1.If ownership of a vehicle is transferred by operation of law upon inheritance, devise
or bequest, dissolution decree, order in bankruptcy, insolvency, replevin, foreclosure or
execution sale, abandoned vehicle sale, or when the engine of a motor vehicle is replaced by
another engine, or a vehicle is sold or transferred to satisfy an artisan’s lien as provided in
chapter 577, a landlord’s lien as provided in chapter 570, a self-service storage facility lien
as provided in section 578A.7, a storage lien as provided in chapter 579, a judgment in an
action for abandonment of a manufactured or mobile home as provided in chapter 555B,
upon presentation of an affidavit relating to the disposition of a valueless mobile, modular,
or manufactured home as provided in chapter 555C, or repossession
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1. If ownership of a vehicle is transferred by operation of law upon inheritance, devise
or bequest, dissolution decree, order in bankruptcy, insolvency, replevin, foreclosure or
execution sale, abandoned vehicle sale, or when the engine of a motor vehicle is replaced by
another engine, or a vehicle is sold or transferred to satisfy an artisan’s lien as provided in
chapter 577, a landlord’s lien as provided in chapter 570, a self-service storage facility lien
as provided in section 578A.7, a storage lien as provided in chapter 579, a judgment in an
action for abandonment of a manufactured or mobile home as provided in chapter 555B,
upon presentation of an affidavit relating to the disposition of a valueless mobile, modular,
or manufactured home as provided in chapter 555C, or repossession is had upon default in
performance of the terms of a security agreement, any county treasurer or, in the case of a
mobile home or manufactured home, the county treasurer of the county where the mobile
home or manufactured home is located, upon the surrender of the prior certificate of title or
the manufacturer’s or importer’s certificate, or when that is not possible, upon presentation
of satisfactory proof to the county treasurer of ownership and right of possession to the
vehicle and upon payment of a fee of thirty dollars and the presentation of an application
for initial registration and certificate of title, may issue to the applicant a registration card
for the vehicle and a certificate of title to the vehicle. A person entitled to ownership of a
vehicle under a decree of dissolution shall surrender a reproduction of a certified copy of
the dissolution and upon fulfilling the other requirements of this chapter is entitled to a
certificate of title and registration receipt issued in the person’s name.
2. a. The persons entitled under the laws of descent and distribution to the possession
and ownership of a vehicle owned in whole or in part by a decedent who died intestate, upon
filing an affidavit stating the name and date of death of the decedent, the right to possession
and ownership of the persons filing the affidavit, and that there has been no administration
of the decedent’s estate, which instrument must also contain an agreement by the affiant to
indemnify creditors of the decedent who would be entitled to levy execution upon the motor
vehicle to the extent of the value of the motor vehicle, shall, upon complying with the other
title transfer requirements of this chapter, be issued a registration card for the decedent’s
interest in the vehicle and a certificate of title to the vehicle. If a decedent died testate, and
either the will is not probated or is admitted to probate without administration, the persons
entitled to the possession and ownership of a vehicle owned in whole or in part by the
decedent may file an affidavit and, upon complying with the other title transfer requirements
of this chapter, shall be issued a registration card for the decedent’s interest in the vehicle
and a certificate of title to the vehicle. The affidavit must contain the same information and
indemnity agreement as is required in cases of intestacy under this subsection. For a death
occurring before January 1, 2025, a requirement of chapter 450 shall not be considered
satisfied by the filing of the affidavit provided for in this subsection. If, from the records in
the office of the county treasurer, there appear to be any liens on the vehicle, the certificate
of title must contain a statement of the liens unless the application is accompanied by proper
evidence of the satisfaction or extinction of such liens. Evidence of extinction includes but
is not limited to an affidavit of the applicant stating that a security interest was foreclosed
as provided in chapter 554, article 9, part 6. The department shall waive the certificate of
title fee and surcharge required under sections 321.20, 321.20A, 321.23, 321.46, 321.52, and
321.52A if the person entitled to possession and ownership of a vehicle, as provided in this
subsection, is the surviving spouse of a decedent.
b. An affiant under this subsection is the agent of the owner of the vehicle solely for
the purpose of completing the odometer disclosure statement under section 321.71 and
regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. ch. 327, and found in 49 C.F.R. pt. 580. The affiant
may submit any required odometer disclosure statement together with the affidavit required
by this subsection.
3. Whenever ownership of a vehicle is transferred under the provisions of this section,
the registration plates shall be removed and forwarded to any county treasurer, or to the
department if the vehicle is owned by a nonresident. Upon transfer the vehicle shall not be
operated upon the highways of this state until the person entitled to possession of the vehicle
applies for and obtains initial registration for the vehicle.
4. A person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a simple misdemeanor
punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 2.