Iowa Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale is required to title or register a privately purchased car in Iowa. Iowa requires a bill of sale (or purchase agreement) to title a purchased vehicle, but newer Iowa title certificates include a Transfer/Sale Date section that serves as the bill of sale, so a separate document is needed only when the title lacks that section.
Verified against official Iowa sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: iowadot.gov · Free printable Iowa template →
What a Iowa car bill of sale must include
- vehicle description (year, make)
- VIN
- sale price
- date of sale
- seller signature
- buyer signature
For vehicles model year 2011 or newer (federal sub-20-year rule), mileage is noted on the back of the title in the assignment area; if it is not noted there, Iowa DOT Odometer Statement form 411099 is used.
Before you sign: run the VIN
Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours. The $9.99 Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model, and the original window sticker where available, in about a minute. One-time, no subscription. Run the report →
FAQ
Do you need a bill of sale to sell a car privately in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa requires a bill of sale (or purchase agreement) to title a purchased vehicle, but newer Iowa title certificates include a Transfer/Sale Date section that serves as the bill of sale, so a separate document is needed only when the title lacks that section.
Does a Iowa car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Iowa does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Iowa bill of sale form?
Iowa does not publish a single official statewide car bill of sale form. Any document containing the required details — VIN, price, date, and both parties' names and signatures — is acceptable. Avoid third-party "form fee" services; the details, not the template, are what the state needs.
What should a Iowa car bill of sale include?
At minimum: vehicle description (year, make); vin; sale price; date of sale; seller signature; buyer signature. For vehicles model year 2011 or newer (federal sub-20-year rule), mileage is noted on the back of the title in the assignment area; if it is not noted there, Iowa DOT Odometer Statement form 411099 is used.
What should I check before signing the Iowa bill of sale?
Confirm the VIN on the document matches the dashboard and door-jamb VIN character-for-character, and check the vehicle's history first: the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model and the original window sticker where available. Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours, so they're cheaper to find before you sign.
Sources: bill-of-sale, notarization, and odometer requirements from Iowa DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Iowa Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/iowa, verified 2026-07-07.