Polk County pushes "Polk Proud" plates
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A new Iowa law allows people to title their vehicles in other counties. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Polk County's treasurer is urging car buyers and dealers to title vehicles locally, launching a "Polk Proud" campaign to keep that business in the county.
Why it matters: Hundreds of vehicles are being titled in surrounding counties each month, draining thousands in revenue that would otherwise support Polk County services, Treasurer Mary Wells tells Axios.
Catch up quick: For decades, Iowa required vehicle titles to be processed in the owner's county of residence.
- That changed last year, when a new law allowed vehicles to be registered in any county.
Zoom in: The change reflects shifts in how people buy cars, including online, making the process less cumbersome for consumers and sellers, Bruce Anderson, president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association, told Radio Iowa last year.
Reality check: The county doesn't know how many titles are being processed elsewhere or how much revenue it's losing, Wells tells Axios.
Yes, but: Wells' office is aware of instances when a large number are processed at once by dealerships or recyclers.
- In one week in December, for example, there were 600, she told Polk supervisors in a February budget meeting.
- Each title costs $12.50, resulting in $7,500 in lost revenue.
State of play: The Polk Proud campaign aims to better inform residents that they can request Polk plates when buying a vehicle, since many people don't realize they can choose them at a dealer.
- It'll use social media, billboards, printed materials and community events, at an estimated cost of $3,000.
Zoom in: Besides showing county pride, a reason residents of the county should choose Polk plates is to make future transactions easier, Wells said.
- Iowa law requires owners to complete annual registration renewals in their county of residence.
- Titling a vehicle locally keeps all records in one place and makes future transactions smoother and more efficient, she said.
What's next: Wells will present information about Polk Proud during an event hosted by the Downtown Des Moines Neighborhood Association on April 1 at West End Architectural Salvage & Coffee Shop.
- A social begins at 5:30pm, followed by a community discussion at 6:30pm.