2009 Iowa Code
Title 8 - Transportation
Subtitle 2 - Vehicles
CHAPTER 321 - MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
321.20 - APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.

        321.20  APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATE
      OF TITLE.
         1.  Except as provided in this chapter, an owner of a vehicle
      subject to registration shall make application to the county
      treasurer of the county of the owner's residence, or if a
      nonresident, to the county treasurer of the county where the primary
      users of the vehicle are located, or if a lessor of the vehicle
      pursuant to chapter 321F which vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of
      less than ten thousand pounds, to the county treasurer of the county
      of the lessee's residence, or if a firm, association, or corporation
      with vehicles in multiple counties, the owner may make application to
      the county treasurer of the county where the primary user of the
      vehicle is located, for the registration and issuance of a
      certificate of title for the vehicle upon the appropriate form
      furnished by the department.  However, upon the transfer of
      ownership, the owner of a vehicle subject to the proportional
      registration provisions of chapter 326 shall make application for
      registration and issuance of a certificate of title to either the
      department or the appropriate county treasurer.  The application
      shall be accompanied by a fee of twenty dollars, and shall bear the
      owner's signature.  A nonresident owner of two or more vehicles
      subject to registration may make application for registration and
      issuance of a certificate of title for all vehicles subject to
      registration to the county treasurer of the county where the primary
      user of any of the vehicles is located.  The owner of a mobile home
      or manufactured home shall make application for a certificate of
      title under this section from the county treasurer of the county
      where the mobile home or manufactured home is located.  The
      application shall contain:
         a.  The full legal name; social security number or Iowa
      driver's license number or Iowa nonoperator's identification card
      number; date of birth; bona fide residence; and mailing address of
      the owner and of the lessee if the vehicle is being leased.  If the
      owner or lessee is a firm, association, or corporation, the
      application shall contain the bona fide business address and federal
      employer identification number of the owner or lessee.  Up to three
      owners' names may be listed on the application.  If the vehicle is a
      leased vehicle, the application shall state whether the notice of
      registration renewal shall be sent to the lessor or to the lessee and
      whether the lessor or the lessee shall receive the refund of the
      annual registration fee, if any.  Information relating to the lessee
      of a vehicle shall not be required on an application for registration
      and a certificate of title for a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight
      rating of ten thousand pounds or more.
         b.  A description of the vehicle including, insofar as the
      specified data may exist with respect to a given vehicle, the make,
      model, type of body, the number of cylinders, the type of motor fuel
      used, the vehicle identification number or other assigned number, and
      whether new or used and, if a new vehicle, the date of sale by the
      manufacturer or dealer to the person intending to operate the
      vehicle.  If the vehicle is a new low-speed vehicle, the
      manufacturer's or importer's certificate required to accompany the
      application under paragraph "d" shall certify that the vehicle
      was manufactured in compliance with the national highway traffic
      safety administration standards for low-speed vehicles in 49 C.F.R. §
      571.500.
         c.  Such further information as may reasonably be required by
      the department.
         d.  A statement of the applicant's title and of all liens or
      encumbrances upon the vehicle and the names and mailing addresses of
      all persons having any interest in the vehicle and the nature of
      every such interest.  When the application refers to a new vehicle,
      it shall be accompanied by a manufacturer's or importer's certificate
      duly assigned as provided in section 321.45.
         e.  The amount of the fee for new registration to be paid
      under section 321.105A or the amount of tax to be paid under section
      423.26, subsection 1.
         f.  If the vehicle is owned by a nonresident but is subject to
      issuance of an Iowa certificate of title or registration, the
      application shall also contain the full legal name, Iowa driver's
      license number or Iowa nonoperator's identification card number, date
      of birth, bona fide residence, and mailing address of the primary
      user of the vehicle.  If the primary user is a firm, association, or
      corporation, the application shall contain the bona fide business
      address and federal employer identification number of the primary
      user.  The primary user's name and address shall not be printed on
      the registration receipt or the certificate of title.
         2.  Notwithstanding contrary provisions of this chapter or chapter
      326 regarding titling and registration by means other than electronic
      means, the department may develop and implement a program to allow
      for electronic applications, titling, registering, and electronic
      funds transfer for vehicles subject to registration in order to
      improve the efficiency and timeliness of the processes and to reduce
      costs for all parties involved.
         3.  The department shall adopt rules on the method for providing
      signatures for applications made by electronic means.  

         Section History: Early Form

         [S13, SS15, § 1571-m2; C24, 27, 31, 35, § 4869, 5008, 5009; C39, §
      5001.04; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §
      321.20; 82 Acts, ch 1251, § 5] 

         Section History: Recent Form

         84 Acts, ch 1305, § 47; 87 Acts, ch 46, §1; 87 Acts, ch 108, §1;
      95 Acts, ch 194, §1, 12; 97 Acts, ch 104, §7; 98 Acts, ch 1073, §9;
      99 Acts, ch 8, §1; 99 Acts, ch 188, §3; 2000 Acts, ch 1005, §2; 2000
      Acts, ch 1016, §39--41, 47; 2000 Acts, ch 1134, §1; 2001 Acts, ch
      153, §17; 2003 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 2, §163, 205; 2004 Acts, ch 1013, §3,
      35; 2005 Acts, ch 34, §3, 26; 2006 Acts, ch 1068, §9; 2006 Acts, ch
      1070, §2; 2008 Acts, ch 1018, §5; 2008 Acts, ch 1113, §13, 21, 50, 51

         Referred to in § 312.2, 321.29, 321.52A, 321.109, 321.126,
      331.557, 435.27
         Surcharge imposed; § 321.52A