Cheap Car Insurance in Iowa (2023)

Car Insurance in Iowa

Iowans enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates in the country. The average monthly premium in Iowa is just $133 per month, making it the sixth-cheapest state in terms of buying car insurance.

Finding cheap car Insurance in Iowa doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. To compare quotes online and discover the cheapest auto insurance rates in Iowa, you’ll need to enter your ZIP code and other driver information.

Best cheap car insurance in Iowa: State Farm

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State Farm

The cheapest option for car insurance in Iowa is State Farm. With average premiums of $28 per month and an ICS of 88, Travelers is an affordable option with good customer satisfaction and stable financial standing. Other top cheap providers in Iowa include Nationwide, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual, with average rates of $108, $115, and $203 per month, respectively.

Learn More: Best Car Insurance Companies

Insurify Composite Score (ICS)

To calculate the Insurify Composite Score, a proprietary rating, Insurify data scientists weigh multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.

Inputs to the score include J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints, mobile app reviews, user-generated company reviews, and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch.

What to know about minimum car insurance requirements in Iowa

Iowa may be known for having abundant farmland, but that doesn’t mean you can skip insurance on your vehicle. Like most states, Iowa requires insurance for all motor vehicles operated or parked on its roadways. 

You’ll also need to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times and be able to show it if a member of law enforcement asks for it. You’ll also need proof of insurance in order to register or renew your vehicle registration, and if your car is involved in an accident. 

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in Iowa are:

• $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident for bodily injury: As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. Iowa is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the collision is also responsible for paying for any resulting expenses, either through their car insurance provider or out of pocket.

• $15,000 per accident for property damage: If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.

Iowa DMV information

Iowa DMVs provide several services for Iowans’ convenience, including license renewals and replacements, address changes, CDL applications, vehicle registration, specialty plates, viewing and purchasing copies of your driving record, and applying for oversize or overweight permits. Many services are available online and in person at locations throughout the state.

Public transportation in Iowa

Most of Iowa’s urban areas operate public transit systems consisting primarily of local bus services. Additionally, commercial bus service is also available between cities and is the most common public transit used in the state. However, most residents of Iowa drive, and having a car will allow you to travel around the state with ease.

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Iowa

Many drivers looking for cheap auto insurance compare quotes to find the best rate, as every insurer weighs risk factors differently. Iowans have the benefit of lower-than-average car insurance rates, but generally speaking, maintaining good credit and a clean driving record will ensure that you see low car insurance rates.

You can also explore car insurance discounts. Common discounts include:

• Good driver discount

• Good student discount

• Bundling discount (for having auto and home coverage with the same insurer)

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Iowa

Liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident, is an option in Iowa. Like most other states, Iowa sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

• You have a low-value vehicle.

• You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

• Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

Choosing full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage, can give you a higher level of protection. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, weather, and animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

• You have a high-value vehicle.

• You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

• Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the cheapest auto insurance in Iowa by policy type.

How your driving history affects Iowa car insurance rates

Your driving history is the factor that most influences your car insurance costs. Good drivers — whose records are free of serious traffic violations like speeding tickets or reckless driving — tend to get the best car insurance rates in Iowa. But infractions like driving under the influence or at-fault accidents can significantly increase insurance costs.

Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in Iowa based on driving and accident history.

See More: High-Risk Car Insurance Iowa

See More: Bad Credit Car Insurance Iowa

SR-22 insurance in Iowa

An SR-22 is a certificate to prove a driver has auto insurance that meets the state minimum coverage requirements. After you buy a car insurance policy following a high-risk event like an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or DUI, you can request the insurer provide an SR-22 certifying financial responsibility. Many car insurance companies in Iowa offer an SR-22.

How credit scores affect Iowa car insurance quotes

Your credit score will impact what you pay in Iowa because insurers in this state can consider your credit score when setting your premiums. Generally, people with excellent or good credit scores can qualify for lower car insurance premiums than people with average or poor credit scores.

How your city affects Iowa insurance quotes

Even within the same state, car insurance rates will differ between ZIP codes. Residents of cities with more traffic accidents and higher crime rates will generally see higher insurance costs. Find the average rates for cities in Iowa in the chart below.

