1. A vehicle may be operated upon the highways of this state without registration plates for a period of forty-five days after the date of delivery of the vehicle to the purchaser from a dealer if a card bearing the words “registration applied for” is attached on the rear of the vehicle. The card shall have plainly stamped or stenciled the registration number of the dealer from whom the vehicle was purchased and the date of delivery of the vehicle. In addition, a dealer licensed to sell new motor vehicles may attach the card to a new motor\n\nTue Dec 09 22:16:57 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) 37 MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD, §321.27\n\nvehicle delivered by the dealer to the purchaser even if the vehicle was purchased from an out-of-state dealer and the card shall bear the registration number of the dealer that delivered the vehicle. A dealer shall not issue a card to a person known to the dealer to be in possession of registration plates which may be attached to the vehicle. A dealer shall not issue a card unless an application for initial registration and certificate of title has been made by the purchaser and a receipt issued to the purchaser of the vehicle showing the fee paid by the person making the application. Dealers’ records shall indicate the agency to which the fee is sent and the date the fee is sent. The dealer shall forward the application by the purchaser to the county treasurer or state office within thirty calendar days from the date of delivery of the vehicle. However, if the vehicle is subject to a security interest and has been offered for sale pursuant to section 321.48, subsection 1, the dealer shall forward the application by the purchaser to the county treasurer or state office within thirty calendar days from the date of the delivery of the vehicle to the purchaser.
2. The department shall, upon request by any dealer, furnish “registration applied for” cards free of charge. Only cards furnished by the department shall be used. Only one card shall be issued in accordance with this subsection for each vehicle purchased. [S13, §1571-m10; C24, 27, 31, 35, §4880; C39, §5001.09; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §321.25; C77, §321.25 – 321.27; C79, 81, §321.25] 83 Acts, ch 82, §1; 93 Acts, ch 47, §1; 97 Acts, ch 108, §4; 99 Acts, ch 13, §5; 2000 Acts, ch 1016, §3; 2024 Acts, ch 1145, §6, 26 Referred to in §321.46, 331.557, 805.8A(2)(c) For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8A, subsection 2 \n
Notes of Decisions
Tim O'Neill Chevrolet, Inc. v. Forristall, 551 N.W.2d 611 (Iowa 1996).
· cites it 12× “See Iowa Code § 321.25 (“A vehicle may be operated upon the highways of this state without registration plates for a period of thirty days after the date of delivery of the vehicle to the purchaser from the dealer if a card bearing the words ‘registration applied for’ is…”
United States v. Daytoviane McLemore, 887 F.3d 861 (8th Cir. 2018).
· cites it 4× “Concluding the district court correctly distinguished our prior decisions that upheld traffic stops for possible vehicle registration violations, we affirm.”
State v. Andrews, 705 N.W.2d 493 (Iowa 2005).
· cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 321.25 . Defendant’s motion to suppress did not assert that the vehicle he was driving displayed a card that had been issued by a dealer and which contained the information required by statute.”
State v. Cooley, 587 N.W.2d 752 (Iowa 1998).
· cites it 2× “By separate trial he was also convicted of violating the “registration applied for” provision of Iowa Code section 321.25, a simple misdemeanor. See Iowa Code § 321.”
State v. Jackson, 315 N.W.2d 766 (Iowa 1982).
· cites it 2× “See section 321.25, The Code. Defendant could not however produce a valid driver’s license when requested and admitted to the officer he did not have a license and was under suspension.”
In Re Merritt, 267 B.R. 625 (Bankr. D. Iowa 2001).
· cites it 10× “It states: "The dealer shall forward the application [for title] to the county treasurer or state office within fifteen days from the date of the delivery of the vehicle.”
United States v. Gregory Givens, 763 F.3d 987 (8th Cir. 2014).
“” Iowa Code Ann. § 321.25 . The “card shall have plainly stamped or stenciled the registration number of the dealer .”
State v. Hollie, 854 N.W.2d 695 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013).
· cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 321.25 . Hollie’s vehicle was stopped for displaying a temporary registration card.”
State v. Baldwin, 396 N.W.2d 192 (Iowa 1986).
· cites it 2× “Iowa Code section 321.25 (1983) provides: A vehicle may be operated upon the highways of this state without registration plates for a period of twenty days after the date of delivery of the vehicle to the purchaser from a dealer if a card bearing the words “registration applied…”
Hanrahan v. Triad Fin. Corp. (Merritt), 267 B.R. 625 (Bankr. D. Iowa 2001).
· cites it 10× “It states: “The dealer shall forward the application [for title] to the county treasurer or state office within fifteen days from the date of the delivery of the vehicle.” 1 Further, a buyer may operate a newly purchased vehicle with a temporary card bearing the words…”
State v. Barry, 125 N.W.2d 833 (Iowa 1964).
· cites it 2× “26, as amended by the Fifty-ninth General Assembly effective July 4, 1961, provides: “No manufacturer or dealer shall permit the use of such card [pasteboard card described in section 321.25] unless an application for a registration and certificate of title has been made, as…”
Huisinta v. Consum. Portfolio Servs. Inc. (In Re Orcutt), 280 B.R. 837 (Bankr. D. Iowa 2002).
“Iowa law, however, does not allow for a delay in applying for registration and title, and notation of lien on the title, beyond the thirty days allowed under sections 321.25, 321.46 and 321.50 of the Iowa Code.”
— Iowa Code § 321.25(1) — 1 case
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