How to Sell a Boat in Iowa (Step by Step)

Selling a boat in Iowa runs through your county recorder, and the documents you hand the buyer determine whether they can register the boat at all. Iowa law is strict about this: without the right paperwork, the buyer is forced into a bonding process to prove ownership. A few minutes of care on your end saves them that headache.

Does Your Boat Need a Title in Iowa?

Iowa titles vessels that are more than 16 feet long. Boats 16 feet and under are registered but generally do not have a title. So before you sell, check the length. If the boat is over 16 feet, you have a title to sign over in addition to the registration. If it is 16 feet or under, the registration and bill of sale carry the transaction.

Step 1: Gather Your Documents

Iowa law requires the seller to give the buyer written documentation of ownership at the time of purchase. That means the most recent registration, the title if the boat is over 16 feet, and a bill of sale. The buyer brings all of these to the county recorder to transfer the boat into their name. If you cannot provide them, the buyer cannot register the vessel without going through the bonding process, which is slow and avoidable.

Step 2: Complete a Bill of Sale

A signed Iowa boat bill of sale should include the date, the sale price including the motor, any trade-in amount, the hull identification number, the make, year, and length of the vessel, and the signatures of both parties. Iowa allows the seller to use the back of the registration or title as a bill of sale if the amount paid is recorded, but a complete standalone bill of sale is cleaner and leaves no ambiguity.

Step 3: Sign the Title Over If the Boat Has One

If the vessel is over 16 feet and titled, sign the title in the designated seller fields and fill in every required field accurately. Do not leave fields blank or make corrections by crossing things out. A title with errors can be rejected at the recorder's office and slow the buyer's transfer.

Step 4: Collect Payment Safely

Meet in a safe, public location. Verify a cashier's check with the issuing bank using a number you look up yourself before you sign anything over. For higher-value boats, a confirmed wire transfer is safest. Do not release the boat or the paperwork until the payment has cleared.

Step 5: What the Buyer Does at the County Recorder

Iowa boat registrations and titles are handled at the county recorder's office. The buyer has 30 days after a private sale to register the vessel. A change of ownership not made within 30 days of the sale date is charged a $5 penalty on top of the normal fee, so it helps to give the buyer all their documents promptly.

Don't Forget the Trailer

If a trailer is included, it transfers separately from the boat through the county treasurer like a vehicle. Sign the trailer title over separately and the buyer registers it on their end. Confirm all the paperwork is present before any money changes hands.

If You Can't Be There for the Sale

If someone else needs to handle the transaction for you, a power of attorney authorizes that person to sign the title and bill of sale on your behalf. Execute it before the sale so the buyer is not left waiting.

The Full Checklist

Most recent registration in hand. Title signed over if the boat is over 16 feet. Bill of sale completed with date, sale price including the motor, and vessel details. Payment confirmed before releasing the boat. Trailer title signed over separately if applicable. Buyer informed of the 30-day registration window and the $5 late penalty.

The whole key to an Iowa boat sale is documentation. Give the buyer the registration, the title if there is one, and a clear bill of sale, and their trip to the recorder is quick. Leave any of it out and they are stuck with the bonding process.

Selling a Boat in a Different State?

Boat rules change from state to state. If you're selling elsewhere, see our guides for Missouri, Minnesota, and Florida.