Iowa car sales tax and registration fee calculator
The fee for new registration in Iowa is 5.00% of the taxable amount.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 3, 2026 · Page changed Oct 30, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Iowa. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $576.80a month | $39,607.77+$750.07 more than Deal C | |
| $519.59a month | $42,410.06+$3,552.36 more than Deal C | |
| $564.29a month | $38,857.70Lowest |
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Your numbers stay in this browser.
$576.80 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,607.77
$519.59 a month · 72 payments
All-in $42,410.06
$564.29 a month · 60 payments
All-in $38,857.70Lowest
Out-the-door $34,907.00
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,562.00
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,409.50
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current model year
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay a yearly fee on top
Curb weight
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson, is assumed at 3,500 lb; the weight part is 40 cents for each 100 lb
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson SEL FWD: its $31,300 list price before the $1,400 destination charge. The DOT’s calculator gives the exact figure by VIN
Birth month
Optional. The first registration runs to your birthday, so this works out its months. Without it, a full year shows. It stays on this device.
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current model year
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay a yearly fee on top
Curb weight
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson, is assumed at 3,500 lb; the weight part is 40 cents for each 100 lb
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson SEL FWD: its $31,300 list price before the $1,400 destination charge. The DOT’s calculator gives the exact figure by VIN
Birth month
Optional. The first registration runs to your birthday, so this works out its months. Without it, a full year shows. It stays on this device.
New · 2026 · Gas · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current model year
Fuel
Gas car. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay a yearly fee on top
Curb weight
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson, is assumed at 3,500 lb; the weight part is 40 cents for each 100 lb
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car, a 2026 Tucson SEL FWD: its $31,300 list price before the $1,400 destination charge. The DOT’s calculator gives the exact figure by VIN
Birth month
Optional. The first registration runs to your birthday, so this works out its months. Without it, a full year shows. It stays on this device.
$180.00: the most Iowa law allows (“A motor vehicle dealer may charge a documentary fee not to exceed one hundred eighty dollars for each motor vehicle sold in a transaction.”).
Iowa calls it a documentary fee.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Iowa requires with this fee
DOCUMENTARY FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO A BUYER FOR THE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF RELATED SERVICES. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE CHARGED FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS DETERMINED BY IOWA CODE SECTION 322.19A.
$180.00: the most Iowa law allows (“A motor vehicle dealer may charge a documentary fee not to exceed one hundred eighty dollars for each motor vehicle sold in a transaction.”).
Iowa calls it a documentary fee.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Iowa requires with this fee
DOCUMENTARY FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO A BUYER FOR THE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF RELATED SERVICES. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE CHARGED FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS DETERMINED BY IOWA CODE SECTION 322.19A.
$180.00: the most Iowa law allows (“A motor vehicle dealer may charge a documentary fee not to exceed one hundred eighty dollars for each motor vehicle sold in a transaction.”).
Iowa calls it a documentary fee.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
The notice Iowa requires with this fee
DOCUMENTARY FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FEE. A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT MAY BE CHARGED TO A BUYER FOR THE PREPARATION OF DOCUMENTS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF RELATED SERVICES. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE CHARGED FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEE IS DETERMINED BY IOWA CODE SECTION 322.19A.
- No sales tax on the car, and no local option tax on it.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate fee for a standard pair of plates on a new registration.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No state inspection or emissions fee on a car.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No county fee on top of the state’s: counties keep a part of the fees you pay.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No yearly property tax on a car: the registration fees are in place of it.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in allowance that comes off the fee.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No sales tax on the car, and no local option tax on it.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate fee for a standard pair of plates on a new registration.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No state inspection or emissions fee on a car.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No county fee on top of the state’s: counties keep a part of the fees you pay.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No yearly property tax on a car: the registration fees are in place of it.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in allowance that comes off the fee.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No sales tax on the car, and no local option tax on it.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate fee for a standard pair of plates on a new registration.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No state inspection or emissions fee on a car.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No county fee on top of the state’s: counties keep a part of the fees you pay.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No yearly property tax on a car: the registration fees are in place of it.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No limit on the trade-in allowance that comes off the fee.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,207.00 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $2,793.00 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,167.00 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $2,833.00 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,159.50 in tax, fees and the doc fee first; $2,840.50 goes toward the price.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
60 payments, last $576.57
72 payments, last $519.17
60 payments, last $564.59
cash down plus every payment
+$750.07 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
+$3,552.36 more all-in than Deal C
cash down plus every payment
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
7 charges this total leaves out
7 charges this total leaves out
7 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Iowa
Iowa calls it the fee for new registration.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Iowa’s law sets a maximum for the documentary fee of $180.00 (its words: “A motor vehicle dealer may charge a documentary fee not to exceed one hundred eighty dollars for each motor vehicle sold in a transaction.”).
