Transferring a Car After Someone Dies in Iowa
How to transfer a vehicle title after the owner dies in Iowa, from the official motor vehicle agency.
Short answer: At any county treasurer's office (Iowa DOT). If the estate is probated: letters of appointment, the original title signed by the executor or administrator as "seller," odometer and damage disclosures if required, Form 411007 (Application for Certificate of Iowa Title), and fees. Iowa DOT, Title Transfer After Death; Iowa Code § 321.47
| Transferring a car after death | At any county treasurer's office (Iowa DOT). If the estate is probated: letters of appointment, the original title signed by the executor or administrator as "seller," odometer and damage disclosures if required, Form 411007 (Application for Certificate of Iowa Title), and fees. If there is a will but no probate: the title, proof of death, and Form 411083 (Affidavit of Death Testate) signed by the person entitled to the vehicle. If there is no will and no probate: the title, proof of death, and Form 411088 (Affidavit of Death Intestate). A small estate affidavit is also accepted as proof of ownership, but the 411083 or 411088 is still needed for odometer disclosure. Title fees are waived when a surviving spouse receives ownership. |
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FAQ
How do I transfer a car title after someone dies in Iowa?
At any county treasurer's office (Iowa DOT). If the estate is probated: letters of appointment, the original title signed by the executor or administrator as "seller," odometer and damage disclosures if required, Form 411007 (Application for Certificate of Iowa Title), and fees. If there is a will but no probate: the title, proof of death, and Form 411083 (Affidavit of Death Testate) signed by the person entitled to the vehicle. If there is no will and no probate: the title, proof of death, and Form 411088 (Affidavit of Death Intestate). A small estate affidavit is also accepted as proof of ownership, but the 411083 or 411088 is still needed for odometer disclosure. Title fees are waived when a surviving spouse receives ownership.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.