Salvage Vehicle Information

A salvage vehicle is a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 30,000 pounds, and

•  was acquired by an insurance company as a result of damage or theft; or

• was acquired by a licensed recycler or a person engaged in the business of buying and selling or exchanging vehicles of a type required to be registered in Iowa, and has repair costs exceeding 50 percent of its fair market value before it was damaged and that value was $500 or more; or

• is from another state, and that state’s title indicates the vehicle is damaged and cannot be registered to be driven or moved on the highway until repaired.

Yes, if engaged in the business, or in a calendar year you:

• sell used bodies, parts of bodies, frames or component parts of more than six used vehicles; or

• deal in the wrecking or dismantling of more than six vehicles or parts of more than six used vehicles; or

• rebuild or restore for sale six or more wrecked or salvage vehicles; or

• store vehicles not currently registered or damaged unless the storage is incidental to your primary purpose of repairing motor vehicles for others, scrapping, disposing, salvaging or recycling of more than six vehicles or parts of more than six vehicles.

• an educational institution;

• licensed as a new motor vehicle dealer;

• engaged in the business of purchasing bodies, parts of bodies, frames, or component parts of vehicles only for sale as scrap metal; or

• engaged in rebuilding or restoring vehicles as a hobby, not for profit.

Educational institution;

• New motor vehicle dealer licensed under Chapter 322;

• A person engaged in the business of purchasing bodies, parts of bodies, frames or component parts of vehicles for sale as scrap metal;

• A salvage pool (means the business of selling at auction wrecked or salvage vehicles as defined in Chapter 321.52); or

• An authorized vehicle recycler licensed under Chapter 321H.

However, an authorized vehicle recycler licensed under Chapter 321H or a new motor vehicle dealer licensed under Chapter 322 may assign an Iowa salvage certificate of title to any person. A salvage title must be obtained by the new owner within 30 days of purchase. An Iowa salvage title will be stamped SALVAGE on the face of the title.

How do I get a regular title and registration for an Iowa salvage titled vehicle that has been repaired?

Submit the following to your county treasurer, along with an application for title:

• salvage title;

• salvage theft examination certificate;

• appropriate fees.

The regular title will be designated as prior salvage which will be carried forward to all subsequent Iowa titles and registrations for the vehicle.

The following designations may appear on the upper right hand corner of the Iowa title and bottom right hand corner of the Iowa registration receipt:

• salvage;

• prior salvage;

• rebuilt;

• two-letter abbreviation of the out-of-state jurisdiction;

• flood, fire, vandalism, or theft

• lemon buy back.

If the prior title for a vehicle is a foreign title indicating that the vehicle was damaged by fire, flood or vandalism, or is a recovered stolen vehicle and another designation is not required, the Iowa title issued shall contain, as applicable, the designation of flood, fire, vandalism or theft.

The vehicle has been designated as junk and can no longer be issued a title in Iowa unless it is 25 model years old and a title is issued through the title bonding process.

• Rebuilt with an out-of-state name abbreviation means the vehicle was rebuilt before being titled in Iowa.

• Rebuilt - The vehicle was issued an Iowa salvage title and rebuilt under Iowa salvage law prior to July 1, 1992.

Prior salvage means the vehicle was issued an Iowa salvage title and passed a vehicle theft examination under Iowa salvage law on or after July 1, 1992.

This means the vehicle came into Iowa on an out-of -state salvage title and:

• an Iowa salvage title was issued and the salvage vehicle was rebuilt in Iowa prior to July 1, 1992; and

• the vehicle was more than five model years old; or

• the vehicle passed a component part review.

What does "Lemon Buy Back" stand for?

If an out-of-state title is surrendered and indicates that the vehicle was returned to the manufacturer pursuant to the other state's law similar to our Code Section 321G, the Iowa title, registration and all subsequent titles and registrations shall contain the designation "Lemon Buy Back," except if the vehicle is issued a salvage title, rebuilt or prior savage.  The salvage or rebuilt designation shall supercede the buy back designation.  A manufacturer who accepts the return of a motor vehicle pursuant to 321G is required to obtain an Iowa title in the manufacturer's name.  the title shall also contain the same designation, "Lemon Buy Back," and would have the same exceptions.

No, it will carry the latest designation or most severe.

Yes. The state designation will be converted to Iowa designations and if the designation is rebuilt, the state’s name will be listed also.

A peace officer's review of the repaired motor vehicle to check component parts and required documents for compliance with Iowa theft laws.

The salvage motor vehicle must be repaired before the examination except for minor body parts such as trim, body marking and paint.

You may contact your local county treasurer's auto department to find out the agency nearest you that is conducting vehicle theft examinations.

You or your authorized representative must present to the peace officer:

• the motor vehicle;

• an Iowa salvage title in your name or properly assigned within 30 days of sale;

• an affidavit of salvage vehicle repairs;

• bills of sale for all component parts replaced;

• a $30 check or money order made payable to the department conducting the examination.

You or your representative may be required to drive the motor vehicle on and off a hoist. You may also be required to remove certain parts to allow examination of component part numbers. Any cost to remove or replace any part will be your responsibility. You will be given a salvage theft examination certificate when the motor vehicle passes the examination. This certificate is not transferable.

You may obtain a permit to drive the salvage motor vehicle to and from the examination site by contacting the department conducting the examinations your local county treasurer or by going to the Motor Vehicle Enforcement website at www.dot.state.ia.us/mvd/omve and downloading the "Affidavit of Salvage Vehicle Repairs Form #411071."  A licensed motor vehicle dealer may drive a salvage motor vehicle to and from the examination with dealer or transporter plates.

This form lists parts that are repaired on the vehicle.  You will need to complete this form as instructed and certify the vehicle is properly equipped and in reasonably safe mechanical condition.  This form may be obtained from the department conducting the examination, your local county treasurer or downloaded from the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Website www.dot.state.ia.us/mvd/omve (the "Affidavit of Salvage Vehicle Repairs Form #411071").

What is a bill of sale?

It is a document from the seller to the buyer containing the name, address, and telephone number of the seller, a description and identification number of the component part and, if applicable, the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle from which it was removed.

You may send a written request indicating the year, make and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the salvage motor vehicle, and a $10 fee to:

Office of Vehicle Services
Audit Section
P.O. Box 9278
Des Moines, IA  50306-9278

©Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
Last Updated:  May 09, 2007