Iowa Bill of Sale Form

What Is a Bill of Sale in Iowa?

A bill of sale in Iowa puts the buyer, the seller, the price, and the item itself in writing on a single signed document, whether you’re selling a used pickup or a kitchen table. It makes everything official in case a dispute arises later.

For titled property, the title still handles the legal transfer of ownership.

However, a bill of sale for cars can work alongside it, capturing the price and date the treasurer's office needs for tax purposes. The DOT's vehicle sale guidance covers what else sellers need.

Iowa Bill of Sale Requirements

State law requires a signed agreement between the buyer and seller to make an Iowa bill of sale valid.

A complete one still needs:

• Full names and addresses of the buyer and seller
• A description detailed enough to identify the item, including a VIN, hull number, or serial number
• The purchase price, or the item's fair value if it changed hands as a gift
• The date of the sale
• Payment terms, whether that's cash, a trade, or an installment plan
• A statement of warranty, or language noting the sale is "as is"
• Signatures from both parties

No notary is required for any of this, including the title assignment on the back of the title.

Types of Iowa Bills of Sale

Iowa splits its paperwork by property type rather than issuing one universal form. Here are the categories that Iowa residents most commonly need:

• General: Furniture, electronics, tools, and other property without a title.
• Vehicle: Cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs sold between private owners.
• Boat: Motorboats, sailboats, personal watercraft, and other registered vessels.
• Trailers: Utility, cargo, livestock, and travel trailers.
• Firearm: Handguns, rifles, and shotguns sold privately.
• Livestock and horse: Animals sold individually or in groups.

Iowa General Bill of Sale

Iowa doesn't provide a separate form for everyday property like a snowblower, a stack of woodworking tools, or a home gym setup changing hands privately.

For such sales, a general bill of sale is ideal.

Disputes over a private sale almost always trace back to a vague item description. Include a serial or model number whenever one exists, and note the item's condition at the time of sale.

Create Your Iowa General Bill of Sale

Iowa Vehicle Bill of Sale

A vehicle bill of sale should list the VIN, year, make, model, odometer reading, sale price, and date, with every figure matching the title.

You don’t need to build one from scratch, as the State County Treasurers Association provides an Iowa DOT bill of sale template.

There are 2 specific disclosures you may need to provide:

• Odometer disclosure: Required for most vehicles from the last 20 model years, recorded directly on the back of the title.
• Damage disclosure: Required for a vehicle eight model years old or newer if damage ever exceeded 70% of its value, using Iowa DOT's Damage Disclosure Statement.

The buyer must title the vehicle at the county treasurer's office within 30 days of the sale to avoid a penalty. Buyers don't inherit the seller's plates in Iowa; those stay behind, ready for the seller's next vehicle or back to the county.

Create Your Iowa Vehicle Bill of Sale

Iowa Boat Bill of Sale

A boat bill of sale in Iowa should show the hull identification number, year, make, model, length, sale price, and whether sales tax was already paid. The DNR handles boat registration, working through the county recorder's office rather than the treasurer.

Any boat longer than 17 feet needs a title, although canoes and kayaks are exempt regardless of length. A boat carrying an active lien always needs one. Registrations run on a three-year cycle and renew every April 30.

Create Your Iowa Boat Bill of Sale

Iowa Firearm Bill of Sale

Private firearm sales in Iowa do not require a background check. After a 2021 change to state law, the state's former permit-to-acquire requirement for handguns became optional, not mandatory.

That doesn't erase a seller's duty to know who they're dealing with.

Selling to a convicted felon or anyone else barred from owning a firearm stays a crime regardless of paperwork, and recording the make, model, caliber, and serial number creates an essential paper trail.

Create Your Iowa Firearm Bill of Sale

Iowa Trailer Bill of Sale

This is different from a standard vehicle bill of sale. Some trailers, depending on their weight, need a title in Iowa. Weight also dictates which other forms are needed:

The bill of sale should include the trailer's VIN, year, make, body style, and weight, whether it's the only item being sold or part of a larger package with a boat or vehicle. Keep its price separate on the paperwork (rather than folded into the total).

Create Your Iowa Trailer Bill of Sale

How to Write a Bill of Sale in Iowa

The easiest way to write a valid Iowa bill of sale is to use Lumr's ready-made template. Simply:

1. 1

   Match the document to the sale type

   A vehicle, boat, trailer, firearm, or general item each pulls different fields.

2. 2

   Add the buyer and seller info

   Full legal names, addresses, and contact details.

3. 3

   Specify what's being sold

   Add the VIN, hull number, or serial number.

4. 4

   Settle on the price and payment method

   Cash, a trade, or an installment plan.

5. 5

   State the item's condition

   Spell out a warranty or note the sale is "as-is."

6. 6

   Sign and date

   Keep a copy of the printable bill of sale.

Iowa Seller Requirements: Notice of Sale and License Plate Removal

Two more things happen once a registered vehicle actually sells, beyond handing over a signed bill of sale.

Take the plates off before the buyer leaves the driveway; in Iowa, they're the seller's property, not the vehicle's, and can go straight onto a replacement car.

Filing the Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title (Form 411107) with the county treasurer is optional, but it protects the seller from liability. Without it, a seller can stay tied to citations or crashes the buyer causes before the title transfers.

A signed bill of sale matters here too: it proves the 30-day window a plateless buyer has to legally drive it home.