Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-46.5 - Registration for regulated vehicles

(1) General. A person shall not operate, maintain, or give permission for the operation or maintenance of a regulated vehicle on public land, a designated riding area, a designated riding trail, or ice unless the regulated vehicle:

a. Is registered in accordance with the requirements of Iowa Code chapter 321I and this chapter;

b. Displays a current nonresident user permit decal issued as provided in 571-46.6 (321I); or

c. Is exempt from registration pursuant to Iowa Code section 321I.9.

(2) Registration requirements.

a. The owner of each regulated vehicle required to be registered shall file an application for registration with the department through a county recorder and pay all applicable fees pursuant to Iowa Code section 321I.4 and these rules, except that a dealer of regulated vehicles shall make application and pay all applicable registration and title fees on behalf of a purchaser of a regulated vehicle.

(1) Application forms. Applications for registration shall be made on forms provided by the department. In the event the applicant does not have required documentation, the applicant may be required to secure a bond consistent with the requirements of 571-Chapter 50.

(2) Fees. The applicant shall pay the following fees: $15 for the permit fee; $2 for the writing fee; and $1.50 for the administrative fee.

b. At such time the department or the county recorder is satisfied with the application and has received the required fees, the department or county recorder shall issue to the applicant a registration certificate and registration decal.

(3) Preregistration grace period.

a. Dealer purchases. An unregistered regulated vehicle sold by a dealer to an Iowa resident for use in Iowa shall bear a card that includes the words "registration applied for" and the date of purchase. Such card shall entitle the purchaser to operate the regulated vehicle for 45 days immediately following the purchase. The purchaser shall place this card on the rear of the all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle and the steering yoke of an off-road motorcycle in a position so as to be clearly visible at all times and maintained in a legible manner. The operator of any regulated vehicle displaying a "registration applied for" card described in this paragraph shall carry and provide upon request to any peace officer a valid bill of sale for the regulated vehicle.

b. Nondealer purchases. Regulated vehicles may be sold by nondealers, and the registration grace period may apply depending on the current registration of the vehicle.

(1) A regulated vehicle that is currently registered in the state of Iowa may be legally operated for 30 days before it is registered under the purchaser's name.

(2) A regulated vehicle not currently registered in the state of Iowa shall not be operated until it is titled and registered in the purchaser's name. Valid registration in another state does not authorize preregistration operation.

(4) Registration-renewals. Every regulated vehicle registration certificate and registration decal expires at midnight December 31 of the year issued or at the time specified on the registration decal. Applications for renewal shall be completed pursuant to Iowa Code section 321I.7.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-46.5

Adopted by IAB May 14, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 23, effective 6/18/2025