City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a jet ski in Des Moines, Iowa. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
Polk County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle
Address
111 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone
(515) 286-3060
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$25.00
Sales Tax Rate
5.00%
Base Registration Fee
$35.00
Iowa charges 5% use tax on private vehicle sales (no local add-on for vehicles)
Iowa does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is sufficient.
County Clerk / Recorder
Polk County Recorder
Phone
(515) 286-3572
The most common jet ski makes in private-party sales are Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki. Average private-party jet ski prices range from $3,000–$18,000. Jet skis average 1.2 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Steering, Hull/Deck.
Before completing a jet ski bill of sale in Iowa, verify these safety items:
PWC insurance averages $200–$500/year. Required in many states for operation on public waterways. Jet skis depreciate 40–50% in the first 3 years. Low-hour Yamaha WaveRunners retain value best. Peak season for private jet ski sales is late spring (april–may) before summer water season, with an average of 30 days on market.
Jet Skis are classified as "Personal watercraft (state-registered)" for registration purposes. PWC are classified by engine hours rather than mileage. Average lifespan is 300–500 engine hours. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to jet skis.
Des Moines residents completing a jet ski bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to Iowa state rules. The state sales tax rate is 5%, 5% one-time new registration fee instead of sales tax. The most popular jet ski makes in Iowa include Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 772 bill of sale documents for Iowa transactions, with 21 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
Des Moines is in Polk County. Title transfers are handled by the Polk County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle at 111 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Phone: (515) 286-3060.
The combined rate is 5.00%. Iowa charges 5% use tax on private vehicle sales (no local add-on for vehicles).
No. Iowa does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title is sufficient.
Title transfer fee: $25.00. Base registration fee: $35.00. Sales tax at 5.00% is collected at the time of title transfer.