Treasurer

Polk County Treasurer Announces New Bill of Sale Requirements

Published 12/28/2021 8:46:39 AM

December 28, 2021

(Des Moines, IA)- Polk County Treasurer Mary L. Wells announced today new requirements for private party vehicle sales, which will go into effect on January 1, 2022.

All customers conducting a vehicle title transfer between private parties will be required to provide a bill of sale. A purchase agreement or bill of sale is already required for vehicles purchased from a dealership.

The bill of sale document must be fully completed by both the buying and selling parties, and accompany all private party title transfer applications. This requirement also applies to transfers on gifted vehicles.

“Customers should plan ahead and ensure they have the correct documents to avoid delays in processing their applications,” said Wells. “We encourage all Polk County citizens to visit our website to take advantage of the resources available and learn more about the new requirements and policy updates”.

The new requirement is pursuant to the Iowa Department of Revenue’s code 34.2(3), which aims to substantiate the price of all vehicles transferred in Iowa, and has a direct impact on the fees collected for the State’s Road Use Tax fund.

The bill of sale should include the seller’s name, the make and year of the vehicle, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the buyer’s name, the date of sale, the purchase price, and the signature of the seller.

A bill of sale template is available on the “Vehicle Forms” page on the Polk County Treasurer’s website. Visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov/county-treasurer/ to learn more. Please contact us with any additional questions.


A Title Appointment is required for all vehicle purchases and transfers. https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/treasurer/appointments/