It's the Law—Iowa's Off-Road Vehicle Laws
Registration of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
Point of Sale Registration Requirement
Operation Pending Registration: The commission
shall furnish all-terrain vehicle (ATV) dealers with cards
bearing the words “registration applied for” and
space for the purchase date. An unregistered ATV sold by
a dealer shall bear one of these cards, which entitles the
purchaser to operate it for 45 days immediately
following purchase.
- An all-terrain vehicle dealer shall make application
and pay all registration fees on behalf of the purchaser
of an all-terrain vehicle.
- Licensed ATV dealers are required by law to issue a “registration
applied for” card with each machine to allow operation
for 45 days immediately following the
date of sale until registration is received. All-terrain
vehicles cannot be legally operated unless bearing a valid
registration or “registration applied for” card.
 If the ownership of an ATV is to be transferred, the owner
shall provide the purchaser with a bill of sale, registration
certificate, and title. The new owner shall file an application
for registration and title with the county recorder, in the
county of their residence, within 30 days of purchase.
The registration certificate shall be carried either in
the ATV or on the person operating the machine.
Exemptions to
Registration
Registration shall not be required for the following ATVs.
- ATVs owned and used by the United States, another state,
or a political subdivision of another state.
- ATVs being used for agricultural
purposes.
All-terrain vehicles used by private engineering
or survey companies, utility companies, or snowmobile clubs
providing trail maintenance must display a valid DNR registration
decal.
Where to Register
- Residents: County recorder in county
of residence.
- Nonresidents: Must purchase a nonresident
user permit in lieu of a registration. The user permit
is available at any county recorder office or electronic
license vendor where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
The permit is valid for the current calendar year and costs
$15 plus writing fees.
Registration Fees
- Annual Registration Fee: $15. Annual
registration runs from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31. After the first
of September, any unregistered ATV may be registered for
the remainder of the current year and the subsequent year
for a fee of $20.
- Writing fee: $1.25 is charged by the
county recorder for each registration.
Other Fees
- Transfer of Registration Fee: $15 plus
writing fee. (Registration transfers will be handled in
the new owner’s county of residence.)
- Duplicate Registration Fee: $5 plus
writing fee.
- Title Fee: $10
Registration Renewal
Where: County recorder office in the county
of residence. (After September 1, 2007, owners can renew
their ATV registrations at their county recorder for the
2008 calendar year using the electronic license system. Following
this electronic renewal, owners can renew their registrations
at any electronic license vendor where hunting and fishing
licenses are sold.)
Registration Decals
The decal shall be affixed to the rear of the ATV so that
the
decal is clearly visible. On an off-road motorcycle the decal
should be affixed to the yoke of the steering column so that
it is clearly visible. The decal must be placed on the yoke
in a
manner that does not obstruct the view of the vehicle identification
number.
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