If you're anything like the millions of car owners across America, you've probably been through this same experience numerous times. You know that your car is worth more than what the dealer offered you as a trade-in value — you also know that it still has plenty of life and miles left. However, finding out what your car is worth in the private marketplace can feel like walking through a dark cornfield at night.

Here's the good news: Selling your car privately in Iowa is not only possible, but it could be the best financial decision you have ever made. How do I know? Because if you have a strategic plan to sell your car privately, you will be able to keep thousands of extra dollars in your pocket that you otherwise would have lost by trading it in to a dealer. Whether you are located in Sioux City, Davenport or any of Iowa's small towns, this guide will help you develop a strategy for successfully, safely and profitably selling your vehicle privately. Let's get started on getting you some cash!

Why Doing Private Sales in Iowa is Always the Winning Strategy

When you trade in your vehicle, you are paying for a level of convenience. The dealer takes care of the paperwork for you, but he is also going to take a huge chunk of your equity from your vehicle and sell it at a profit. By selling your vehicle privately, you cut out the middle man.

The used car market in Iowa is strong, with items such as strong trucks for use on a farm or small to medium sized fuel efficient vehicles for commuting in or around cities, making it easy to find someone to buy your vehicle.

The "Pro's and Con's" of Selling Your Vehicle Privately

Before we get into the "how to" portion of this document, let me address the current state of affairs regarding stressful dealer negotiations on the value of your vehicle.

Step 1: Preparing Your Vehicle for the "Iowa Nice" Market

People in Iowa appreciate integrity, and if your vehicle appears to be dirty and largely untouched, prospective buyers will make the assumption that the engine has been treated similarly. You do not have to take the vehicle to a detailing shop or have extensive work done, but it often doesn't take much effort before you see a lot of improvements.

• Wash & Wax - An automobile that has been cleaned and shined will let everyone know that the owner has kept good care of it!
  
  

• Vacuum the Interior - Remove all crumbs from your fun trips to Adventureland!
  
  

• Remove Personal Items - Remove bumper stickers, cell phone mounts, and other personal belongings from the vehicle.
  
  

• Check Fluids - Top off your windshield washer fluid, oil and other fluids; it shows that you care about the condition of your vehicle.
  

Step 2: How to List Your Vehicle

In order to reach prospective buyers, you need to use the various online forums that exist today. With the exception of putting a sign in the window or taking out an ad in your local newspaper, almost all potential buyers have moved to online access of auto listings.

Where to List

With a site such as KarKiosk, you can now syndicate your listing over multiple high-traffic websites, so you only need to list your vehicle one time, but it will be listed many times over, thus putting it in front of many more people than just posting it in one place.

Taking the Perfect Photo

Don't take your vehicle pictures in low lighting. Don't take your vehicle pictures in a garage where there are too many other vehicles that will clutter up the picture. Make sure to take your vehicle to a public area that provides an open view.

• Hero Shot - Get an angled front shot of the driver side of the vehicle - this will provide a great shot that shows the front of the vehicle and will also show the side - both will show the overall condition of the vehicle.
  
  

• Interior Photos - Take pictures of the vehicle dashboard and front and rear seat within the vehicle.
  
  

• Odometer Reading - Take a picture of the odometer reading to provide proof of the mileage.
  
  

• Engine Bay - A clean engine bay goes a long way in persuading a buyer that the engine is also clean (well maintained).
  
  

Writing an Appealing Vehicle Description

Be honest about your vehicle. If the A/C unit does not work properly or at all, then you should mention that fact. If the vehicle has brand new tires that can properly handle the rigours of Iowa winters, then you should highlight that fact.

Here is an example of a great description:

My 2018 Ford F-150 has just 73,500 miles and has been an extremely reliable vehicle. This truck is perfect for driving during Iowa winters thanks to the 4WD and all new all-season tires. The interior is very clean and I do not smoke in my vehicle. The truck has always been well maintained by me as evidenced by regular oil changes. I am selling this truck because I need to purchase a bigger truck to accommodate my growing workload. I also have the title for this truck in capitation.

Step 3: Understand the Iowa Vehicle Sales Process

Don’t Panic!

You should not be concerned about the paperwork related to selling a vehicle in Iowa. If you follow the checklist you will see that the process is very easy to follow. There are specific requirements that the Iowa Department of Transportation requires you to fulfil, so please don’t forget them.

The TITLE

You cannot sell your vehicle without having a title. If you do not have your title, you will need to go to your local county Trevor’s office and fill out form 411033 so that you may obtain either a duplicate title.

