Relating to information required for nonresidents who apply for vehicle registration and issuance of a certificate of title

Current law requires an owner of a vehicle to apply for registration and issuance of a certificate of title if the vehicle is required to be registered. The application must include information about the owner, the vehicle, non-owner interests in the vehicle, if applicable, the amount of the fee for new registration, and other information as may reasonably be required by the department of transportation (DOT). In particular, the owner’s full legal name, social security number or Iowa driver’s license number or Iowa nonoperator’s identification card number, date of birth, bona fide residence, and mailing address are required. In addition, if the vehicle is owned by a nonresident but still subject to issuance of a certificate of title or registration in Iowa, the application must also contain the full legal name, Iowa driver’s license number or Iowa nonoperator’s identification card number, date of birth, bona fide residence, and mailing address of the primary user of the vehicle. This bill provides for alternative application information required for certain nonresidents. Nonresidents who own residential real property or land suitable for use in farming in Iowa that are registering a vehicle that is used primarily at that property may instead apply using the owner’s driver’s license number or nonoperator’s identification card number issued by another state in lieu of both the primary user’s information and the Iowa’s driver’s license number or nonoperator’s identification card number required under current law. A nonresident who applies for registration and issuance of a certificate of title under the bill is required to provide reasonable proof that the nonresident owns such property in Iowa. The DOT must adopt rules regarding acceptable proof of property ownership, including but not limited to a copy of a deed or utility payment receipts. For purposes of the bill, “residential real property” means real property, which is an owner-occupied single-family or two-family dwelling, located in this state, occupied or used or intended to be occupied or used for residential purposes, including an interest in any real property covered under Code chapter 499B (horizontal property (condominiums)). In accordance with current law, a nonresident is required to apply for registration and issuance of certificate of title for a vehicle subject to registration to the county treasurer of the county where the primary user of the vehicle is located.