Official Website for Clay County, Iowa
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Treasurer - Motor Vehicles
Resources
We’re here to HELP! REAL ID Beginning May 7, 2025, If you fly commercially you’ll either need a REAL ID Compliant license or ID.
To find out the documents you need to bring in with you go to www.iowadot.gov/mvd/realid or contact our Office at (712)-264-3917.
You are not eligible to renew online unless you received a renewal notice through the US Postal Service that contains a PIN number for online renewals.
Half-year license and apportioned vehicles are not eligible for online renewal.
Many forms used in the Tax and Motor Vehicle may be accessed and printed at this website.
You may also pay property taxes online. Click on this link Iowa State County Treasurers Association - and follow the instructions.
Payment may be made with Discover, MasterCard, Visa and by e-check.
Responsibilities
Vehicle titles - all types of vehicles - cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, truck-tractor, and semi-trailers in Clay County
Motor vehicle registration renewals
Duplicate, salvage, in lieu and in transit titles
Junking certificates for vehicles that are dismantled or no longer operable
Prepare reports for the Iowa Department of Transportation
Personalized and other special license plates
Stores vehicles
Records and releases security interests
Collects use tax, registration, and document fees
Processes credits and refunds of vehicles transferred
Serves as an agent of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Department of Revenue and Finance
Prepares monthly reports for the Iowa Department of Transportation
Work with Department of Transportation Investigators
Submits accurate financial records for annual audit
Motor Vehicle Titles & Registrations
Renewal notices are sent the month prior to the registration month.
License plates may be renewed in the month prior, the month of registration, or the month following to avoid penalty.
Truck and Truck-Tractors 6 ton and over are registered on a calendar year basis.
If renewed by mail, add $1.00 per vehicle for postage fee.
Penalty of 5% per month or a minimum of $5.00 will begin after the one-month grace period following the expiration date on your registration fees.
A replacement title may be issued if a title is lost, destroyed, or altered. A $25.00 fee and a 5-day waiting period are required.
The owner(s) on the current title must sign the application form, or if a lien is noted, the lien holder must sign.
Refunds on the un-expired portion of license fee may be available if your vehicle has been sold or junked.
Be sure to remove your plates and keep your registration. Refunds for less than $10.00 are not issued.
Method of Payment - Credit Card, Debit Card or e-Check online; Credit Card and Debit Card are accepted in our office.
All vehicles seven years old or newer require a damage disclosure statement & all vehicles nine (9) years old and newer require an odometer statement
Vehicles may be stored. The vehicle must be currently registered, and registration and plates must be surrendered to the County Treasurer.
There is no charge for storing a vehicle.
Payment of full year license fee is required to take a vehicle out of storage.
Vehicles may be junked.
Title, registration, and plates must be surrendered to the County Treasurer.
A junking certificate will be issued. If the un-expired portion of the license fee is more than $10.00, a claim for refund may be applied for.
When a vehicle has been junked, it can never be re-titled again.
There is no cost for a junking certificate.
Iowa law requires new residents to register their vehicle with the County Treasurer within 30 days from the date residency is established.
New residents of Iowa must surrender the original out-of-state Certificate of Title and complete an Iowa application for Title.
All owners must sign the application. Call (712) 262-2179 for further assistance.
Motor Vehicles FAQ
Q: Where are you located?
A: The Motor Vehicle Office is located on the first floor of the Clay County Administration Building in the Treasurer's office in Spencer, IA.
Q: What hours are you open?
A: The Motor Vehicle Office is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Q: What is your phone/fax number/e-mail address?
A:The phone number for the Motor Vehicle Office is (712) 262-2179.
The fax number is (712) 262-5793. Please e-mail messages and questions to LeAnn Black, Treasurer
Q: How can I contact the Iowa Department of Transportation, Office of Vehicle Services?
A: Park Fair Mall PO Box 9278 Des Moines, Iowa 50306-9278 Telephone: (515) 237-3148
Q: If I purchase a vehicle, where do I get the title transferred into my name?
A: If you live in Clay County, you must title and register your vehicle at the motor vehicle department in the Treasurer's Office.
Q: I have lost my validation sticker. Where do I obtain a new one?
