Information on this page concerning guidelines and responsibilities for Iowa dealers and manufacturers covers the most commonly asked questions the department receives. Please review the full applicable Iowa Code with your legal advisor to assure you are in compliance.
“Dealer” means a person who engages in whole or in part in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging snowmobiles required to be registered under this chapter and who has an established place of business for that purpose in this state.
“Engaged in the business,” or similar wording, means doing any of the following acts for the purpose of selling snowmobiles at retail: acquiring, selling, exchanging, holding, offering, displaying, brokering, accepting on consignment or conducting a retail auction, or acting as an agent for the purpose of doing any of these acts. A person selling at retail more than five snowmobiles during a 12-month period may be presumed to be engaged in the business.
You are required by Iowa Code to become a certified dealer with the DNR if you sell at retail more than 5 vehicles annually.
Dealers must meet the following requirements in addition to submitting a new dealer application:
1. Have an established place of business, to include a) landline telephone service and b) adequate office area for keeping business records to include but is not limited to: manufacturers’ certificates of origin, certificates of title or other evidence of ownership for snowmobiles for sale
2. Comply with applicable local zoning ordinances
3. Provide a copy of business's sales tax permit with their application
Items to include with your dealer application
1. Completed Snowmobile Dealer, Manufacturer, or Distributor Application for Special Certificates (542-0846)
Snowmobile Dealer, Manufacturer, or Distributor Application 542-0846
Snowmobile Dealer, Manufacturer, or Distributor Application 542-0846
2. Special Certificate and Duplicate fees as indicated on the application
3. Copy of the business’s sales tax permit
(Note: If a manufacturer or dealer has an established place of business in more than one city, the manufacturer or dealer shall secure a separate and distinct special certificate and general distinguishing number for each such place of business.)
Remit the completed application(s), copy of sales tax permit, and fees to: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Licensing Section, 502 East 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034
Fees
New Registrations: $46.50 includes one Snowmobile Dealer Special Certificate; additional certificates may be requested at the time of application for $6.50 each; new registrations shall expire on December 31, 2021 for the current registration period (2022-2024)
Renewal Registrations: $47.75 includes one Snowmobile Dealer Special Certificate; additional certificates may be requested at the time of application for $7.75 each;
Duplicates: May be requested from any county recorder for $7.75 each
Registration Expiration/Registration period
Current registration period: December 31, 2021 – December 31, 2024
Renewal information
A notice will be mailed to you prior to the renewal period. A valid dealer registration is required prior to processing a purchaser's snowmobile registration. All current snowmobile dealers may renew dealer certification(s) with any county recorder.
New Dealers will receive the following items upon approval of the department:
1. Special Certificate for dealer
A manufacturer, distributor, or dealer owning a snowmobile required to be registered under this chapter may operate
the snowmobile for purposes of transporting, testing, demonstrating, or selling it without the snowmobile being
registered, except that a special registration decal issued to the owner as provided in this chapter shall be displayed on the
snowmobile in the manner prescribed by the rules of the commission. The special registration decal shall not be used on a
snowmobile offered for hire or for any work or service performed by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer.
2. Registration Applied For cards
Allows the customer to use the vessel for 45 days while the registration is being processed by the county recorder. The
registration applied for card may be used only after an application for registration has been made to the county recorder.
Placing a completed application for registration and required fees in the mail to the recorder shall constitute making an
application.
3. Applications for vehicle registration
Application for vehicle registration 542-8067
Application for vehicle registration 542-8067
4. Snowmobile Dealer manual
Snowmobile Dealer Reference Guide
5. List of snowmobile registration fees
Snowmobile Registration Fees
Dealer Requirements
The manufacturer, distributor, or dealer has the assigned identification number printed upon or attached to a removable sign which is temporarily but firmly attached to the snowmobile being used.
The registration applied for card may be used only after an application for registration has been made to the county recorder. Placing a completed application for registration and required fees in the mail to the recorder shall constitute making an application. A dealer shall make application and pay all registration and title fees if applicable on behalf of the purchaser of snowmobile.
At the time of sale, a dealer shall provide all purchasers the following webpage link: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Snowmobiles, so they may obtain:
(1) a copy of current snowmobile laws and regulations governing the usage of snowmobiles in the state of Iowa,
(2) the most up-to-date list of public places open for snowmobile usage.
Information provided on the department’s web site shall be deemed current and the most up-to-date information for purposes of this rule.
Iowa Snowmobile Dealers
To request additional applications for Snowmobile registrations and/or registration applied for cards, please send an email to: webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov or call DNR customer service at 515-725-8200.