Vehicle Registration & Bonding

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Registering Your Vehicle or Vessel in Iowa Without a Registration and/or Title

Iowa law requires documentation in order to transfer the registration and/or title of a boat, snowmobile, or OHV into your name as the new owner. 

If you do not have all of the documentation required, you will need to go through what is called the bonding process. Documentation required for transferring ownership includes a proof of purchase document, registration and/or title.

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Bonding Process

If your vehicle or vessel cannot be titled or registered by your county recorder because you do not have the proper registration and/or title documents, you must:

  1. Complete Form 542-0855, Request Form for Bonded Title or Registration. 
  2. Upon receipt of a completed form, Iowa DNR will review and investigate the information you provide to determine if you can register your vehicle/vessel and what process you will need to go through to legally transfer ownership into your name. 
  3. The initial investigation will take a minimum of 12 weeks to complete.

NOTE: Iowa law requires the seller give the buyer, at the time of purchase, written documentation of ownership such as a bill of sale AND registration and/or title signed over to the buyer. If you have not already contacted the seller, please contact the seller of the vehicle and ask them to comply with this requirement before submitting the request form.

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Start a Bond Request

If you do not have the last registration and/or title, the first step in moving forward with transferring your vehicle or vessel into your name is to submit the bond request form and supporting documents to the Iowa DNR. You can submit this form by email, mail or fax as instructed on the request form.

To avoid processing delays, please submit the following, required supporting documents along with your request form:

  • A copy of any written document received at the time the vehicle was acquired, such as a bill of sale or cancelled check.
  • Photos of the Front, Back, One Side, Registration Number, and the manufacturer’s ID number (Serial Number, VIN or HIN)

Please refer to the sections below should you have questions about the required supporting documents.

Once the request form has been submitted, the Iowa DNR will investigate the vehicle or vessel registration history and review supporting documents to determine the current registration status of the vehicle or vessel you are trying to register. 

As part of the investigation, the Iowa DNR may also notify the last registered owner of the request for a bonded title and/registration.

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Once Investigation is Complete

The Iowa DNR will determine the steps you need to complete to get the vehicle or vessel registered and/or titled in your name. Approximately 12 weeks later, you will be notified that one or more of the following action steps may be required as result of the investigation, in order for you to be approved to transfer ownership of your vehicle/vessel.

  • You may be required to get an inspection done by a conservation officer or another certified peace officer
  • You may need to complete an affidavit form
  • You may be required to purchase a surety bond to cover one and one half times the determined, current value of the vehicle or vessel. If this is needed, a bond form will be sent to you showing the current value of the vehicle or vessel and the amount of the bond needed. The bond form will include instructions for completion and return to the Iowa DNR. 
    • Fees to obtain a surety bond through a bonding company are set by the surety company. Please refer to the bonding company for the fee to obtain your surety bond. 
    • If a bond is needed, the IA DNR will hold the bond for three years, after which time the bond will expire and there is no requirement for a bond.

Upon review of the completed paperwork and any additional steps requested above, you will be notified in writing of your approval to obtain a title and registration through your county recorder’s office. You will use your approval letter in lieu of a signed title and/or registration by the seller to transfer your vehicle and vessel into your name.

Note: There may some instances that the DNR cannot approve the transfer of ownership of your vehicle/vessel. If we cannot approve transfer, you will be notified in writing after the investigation. I.e. There is an active lien of the vehicle/vessel. 

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Bonding Request Forms

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Additional Forms

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Reference Documents

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Become a Recreational Vehicle Dealer

Recreation Vehicle Dealers, or those wanting to become one, can find resources and information on this page. Applications and requirements to become a Boat, OHV, or Snowmobile Dealer can be found under the corresponding tab. 

Get Started

Requirements, fees, forms, and supply information can also be found on these pages:

Dealer Signature Attachment

The Dealer Signature Attachment form (542-0756) may be used by DNR registered recreational vehicle dealers to use if a registration or title has been transferred to another registered recreation vehicle dealer. DNR registered dealers are not required to register vehicles or vessels that become inventory (for resale only), this form would be used for the additional dealer assignment to complete customer registration.

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Contact Us

For questions about bonding or recreational vehicle registration, call 515-326-0430 or email us.

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