City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a personal watercraft in Iowa City, 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
Johnson County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle
Address
913 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone
(319) 356-6090
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 5% use tax on private vehicle sales
Iowa does not require notarization for private vehicle sales.
County Clerk / Recorder
Johnson County Recorder
Phone
(319) 356-6093
The most common personal watercraft makes in private-party sales are Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki. Average private-party personal watercraft prices range from $3,000–$20,000. Personal watercrafts average 1.2 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Steering, Hull.
Before completing a personal watercraft bill of sale in Iowa, verify these safety items:
PWC insurance averages $200–$500/year. Many marinas require proof of insurance. PWC depreciate 40–50% in the first 3 years. Three-seat models retain value better than single-seat. Peak season for private personal watercraft sales is april–may before summer water season, with an average of 30 days on market.
Personal Watercrafts are classified as "Personal watercraft (state-registered, minimum operator age varies by state)" for registration purposes. PWC are classified by engine hours. Average recreational lifespan is 300–500 hours. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to personal watercrafts.
Iowa City residents completing a personal watercraft 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 personal watercraft 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)
Iowa City is in Johnson County. Title transfers are handled by the Johnson County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle at 913 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Phone: (319) 356-6090.
The combined rate is 5.00%. Iowa 5% use tax on private vehicle sales.
No. Iowa does not require notarization for private vehicle sales.
Title transfer fee: $25.00. Base registration fee: $35.00. Sales tax at 5.00% is collected at the time of title transfer.