the certificate whenever requested by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officers. Iowa residents have the option of completing their boater education requirement:

  • Using a home-study boating education course.
  • Online through an approved education provider.

Accepted IA Department of Transportation (DOT) Office Payment Methods

  • Online:
    • E-check.
  • VISA, Discover, and MasterCard credit/debit card.
  • By mail: Check payable to your local county treasurer.
  • In-person:
    • Cash.
    • Check.
    • Debit card.

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