How your age affects your Iowa car insurance rates

Because insurers generally equate age with experience level, your age will significantly affect how much you pay for car insurance. New drivers, who tend to be teens or people in their early 20s, typically pay more for insurance than drivers 25 and older.

The following table gives a high-level view of how age can affect insurance rates.

Quotes for younger drivers

Even though Iowa has some of the lowest car insurance rates in the country, drivers younger than 25 may struggle to find insurers willing to offer them a truly bargain rate. Safeco offers a liability-only policy as low as $95 per month. But infractions like an at-fault accident or DUI can substantially increase insurance premiums for young Iowans.

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

Generally, drivers see their insurance rates decline as they grow older and gain driving experience. Middle-aged Iowans can find some very competitive rates for both liability-only and full-coverage policies. However, a DUI will likely significantly increase a middle-aged driver’s rates in Iowa.

Quotes for seniors

With a clean driving record, Iowa seniors can find very good car insurance quotes. Liability-only will be the cheapest insurance available, but full coverage rates are also competitive for senior drivers.

Iowa car insurance FAQs

Insurify Insights

How Iowa Drivers Measure Up

While most drivers know that car insurance quotes are determined in part by your personal driving history, many may be unaware that rates are also impacted by the average risk of the drivers around you as well. Check out Insurify's latest analysis of driving records in Iowa below:

Methodology

Drawing from an internal database of over 4 million car insurance applications, the research team at Insurify analyzes patterns in car ownership and driver behavior - including how Iowa drivers measure up to their fellow motorists across the United States in areas including speeding, DUIs, and more.
Insurify Insights publishes data-driven articles, trend analyses, and national rankings each week on all factors related to cars and those who drive them.

Ford F-Series Pickup

Most Popular Car in Iowa

#1

State with the Most Speeding Tickets Rank

#2

State with the Moving Violations Rank

#5

State with the Most DUIs Rank

#4

State with the most Suspended Licenses

• Accidents in Iowa

  While car accidents are a sadly unavoidable feature of time spent on the road, rates of accidents do vary from city to city and from state to state. Iowa is the #11 state in the country for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record.

  • Rank among states: #11
  • Percent of drivers in Iowa with an accident: 10%
• DUIs in Iowa

  While driving while intoxicated is never acceptable, it’s a more common offense than many assume. Iowa is the #5 state in the country for drivers with a prior drunk driving conviction.

  • Rank among states: #5
  • Percent of drivers in Iowa with a DUI: 2.5%
• Reckless Driving in Iowa

  Reckless driving refers to a specific traffic violation: when drivers willfully act dangerously in spite of the risks they’re imposing on both themselves and others. Iowa is the #7 state in the country for drivers with a reckless driving offense on record.

  • Rank among states: #7
  • Percent of drivers in Iowa with a reckless driving offense: 2%
• Rude Driving in Iowa

  The Insurify team classifies rude drivers as those who commit one or more of the following driving offenses: failure to yield or failure to stop, improper backing, passing where prohibited, tailgating, street racing, or hit-and-run. Iowa is the #9 state in the country for drivers with a rude driving violation on record.

  • Rank among states: #9
  • Percent of drivers in Iowa with a rude driving violation: 2.1%
• Speeding in Iowa

  Exceeding the speed limit can endanger others and have a serious impact on your insurance costs. Iowa is the #1 state in the country for drivers with a speeding ticket on record.

  • Rank among states: #1
  • Percent of drivers in Iowa with a speeding ticket: 13.5%
• Failure to Yield Rates in Iowa

  Failing to yield the right of way isn’t just frustrating for other drivers; it’s dangerous, too. Iowa is the #30 state in the country for drivers with a failure to yield violation on record.

  • Rank among states: #30
  • Percent of drivers in Iowa with a failure to yield violation: 0.1%

Insurify Insights

Insurify's team of data scientists and content specialists presents Insurify Insights, a series of automotive, home, and health studies focusing on the topics that impact us all. through expert analysis of over 4 million car insurance applications and an array of top data sources, the Insurify Insights team produces new data-driven articles, trend analyses, regional superlatives, and national rankings every week. See Insurify Insights as featured in Forbes, Fox News, USA Today, NPR, and more.