Registration FAQs

When should I renew my registration?

Your vehicle registration expires at the end of the month in which you were born, followed by a one-month grace period. For example, if your birthday is April 3, your vehicle registration will expire on April 30. However, you will have until May 31 to renew your registration without penalty.

Can I renew online?

For your convenience, you can renew your Iowa vehicle registration online if your registration fees are not past due. However, you will need the PIN number from your renewal notice. You may pay with either a credit card or an eCheck.

What happens if I move?

It's very important to keep your vehicle registration information current. If you change your address, you must notify the county treasurer of your current residence within 10 days. The treasurer will then forward your information to the appropriate office.

For example, if you are moving from Floyd County to Johnson County, you should contact the Floyd County treasurer to have your information forwarded to the Johnson County treasurer's office.

What do I do if I don't get my registration?

While employees do their best to process registrations in a timely fashion, mistakes can happen. If you have recently moved and failed to update the address on your driving record, your registration may have been mailed to your previous residence. If you renewed online, there may have been a problem processing your paperwork. Contact your county treasurer's office for additional assistance.

I lost my registration. What should I do?

It is very important to have a copy of your current vehicle registration in your vehicle at all times. If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer while driving without your registration, you could be fined $100. If you need to replace a lost or damaged vehicle registration, contact your county treasurer's office to request a duplicate. There is a $3 fee for this service.

How do I request a duplicate title?

A certificate of title is necessary to prove that you are the legal owner of your vehicle. If your original title is lost or damaged, you can request a duplicate by completing the Application for Replacement of Iowa Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle and submitting it to the treasurer's office in the county where your title was initially issued. There is a $15 fee for this service and a mandatory five-day waiting period.

How do I request replacement registration decals or license plates?

If you have lost the validation stickers mailed with your vehicle registration or they have been stolen off your license plates, you'll need to visit your nearest county treasurer's office to request replacement stickers. There is a $5 fee for this service. Bring a copy of your current registration with you. You might also need to file a police report if you believe your tabs were stolen.

If one of your license plates has been lost or stolen, the procedure is the same, but in addition to the current registration, you'll need to bring the remaining plate to the county treasurer's office and pay $5 to have both plates replaced.

My vehicle is nonoperable. Can I get a special registration for it?

Not exactly. If your vehicle is nonoperational or you simply want to place it in storage, you may cancel your registration by taking the plates and your registration to your county treasurer's office. By doing so, you won't have to pay your registration fees while the vehicle is not in use.

Should you decide to take your vehicle out of storage, or if your vehicle becomes operable, you can go back to your county treasurer's office to re-start your registration after paying the necessary fees.

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.