321G.29  Owner’s certificate of title — in general.
  1.  The owner of a snowmobile acquired on or after January 1, 1998, other than a snowmobile used exclusively as a farm implement or a snowmobile more than thirty years old registered as provided in section 321G.4, subsection 4, shall apply to the county recorder of the county in which the owner resides for a certificate of title for the snowmobile. The owner of a snowmobile used exclusively as a farm implement may obtain a certificate of title. A person who owns a snowmobile that is not required to have a certificate of title may apply for and receive a certificate of title for the snowmobile and, subsequently, the snowmobile shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter as if the snowmobile were required to be titled. All snowmobiles that are titled shall be registered.
  2.  A certificate of title shall contain the information and shall be issued on a form the department prescribes.
  3.  An owner of a snowmobile shall apply to the county recorder for issuance of a certificate of title within thirty days after acquisition. The application shall be on forms the department prescribes and accompanied by the required fee. The application shall be signed and sworn to before a notary public or other person who administers oaths, or shall include a certification signed in writing containing substantially the representation that statements made are true and correct to the best of the applicant’s knowledge, information, and belief, under penalty of perjury. The application shall contain the date of sale and gross price of the snowmobile or the fair market value if no sale immediately preceded the transfer and any additional information the department requires. If the application is made for a snowmobile last previously registered or titled in another state or foreign country, the application shall contain this information and any other information the department requires.
  4.  If a dealer buys or acquires a snowmobile for resale, the dealer may apply for and obtain a certificate of title as provided in this chapter. If a dealer buys or acquires a used snowmobile, the dealer may apply for a certificate of title in the dealer’s name within thirty days. If a dealer buys or acquires a new snowmobile for resale, the dealer may apply for a certificate of title in the dealer’s name.
  5.  A manufacturer or dealer shall not transfer ownership of a new snowmobile without supplying the transferee with the manufacturer’s or importer’s certificate of origin signed by the manufacturer’s or importer’s authorized agent. The certificate shall contain information the department requires. The department may adopt rules providing for the issuance of a certificate of origin for a snowmobile by the department upon good cause shown by the owner.
  6.  A dealer transferring ownership of a snowmobile under this chapter shall assign the title to the new owner, or in the case of a new snowmobile, assign the certificate of origin. Within fifteen days the dealer shall forward all moneys and applications to the county recorder.
  7.  The county recorder shall maintain a record of any certificate of title which the county recorder issues and shall keep each certificate of title on record until the certificate of title has been inactive for five years. When issuing a title for a new snowmobile, the county recorder shall obtain and keep on file a copy of the certificate of origin. When issuing a title and registration for a used snowmobile for which there is no title or registration, the county recorder shall obtain and keep on file the affidavit for the unregistered and untitled snowmobile.
  8.  Once titled, a person shall not sell or transfer ownership of a snowmobile without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title with an assignment on it showing title in the purchaser or transferee. A person shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a snowmobile without obtaining a certificate of title for it in that person’s name.
  9.  If the county recorder is not satisfied as to the ownership of the snowmobile or that there are no undisclosed security interests in the snowmobile, the county recorder may issue a certificate of title for the snowmobile but, as a condition of such issuance, may require the applicant to file with the department a bond in the form prescribed by the department and executed by the applicant, and also executed by a person authorized to conduct a surety business in this state. The form and amount of the bond shall be established by rule of the department. The bond shall be conditioned to indemnify any prior owner and secured party and any subsequent purchaser of the snowmobile or person acquiring any security interest in the snowmobile, and their respective successors in interest, against any expense, loss, or damage, including reasonable attorney fees, by reason of the issuance of the certificate of title of the snowmobile on account of any defect in or undisclosed security interest upon the right, title, and interest of the applicant in and to the snowmobile. Any such interested person has a right of action to recover on the bond for any breach of its conditions, but the aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall not exceed the amount of the bond. The bond shall be returned at the end of three years or prior thereto if the snowmobile is no longer registered in this state and the certificate of title is surrendered to the department, unless the department has been notified of the pendency of an action to recover on the bond.
97 Acts, ch 148, §1, 9; 99 Acts, ch 113, §4; 2002 Acts, ch 1027, §10; 2002 Acts, ch 1113, §3; 2004 Acts, ch 1132, §38; 2007 Acts, ch 141, §21, 22; 2011 Acts, ch 34, §81
Subsection 1 amended