Get Iowa Salvage Title Affidavit

No, you cannot insure a car with a salvage title in Iowa. Salvage vehicles are cars that have been declared a total loss, meaning they're too damaged to be worth repairing and cannot be driven legally. As a result, no legitimate car insurance company writes policies for them.

The State of Iowa will not give a salvaged vehicle a clean title, even if it's been repaired. However, it can be registered again and driven if you submit the salvage title and pay the registration fees to the county treasurer.

If the vehicle passes the inspection, you can take the information the officer will give you to your county treasurer's office to transfer from a Salvage title to a Rebuilt title and obtain registration plates for your vehicle.

Iowa law requires the vehicle to be physically examined by a peace officer who has been certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement before a rebuilt title can be issued. You must have the salvage title in your name or have the title assigned to you to have the vehicle inspected. The cost of the inspection is $50.

When the vehicle has a salvage title, it is not possible to register or drive the vehicle. However, some owners and those who buy salvage vehicles want to get the vehicles into drivable condition. You can begin registration and apply for a new title once this is done.