Signing the Title

Back of the title – Assignments of title section

• Buyer information – The buyer's full name (first, middle and last) and full address must be printed.
  
  

• Date & Mileage read at the time of sale – Fill out the date of sale and record the exact odometer reading of the vehicle at the time of sale. The odometer information is required if the automobile is a 2011 model year or newer.
  
  

• Your Signature – You must sign your name on the title exactly as your name appears on the front of the title (first, middle, and last).
  
  

CRITICAL: Do not use white-out. Also, do not cross out or change anything; if the title will be voided and you will have to start all over by replacing the title.

DAMAGE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Does your vehicle have less than 7 model years, then you must provide the buyer with you Damaged Disclosure Statement, as required by Iowa law.

• Where is it located? The Damage Disclosure Statement may be on the rear side of a newer title. If not, you will need to complete and submit an Iowa Department of Transportation Form 411108.
  
  

• What does this form do? It attests to whether the vehicle has been damaged and that the total amount of damages exceeds 50% of the vehicle's total actual cash value.
  
  

BILL OF SALE

The Bill of Sale transfers ownership of the vehicle to the buyer and enables them to register the vehicle in addition to provides proof of purchase and payment of costs associated with the sale.

Bill of Sale check-off list:

1. Seller and buyer's name
   
   

2. Year, make, model of vehicle
   
   

3. Vehicle identification number (VIN #)
   
   

4. Purchase price
   
   

5. Date of sale
   
   

6. Signature of seller and buyer

Step 4: Your Safety is a Major Concern – Protecting You and the Vehicle

When meeting someone off the internet, you should always put your safety first.

“Safe Exchange” Protocol:

• Public Meeting is Preferred: Meet in a high-traffic area such as at a gas station, in the parking lot of a grocery store or police station (many police stations have “Safe Exchange Zones”).
  
  

• Bring Someone with You: Don’t meet the buyer alone. Having someone with you can help deter untrustworthy people.
  
  

• Test Drive: Always test drive with the buyer driving the vehicle. Never let the vehicle out of your sight. Always check the buyer’s Driver’s License before giving them the keys to your vehicle.
  

Step 5: The Handover – What Happens with the License Plates?

As an Iowan, you will probably get this same question, “Do the plates go with the vehicle?”

• No. In Iowa, the vehicle license plates belong to the seller not the vehicle.
  
  

• You Must Remove Them: Take the plates off the vehicle before the buyer drives away.
  
  

• You May Transfer Them: You can transfer the plates to a vehicle you purchase within 30 days of selling the vehicle.
  
  

• You Must Return Them: If you are not purchasing another vehicle, take the plates to your County Treasurer’s Office. If you have credit on your registration in the amount of $10 or more, you will receive a refund.
  
  

You should never allow the buyer to drive away from your location with your plates attached. If the buyer runs a red light or is involved in an accident, the police will contact you.

Step 6: Handling Money

Cash is good for lower-priced vehicles (less than $5k), but some will say cash has greater risk associated with it when you're dealing with larger amounts of money. There are three main payment forms accepted for car sales, and each involves some sort of risk. The option you choose will depend on how much you want to spend or how much risk you are willing to take to complete the sale.

• Using cash - If you're paying cash for a car that is being sold for under $5,000. If you have concerns about counterfeit cash, you can check cash with a counterfeit detection pen.
  
  

• Cashier's check - A safer way to pay for the vehicle when making a larger purchase. If you can, meet with the buyer at their bank to witness the teller produce the cashier's check before taking the check from them.
  
  

• Online transfer - Be careful of using an app to pay for the vehicle if you're not completely confident in how it works.
  

Final Steps for Selling Your Vehicle

After receiving the payment and signed title:

• Provide any keys you have for vehicle.
  
  

• Complete the transaction by giving the buyer the bill of sale and signed title.
  
  

• Empty out your personal property from the vehicle.
  
  

• Get in touch with your car insurance company to remove insurance from vehicle.
  
  

• Congratulations! You have successfully completed a car sale in Iowa. You have likely received a higher sale price than you would have received if you sold your car through a dealer. You now know that the private sale process isn't nearly as scary as its reputation may suggest.
  
  

Selling a vehicle in the State of Iowa can be a positive experience if you:

1. Are organized,
   
   

2. Are truthful, and
   
   

3. Follow applicable regulations.
   

Once your paperwork is completed, and your car is in great shape, you're ready to start selling! Good luck with your sale!