A. If both registration and sticker are lost, the cost will be $3.00 for a duplicate registration and a replacement validation sticker.
If only the sticker is lost, bring in the current registration and a replacement sticker will be issued free of charge.
Q: What should I do with my plates when I sell or junk my vehicle and where do I go to get a refund on my plates?
A: You can bring your plates and registration to the motor vehicle department; the information is entered into our system and, if approved, a refund will be sent to you within four to six weeks. A refund will not be allowed for an amount less than $10.00.
Q: Where do I get additional forms if they are needed to complete the vehicle title process?
A: Additional forms can be acquired at the motor vehicle department at the Treasurer's Office.
Many forms used in the motor vehicle department may be accessed at www.iowatreasurers.org.
Most forms may be printed from this site.
Q: What are my payment options?
A: You may make payments with cash, money order, cashier's check, or personal check.
Credit card and debit card payments are accepted in the office.
You may pay motor vehicle registrations on the Internet using a credit card, debit card, or by e-check.
The website for online motor vehicle payments is: www.iowatreasurers.org/tagsearch.php.
Click Here for answers to commonly asked questions about online payments.
Q: How do I change my mailing address?
A: If you have moved within or into Clay County, call (712) 262-2179 to change your mailing address.
Q: Where do I apply for personalized license plates?
A: You can pick up an application for personalized plates at the Clay County Treasurer's Office.
You can mail the form to the address on the form, or the Treasurer's Office will mail the form for you. Payment must accompany the form.
Forms are also available on the Treasurer's website - Click Here
Q: Where do I go to get a personalized plate replaced if I have lost one of mine?
A: You can apply for duplicate plates by bringing in your current registration and your remaining plate to the Treasurer's Office.
The fee is $5.00. You will be notified by our office letting you know when your replacement plates have arrived.
Q: I have lost one of my license plates. Where do I go to get a replacement plate?
A: You can receive a replacement set of plates at the Treasurer's Office.
You will need to bring your current registration and your remaining plate, and pay a $5.00 fee for a duplicate set of plates.
Q: If I put my vehicle in storage, do I have to renew the plates every year?
A: No, you can put the plates "in storage" at the Clay County Treasurer's Office.
This will eliminate you from paying a penalty when you take the vehicle out of storage.
However, in order to store the plates, they do need to be currently registered.
The plates and registration need to be turned into the Treasurer's Office and registration will be stamped "STORED" and returned to you.
Q: When I take my vehicle out of storage, do I get free plates to put back on the vehicle?
A: A new set of plates will be issued and a full year registration fee collected.
Q: How do I "junk" a vehicle?
A: The owner of a vehicle will be issued a "Junking Certificate" after surrendering the title, plates, and registration to the County Treasurer and filling out an application for a junking certificate.There is no fee for this procedure. The vehicle being junked can never be titled again.
Q: What does the name connector "and" or "or" mean on the face of my vehicle title as it relates to selling my vehicle?
A: The name connector "and" means that both owners that are listed on the face of the vehicle title will have to sign as sellers when the vehicle is sold.
The name connector "or" means that only one of the owners that are listed on the face of the vehicle title will have to sign as seller when the vehicle is sold.
Q: When can I renew my vehicle registration?
A: You may renew your registration by paying the appropriate fee the month before, the month of, or the month after the registration month.
Q: What do I do if I lose my certificate of title or need a "Replacement Title"?
A: An application for a Replacement Title must be made in the County Treasurer's Office where the title was originally issued.
If a lien is listed on the vehicle of record, the lien holder must apply for the Replacement Title.
If there is not an open lien, the application must be signed by the owner (s).
The application must be held for five (5) days before the Replacement Title is issued.
The cost is $25.00. When a Replacement Title has been issued, the original title is void.
Q: What is needed to apply for a motor vehicle title?
A: The applicant (s) must provide an Iowa driver's license number or a social security number, date of birth, and full legal name.
Each applicant (s) must sign the application for title.
Q: How does the Drivers Privacy Protection Act of 1994 Affect motor vehicle records kept in the Treasurer's Office?
A: The law closes personal information of an individual in the motor vehicle record to the general public. Personal information means information that identifies an individual, including social security number, driver license number, name, address, and telephone number.