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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 15, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretaiy,
I hereby transmit:
House File 777, an Act relating to applications for a motor vehicle salvage certificate of
title by an insurer without surrendering the certificate of title or manufacturer’s or
importer’s statement of origin, making penalties applicable, and including effective date
provisions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinceijly,
Kim Reynolds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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House File 777
AN ACT
RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE SALVAGE
CERTIFICATE OF TITLE BY AN INSURER WITHOUT SURRENDERING
THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OR MANUFACTURER'S OR IMPORTER'S
STATEMENT OF ORIGIN, MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE, AND
INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 321.52, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
a. ( 1 ) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, an insurer may apply for and be issued a salvage
certificate of title for a motor vehicle without surrendering
the certificate of title or manufacturer's or importer's
statement of origin properly assigned if ownership of the
vehicle was transferred, or will transfer, to the insurer
pursuant to a settlement with the previous owner of the vehicle
arising from circumstances involving damage to the vehicle, and
at least thirty days have expired since the effective date of
such settlement.
( 2) To obtain a salvage certificate of title pursuant to
this paragraph "a", the insurer s- hall must submit an application
for a salvage certificate of title to any county treasurer.
(a) The application shall must be accompanied by an
affidavit from the insurer in which the insurer certifies it
has made at least two written attempts to obtain a properly
assigned certificate of title or manufacturer's or importer's
House File 777, p. 2
Statement of origin for the vehicle by contacting the previous
owner of the vehicle and all lienholders of record by certified
mail or a similar service that provides proof of service using
a return receipt, and has been unable to obtain the title
or statement of origin. The failure of a previous owner or
lienholder to provide a properly assigned certificate of title
or manufacturer's or importer's statement of origin shall be
deemed to be a waiver by the previous owner or lienholder of
all rights, title, claim, and interest in the vehicle.
(b) Notwithstanding chapter 9B, section 633B.105, or
any other provision to the contrary, a supporting document
submitted with the application, including but not limited to a
power of attorney described in section 321.49, a replacement
certificate of title application for the vehicle owner
described in section 321.42, or an odometer statement required
under section 321.71 if permitted under 49 C.F.R. pt. 580, may
be signed and affirmed under penalty of perjury in lieu of a
notarized signature and, in accordance with chapter 554D, the
signature may be electronic. The affirmation under penalty of
perjury is limited to the signature identifying the signer as
the owner or the signer's representation of the authority of
the named agent to sign on the owner's behalf.
(c) The application shall must also be accompanied by the
application fee required under paragraph "b", and proof of
payment of the total amount of the settlement by the insurer
to the previous owner of the vehicle. Upon receiving an
application that complies with this paragraph "a", the county
treasurer shall issue a salvage certificate of title to the
insurer which s hall b e is free and clear of all liens and
claims of ownership and shall must bear the word "SALVAGE"
stamped or printed on the face of the title in a manner
prescribed by the department.
(d) The department and a county treasurer may rely on
representations made in a supporting document submitted under
subparagraph division (b). The department or county treasurer
is not liable to any person for such reliance if the department
or county treasurer, as applicable, took reasonable steps to
verify the validity of the supporting document prior to issuing
the salvage certificate of title and had no knowledge that a
House File 777, p. 3
representation in the document was incorrect at the time the
title was issued.
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect January 1,
2027.
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of the House
AMY
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in
is known as House File 777, Ninety-first General
the House and
Assembly .
Approved
MEGHAN NELSON
Chief Clerk of the House
kim’S^ynolds XV Governor