Registration Applied for Cards (Temp Tags)

Topics:

Dealer Permits & Plates

If you buy a vehicle from a dealer, you can drive it on Iowa highways without registration plates  for up to 45 days after delivery, as long as you have a “registration applied for” card attached to the back of the vehicle (Iowa Code 321.25).

This card must include:

  • The dealer’s registration number, and
  • The date the vehicle was delivered to you.

A dealer licensed to sell new vehicles can put a “registration applied for” card on the back of a new vehicle —even if it was purchased from a dealer in another state. The card must show the registration number of the dealer who delivered the vehicle to the buyer.

Requirements for Issuing a 'Registration Applied For' Card

A dealer cannot issue a “registration applied for” card to a buyer that they know already has license plates that could be used on the vehicle.

A dealer can issue a “registration applied for” card only after the buyer has:

  • Applied for registration and a title, and
  • Received a receipt showing the fee was paid.

The dealer’s records must show:

  • Where the fee was sent, and
  • The date it was sent.

The dealer must send the buyer’s application to the county treasurer or state office within 30 calendar days after the vehicle is delivered.

If the vehicle has a loan or lien on it and was acquired by the dealer for resale under Iowa Code 321.48(1), the same 30-day deadline still applies.

How to Create a “Registration Applied For” Card

As of Jan. 1, 2026, dealers will only be able to create a “Registration Applied For” card by using either:

  • The Electronic Registration and Titling (ERT) system, or
  • The ARTS Dealer Inquiry Tools Fee Estimator.

These cards must be printed on stock paper provided by the Iowa DOT.

To provide a “Registration Applied For” card, a dealer must have an Iowa DOT ARTS account. They must also use either:

  • The Electronic Registration and Title (ERT) program, or
  • The Dealer Inquiry Tools Fee Estimator in ARTS.

Setting up Your ARTS Account and Logging In

  1. To set up an ARTS account, follow the instructions in the guide:  Dealer Inquiry Tool in Iowa Department of Transportation ARTS System Instructions.
  2. Once a dealer has an account, they can log in to ARTS using their username and password to access the Fee Estimator in the ARTS system.

Creating a “Registration Applied For” card

To create a “Registration Applied For” card, follow the steps in the instruction guide: ARTS Temp Tag (Registration Applied For Card) Printing Process Instructions. 

As of Jan. 1, 2026, all "Registration Applied For" cards will be printed on stock provided by the Iowa DOT.  Dealers must register for an SICPA account and order the stock directly from our vendor.  Instructions on how to order the stock. 

Once the "Registration Applied For" card has been printed, it must be placed on the rear of the vehicle.