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A service contract sold with the car is left out of the fee for new registration if it is itemized. It pays Iowa’s 6% sales tax instead, plus the 1% local option tax where the city has one, as Des Moines does.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Worked examples
Each line below is worked by the same engine as the calculator, on the day this page was built (Nov 11, 2026).
A new car with a trade-in and negative equity
A new car at $32,700.00, with a trade-in allowed at $10,000.00 and $13,000.00 still owed, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Iowa’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $32,700.00 |
| Trade-in allowance | $10,000.00 |
| Still owed on the trade-in | $13,000.00 |
| Equity (negative if you owe more than it is worth) | −$3,000.00 |
| Purchase price legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Fee for new registration (5% and $10) legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,145.00 |
| Doc fee legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $180.00 |
| Certificate of title legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $35.00 |
| Security interest (lien) notation legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $20.00 |
| Registration: 1% of the list price, for a full year legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $313.00 |
| Registration: 40 cents for each 100 lb, for a full year legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $14.00 |
| Out-the-door price | $34,407.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $32,407.00 |
| Monthly payment | $625.01 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,093.75 |
| Total paid, interest included | $42,500.75 |
A used car from a dealer
A used car, model year 2022, at $21,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Iowa’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Purchase price legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Fee for new registration (5% and $10) legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,085.00 |
| Doc fee legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $180.00 |
| Certificate of title legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $35.00 |
| Security interest (lien) notation legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $20.00 |
| Registration: 40 cents for each 100 lb, for a full year legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $14.00 |
| Registration: 1% of the list price: needs the car’s sticker price (MSRP), which this example doesn’t give | Not included |
| Out-the-door price | $22,834.00 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $17,834.00 |
| Monthly payment | $343.95 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,803.14 |
| Total paid, interest included | $25,637.14 |
The rules in Iowa
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | fee for new registration legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Fee for new registration (5% and $10) | 5.00% of the taxable amount legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Iowa sales tax on a service contract (state 6%) | 6.00% of the amount it taxes legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Local option sales tax on a service contract | a local rate set by the dealer’s place, on the amount it taxes legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price and accessories fitted before delivery. Not taxed: the doc fee, other dealer fees on the order, protection packages, loose items sold with the car, service contracts, prepaid maintenance, GAP and government fees. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate lowers the amount taxed. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets a maximum for the documentary fee of $180.00 (its words: “A motor vehicle dealer may charge a documentary fee not to exceed one hundred eighty dollars for each motor vehicle sold in a transaction.”). legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Certificate of title | $35.00 legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration: 1% of the list price | worked from the rule a year legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration: 40 cents for each 100 lb | worked from the rule a year legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration: a flat $50 for a car 12 model years old or more | $50.00 a year legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | The same $10 plus 5% of the price on the bill of sale, paid by the buyer to a county treasurer at titling. A gift with nothing paid is exempt. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Tax paid to another state | A credit for state-level sales, use or occupational tax paid to another state, not local tax. The buyer pays the difference if the tax paid is less. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | No fee for new registration if the car was bought for use in the old state. The $35 title fee, a prorated registration and any lien fee still apply. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Lien notation | $20 for each security interest shown on the title, up to three on one title. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric and hybrid fees | A battery-electric car pays $130 a year and a plug-in hybrid $65 a year, added to the yearly registration fee. A conventional hybrid pays nothing extra. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Finance rate ceiling | A dealer’s installment contract may charge at most 1.75% a month (21% a year) on a new car of the current model year, 2% a month (24%) on an older new model or a used car up to 2 model years old, and 2.25% a month (27%) on an older used car. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Interest rate markup | No limit on a dealer’s markup of the finance rate was found; only the rate ceilings apply. That finding is not confirmed. legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· Watching: A bill to strike the $180 documentary fee cap (and rename the charge) was introduced in 2025 and did not pass; the next session starts in 2027, No change was scheduled on 2026-10-03; the fee amounts, the 5% rate and the cap are set in statute.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
What is Iowa's fee for new registration on a car?
