Iowa title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Iowa
The short answer
In Iowa, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Iowa sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Iowa ask of sellers?
In Iowa, a replacement title (form 411033) costs $30 plus a $5 surcharge, and you can file the Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title (form 411107). Each card links to the official page it came from.
- Replacing a lost title
- Form 411033, Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title. Fee: $30 plus a $5 surcharge.
- Official source
- After the sale
- Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title (form 411107, optional).
- Official source
- License plates
- The seller removes the plates and either puts them on a replacement vehicle bought within 30 days or turns them in to the county treasurer.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
Iowa replacement titles come from the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division, using form 411033 (Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title), for a fee of $30 plus a $5 surcharge. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Iowa.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division can tell you which estate papers Iowa accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Report the sale to Iowa (Notice of Sale of Vehicle and Delivery of Title (form 411107, optional)), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
- Plates: The seller removes the plates and either puts them on a replacement vehicle bought within 30 days or turns them in to the county treasurer.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Iowa?
Usually not. In Iowa you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Iowa when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Iowa?
Apply to the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division with form 411033 (Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $30 plus a $5 surcharge, according to state law.
Can I sell a car in Iowa with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.