Vehicle Code in Iowa

Reviewing Iowa's Motor Vehicle Code

Have you ever wondered what the citation numbers on a traffic ticket refer to? Would you like to learn more about the laws surrounding title and registration procedures? Are you interested in Iowa's financial responsibility requirements for drivers?

Subtitle 2 of Iowa's transportation code is the legal framework for most of the activities within the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). For example, it outlines the penalties for various moving violations. If you ever have questions about a traffic ticket you've received, this is an excellent resource for additional information.

Many sections of Subtitle 2 of Iowa's transportation code were written to protect motorists, pedestrians, and property. These rules and regulations tell us what is considered safe and legal behavior for Iowa drivers.

You can read the Iowa motor vehicle code yourself to gain a better understanding of the Iowa traffic laws and procedures that govern driver's licensing and vehicle registration. You may be able gain new knowledge to avoid violating traffic laws and have smoother Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) transactions in the future.

If you are seeking legal advice or need help fighting a traffic citation, you should consider contacting a lawyer.

Chapters of the IA Motor Vehicle Code

The first chapter you should read, Chapter 321―titled Motor Vehicles and Law of the Road―covers everything from driver's licenses to all the rules about speeding, passing, turning, towing, and so forth in Iowa. This is the portion of the transportation code that most people expect to see when they think of the "vehicle code."

Chapter 321J outlines the penalties for drivers who are convicted of operating while intoxicated. It discusses Iowa's implied consent law as well as how to obtain a temporary restricted driver's license and how to determine if a person will be required to complete a course for drunk drivers.

In addition to governing our activities on Iowa roads, the state's vehicle code also provides residents with certain legal rights relating to the purchase of their motor vehicles. For example, Chapter 322G allows drivers to request a refund or replacement if their vehicle develops a substantial defect within 2 years or 24,000 miles after purchase. This section of Iowa's vehicle code is sometimes known as the state's lemon law.

Check Your IA Driver's License Status

Whenever you need or want to check the status of your Iowa driver's license, you can order a driving record report. This record will spell out if your driver's license is currently valid. Should your license have been revoked or suspended, the report will indicate that according to what's on record at the Iowa MVD. This report will also show points against your license and, in some cases, information on any accidents you have had.

It's important to remember that too many minor traffic violations and certain major traffic violations can cause the Iowa Motor Vehicle Division to take action against your driving privileges. You may face a driver's license suspension, IA MVD fines, driver improvement requirements and driving restrictions.

For more information about some vehicle code-related topics, please visit our pages on Suspended License in Iowa and Defensive Driving in Iowa.

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