Des Moines, Iowa
Use this bill of sale when selling a semi truck in Des Moines, Iowa. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
A Des Moines, Iowa semi truck bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership between a private buyer and seller in Des Moines. As of 2026, Iowa requires both parties to sign the bill of sale, and the buyer must present it at the IA DMV to complete title transfer.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
Polk County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle
Address
111 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone
(515) 286-3060
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$25.00
Sales Tax Rate
5.00%
Base Registration Fee
$35.00
Iowa charges 5% use tax on private vehicle sales (no local add-on for vehicles)
Iowa does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is sufficient.
County Clerk / Recorder
Polk County Recorder
Phone
(515) 286-3572
The most common semi truck makes in private-party sales are Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Volvo, International. Average private-party semi truck prices range from $20,000–$180,000. Semi trucks average 4.5 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Brakes, Engine/Emissions, Electrical.
Before completing a semi truck bill of sale in Iowa, verify these safety items:
Commercial truck insurance ranges $5,000–$15,000/year for owner-operators. Authority holders need $750K–$1M liability minimum. Diesel trucks depreciate based on mileage — expect 40–50% loss after 500,000 miles. Glider kits and pre-emission models command premiums. Peak season for private semi truck sales is january–march as trucking companies refresh fleets before peak shipping season, with an average of 35 days on market.
Semi Trucks are classified as "Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) — requires CDL to operate; IRP/IFTA registration for interstate operation" for registration purposes. Class 7 (26,001–33,000 lbs GVWR) and Class 8 (33,001+ lbs GVWR). Over 16,000 lbs GVWR exempts from federal odometer disclosure. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to semi trucks.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 772 bill of sale documents for Iowa transactions, with 21 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
Des Moines is in Polk County. Title transfers are handled by the Polk County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle at 111 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Phone: (515) 286-3060.
The combined rate is 5.00%. Iowa charges 5% use tax on private vehicle sales (no local add-on for vehicles).
No. Iowa does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is sufficient.
Title transfer fee: $25.00. Base registration fee: $35.00. Sales tax at 5.00% is collected at the time of title transfer.
Iowa requires the buyer to transfer the title within 30 days of the sale date. Late transfers may incur penalty fees at the DMV. Bring your signed bill of sale and the assigned title to the Polk County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle.
In most cases, no. Iowa requires a clean title to complete a private vehicle sale. If the title is lost, the seller must apply for a duplicate title before selling. The bill of sale alone does not transfer legal ownership.
You will need: (1) the signed title from the seller, (2) a completed bill of sale, (3) a valid government ID, and (4) payment for the title transfer fee ($25.00) and sales tax (5.00%). Bring all documents to the Polk County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle.
Yes. A properly signed bill of sale is a legally binding document that protects both the buyer and seller. It records the agreed-upon sale price, date, and vehicle details. Sellers should keep a copy to prove they are no longer liable for the vehicle after the sale date.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA