761—400.2 (321) Vehicle registration and certificate of title—general provisions.
	 400.2(1) Vehicles subject to registration. A vehicle subject to registration under the laws of Iowa shall be required to be registered at the time the vehicle is first operated or moved upon a highway in this state.
	 400.2(2) Vehicles exempt from titling or registration. A certificate of title shall not be issued for a vehicle which is exempt from the titling or registration provisions of Iowa Code chapter 321, unless issuance of a certificate of title is specifically authorized in chapter 321.
	 400.2(3) Issuance of a certificate of title upon payment of registration fees. Except as otherwise provided in Iowa Code chapter 321 or this chapter of rules, the current year registration fee and any delinquent registration fees and penalties, if any, shall be paid prior to issuance of a certificate of title.
	 400.2(4) Trailers with an empty weight of 2000 pounds or less. Certificates of title shall not be issued for trailers with an empty weight of 2000 pounds or less. However, these trailers shall be subject to the registration fees provided in Iowa Code section 321.123.
	 400.2(5) Vehicles owned by the government. A certificate of title shall be issued for a vehicle owned by the government when the vehicle is first registered. However, vehicles owned by the government shall be exempted from registration and titling fees. Also, a certificate of title shall not be issued for a government-owned vehicle if a certificate of title would not be issued if the vehicle were owned by someone other than the government.
	 400.2(6) Vehicles leased by the government. Vehicles leased by the government for a period of 60 days or more are exempted from payment of registration fees. A copy of the lease agreement, certificate of lease, or other evidence that the vehicle is being leased by the government shall be required in order to obtain this exemption. However, the lessor is not exempted from the requirements for obtaining a certificate of title as set out in Iowa Code chapter 321 and these rules, including payment of the appropriate certificate of title fee.
	 400.2(7) Special mobile equipment. Rescinded IAB 3/7/90, effective 4/11/90.
	 400.2(8) Private school buses, fire trucks, authorized emergency vehicles, and transit buses. In accordance with Iowa Code sections 321.18, 321.19 and 321.22, private school buses, fire trucks not owned or operated for a pecuniary profit, certain authorized emergency vehicles owned and operated by nonprofit organizations, and urban and regional transit system buses are exempt from the payment of registration fees. However, these vehicles are not exempt from the requirements for obtaining a certificate of title as set out in Iowa Code chapter 321, including payment of the appropriate certificate of title fee.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 321.18 to 321.22, 321.24 and 321.123.