Iowa Code » Chapter 321 — MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 321.501 (2026)

Manner of service

✓ current as of July 2026
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The plaintiff in any action against a nonresident shall cause the original notice of suit to be served by doing all of the following:

1. By filing a copy of the original notice of suit with the director, together with a fee of two dollars.

2. By mailing to the defendant, and to each of the defendants if there are more than one, within ten days after said filing with the director, by restricted certified mail addressed to the defendant at the defendant’s last known residence or place of abode, a notification of the filing with the director. [C31, 35, §5079-d14; C39, §5038.04; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.501] 2021 Acts, ch 80, §178; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §74 Referred to in §321.502, 321.507, 321.511, 321.556 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1970–2026 · leading case: Brown v. John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works, 423 N.W.2d 193 (Iowa 1988).
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Brown v. John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works, 423 N.W.2d 193 (Iowa 1988). “Iowa Code § 321.501 (1958). In Johnson the plaintiff mailed the commissioner a copy of the original notice on a Friday.”
James W. Heeney v. Marjorie E. Miner, 421 F.2d 434 (8th Cir. 1970). “The trial court found that these were mailed by restricted certified mail in accord with Iowa Code § 321.501 , and within the required ten days from the date of service on the Commissioner.”
Rhonda C. Lucas v. Peter J. Warhol & Progressive Direct Ins. Co., 23 N.W.3d 19 (Iowa 2025). · cites it 2× “And so, Lucas “request[ed] that the Court deny Defendant Warhol’s pre-answer motion to dismiss” because Warhol had been “properly served under Iowa Code § 321.501 prior to” the June 12 deadline.”
Rhonda C. Lucas v. Peter J. Warhol, 23 N.W.3d 19 (Iowa 2025). · cites it 2× “And so, Lucas “request[ed] that the Court deny Defendant Warhol’s pre-answer motion to dismiss” because Warhol had been “properly served under Iowa Code § 321.501 prior to” the June 12 deadline.”
Elizabeth Simon N/K/A Elizabeth Hartson v. Est. of Lyle Iverson, No. 16-0475 (Iowa Ct. App. Mar. 22, 2017). “See also Iowa Code § 321.501 (requiring service of original notice).”
Katelyn Eikenberry v. Samantha Owens & Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co., No. 19-1723 (Iowa Ct. App. Jan. 21, 2021). “Iowa Code § 321.501 (2). “[T]here must be a showing of actual or offered delivery.”
John J. Ahlen v. Tyrell Letre Williams, No. 25-0235 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 25, 2026). “The court expressly 5 rejected the contention that return of the mailing as “unclaimed” constituted refusal of delivery.”
Mary Eileen Meeker v. United States of Am., Robert Martin, Postal Leasing, Inc., & MacHael Oil Co., 437 F.2d 69 (8th Cir. 1971). “Iowa Code § 321.501 . See Esterdahl v. Wilson, 252 Iowa 1199 , 110 N.”
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