Iowa does not charge sales tax on a car. Vehicle sales are exempt from the 6% sales tax, and a fee for new registration takes its place: 5% of the purchase price plus $10. The $10 part started on January 1, 2025. The purchase price is figured like a sales price. It includes accessories, added equipment and freight, less a manufacturer’s cash rebate applied to the price and a qualifying trade-in. The dealer’s doc fee and an itemized service agreement are left out. There is no local tax on the car itself. The dealer collects the fee at signing and sends it to a county treasurer within 30 days. A private buyer pays a county treasurer when applying for the title, within 30 days of the purchase.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is the Iowa dealer doc fee capped?
Yes. Iowa law says a dealer “may charge a documentary fee not to exceed one hundred eighty dollars for each motor vehicle sold in a transaction.” That is $180 per vehicle, the same for new and used cars and for cash and credit buyers. The figure is fixed in the statute, with no inflation clause. An older rule that would have cut it by twenty-five dollars once electronic titling began was removed in 2021, so it stays $180. The dealer must include the full fee in any advertised price and in an offer, and the purchase agreement must carry a notice that a documentary fee is not an official fee and is not required by law. The doc fee is not part of the base for the fee for new registration. A charge from a third party is not part of the documentary fee as the law defines it. Complaints go to the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
iowaattorneygeneral.gov · checked Oct 14, 2026
Does a trade-in lower Iowa's fee for new registration?
Yes, in full. The whole trade-in allowance comes off the purchase price, with no dollar cap, on new and used cars. The dealer must normally sell that type of vehicle, and the person on the new car’s title and registration must be the same person as on the traded car’s, with exceptions for spouses, family, businesses and cosigners. What you still owe on the trade-in does not matter: the full allowance is deducted even if it pays off a loan. A trade worth more than the price brings the 5% part to $0. Whether the $10 part is still charged then is not confirmed. You also get a credit for the unexpired months of the traded car’s yearly registration fee, against the new car’s. There is no credit under $10, and it must be claimed within 6 months.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
How is the Iowa yearly registration fee worked out?
Each year a car pays 1% of its value as fixed by the Department of Transportation, plus $0.40 for each 100 lb of weight, rounded to the whole dollar, with a minimum of $10. The value is the retail list price in the department’s rate book. We take it to be the maker’s list price before destination; that is not confirmed. The value part falls with age: the full rate for the first 7 model years, 75% after 7, 50% after 9, and a flat $50 for a car 12 model years old or older. The registration year starts the month after the owner’s birth month, and a first registration is prorated by the month. A battery-electric car adds $130 a year and a plug-in hybrid $65. These fees take the place of any yearly property tax on the car.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
I bought a car out of state. What do I pay in Iowa?
An Iowa resident who buys a car in another state pays Iowa’s fee for new registration, $10 plus 5%, to a county treasurer when titling it. Iowa credits state-level sales, use or occupational tax paid to the other state, but not local tax. If the tax paid is less than the Iowa fee, you pay the difference. Proof of payment is required. A new resident owes no fee if the car was bought for use in the old state, not for use in Iowa. You still pay the $35 title fee, a prorated registration and a lien fee if there is a loan, and you register within 30 days. A nonresident who buys in Iowa to take the car home is exempt with a transit plate.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is a private car sale taxed in Iowa?
Yes, with the same fee: $10 plus 5% of the price, paid by the buyer to a county treasurer at titling. A bill of sale signed by the seller sets the price, and the treasurer may ask for more proof. There is no book-value minimum: the price on the bill of sale is used. A gift with nothing paid is exempt, but taking over the seller’s loan counts as payment. A trade given to a private seller also comes off the price. Apply for the title and registration within 30 days of the purchase.
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legis.iowa.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026