Finding Cheap Car Insurance in Iowa
Comparing quotes to find cheap car insurance in Iowa shouldn’t be a time-consuming project. We evaluated options in Iowa to find the lowest rates.
Featured Car Insurance Partners
1
Geico
Good
C-
Low
2
USAA
Excellent
C+
OK
3
State Farm
Very good
C
Low
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Good Drivers
Hastings Mutual and Pekin Insurance are the cheapest Iowa car insurance companies for good drivers, among the companies we analyzed.
Cheap Car Insurance in Iowa for Drivers With a Speeding Ticket
A speeding ticket increases car insurance rates by 21% in Iowa. The exact rate increase will vary by insurance company. Even though you’ll face higher insurance rates, you can still compare quotes for the best car insurance.
Hastings Mutual and State Farm have the cheapest average rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Iowa, so make sure to get quotes from those companies if you’re shopping for Iowa car insurance and have a speeding ticket on your record.
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Drivers Who Caused an Accident With Injury
Causing a car crash that results in an injury to someone else will make it harder to find cheap car insurance. Our analysis found an average increase of 44% in Iowa compared to drivers with a good driving record.
If you cause an accident with an injury, Hastings Mutual and Pekin Insurance may have the most competitive rates among the companies in our analysis.
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Drivers With a DUI
Car insurance costs in Iowa go up an average of 100% if you have a DUI conviction on your record. You can still compare car insurance quotes to find better rates.
The cheapest Iowa car insurance companies for drivers with a DUI are State Farm and Progressive, among the insurers we analyzed.
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Drivers With Poor Credit
Iowa car insurance companies usually charge drivers higher rates if they have poor credit. People with bad credit pay an average of 83% more for auto insurance in Iowa.
State Farm and Progressive may be good choices if you’re looking for cheap Iowa auto insurance and you have poor credit.
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Adding a Teen Driver
Adding a teen to your insurance increases rates by an average of 66% in Iowa, compared to rates for a married couple without a teen driver.
Consider getting quotes from Grinnell Mutual and Western National if you’re looking for cheap car insurance for teens in Iowa.
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Young Drivers Ages 18 to 25
Getting your own car insurance is a pricey entry into adulthood. Our analysis found that Pekin and Hastings Mutual offer the cheapest Iowa car insurance for young drivers.
Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for Senior Drivers Ages 60-80
Hastings Mutual and State Farm offer the best car insurance for seniors who are looking for low-cost insurance in Iowa. Senior drivers should also find out if there’s a discount for taking a defensive driver class.
Liability Insurance Discount in Iowa
Iowa doesn’t require car insurance discounts like most other states. For instance, there’s no requirement that companies offer discounts to older drivers or good students, which are common in other states.
What Iowa does require is a discount on liability car insurance if the state’s insurance commissioner demands lower rates. The commissioner may do this on a statewide basis if insurance companies experience fewer liability insurance losses.
Least Expensive Vehicles for Insurance in Iowa
With the right vehicle, you can potentially save money on auto insurance. In Iowa, the Jeep Wrangler JL Sport, Honda CR-V LX and Jeep Compass Latitude are among the cheapest vehicles for insurance, based on average rates for 50 top-selling 2021 models. The 20 least expensive are below.
The most expensive cars for insurance in Iowa among popular models are the Lexus ES 300H ($2,001 per year) and the Tesla Model S Performance/Plaid ($3,565 per year).
| Vehicle | Average annual premium in Iowa |
|---|---|
|
Jeep Wrangler JL Sport
|
$1,080
|
|
Honda CR-V LX
|
$1,138
|
|
Jeep Compass Latitude
|
$1,161
|
|
Subaru Crosstrek
|
$1,166
|
|
Ford F-150 XL
|
$1,171
|
|
Ford Escape S
|
$1,177
|
|
Hyundai Tucson SE
|
$1,179
|
|
Subaru Forester 2.5i
|
$1,180
|
|
Chevrolet Equinox L
|
$1,181
|
|
Chevrolet Trax LS
|
$1,185
|
|
Volkswagen Tiguan SE
|
$1,193
|
|
Toyota Tacoma SR
|
$1,200
|
|
Toyota RAV4 LE
|
$1,221
|
|
Chevrolet Colorado
|
$1,238
|
|
Chevrolet Traverse LS
|
$1,242
|
|
Kia Sportage EX
|
$1,256
|
|
Dodge Grand Caravan SE
|
$1,264
|
|
Honda Pilot SE
|
$1,265
|
|
Ford Edge SE
|
$1,266
|
|
Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring
|
$1,276
|
Required Minimum Iowa Auto Insurance
Iowa requires only liability car insurance. Liability insurance is essential coverage because it pays others for damage and injuries you cause. It also covers your legal defense if you’re sued over a car accident.
Car owners in Iowa must buy liability coverage with at least:
- $20,000 for bodily injury to one person.
- $40,000 for bodily injury to multiple people in one accident.
- $15,000 for damage to property in one accident.
Your best strategy for buying liability insurance is to protect your net worth. If you have savings and other assets that you could lose in a lawsuit, you want high liability limits so that your auto insurance pays for lawsuit settlements, not you.
What Other Insurance Should I Have in Iowa?
Uninsured motorist coverage. In Iowa you must reject uninsured motorist coverage (UM coverage) in writing or it will be included in your policy. It pays for the injuries of you and your passengers if you’re hit by a driver who has no auto insurance.
Similarly, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays for your injuries if you’re hit by someone with some insurance but not enough.
Collision and comprehensive insurance. These insurance types pay for repairs to your own car–or reimburse you for the value of the vehicle if it’s stolen or totaled. They pay when damage is caused by problems such as hail, vandalism, fire, flooding, riots, falling objects and collisions with animals like deer.
Collision and comprehensive coverage are usually sold as a package together. If you have a car loan or lease they’re likely required by your lender or leasing company.
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage. This coverage will pay medical bills for you and your passengers no matter who was at fault in a car accident. If you have good health insurance you may not want MedPay coverage, but it can also cover the deductibles, copays and co-insurance of your health plan.
Summary: Required Iowa Car Insurance
| Coverage | Required minimum in Iowa |
|---|---|
|
Liability insurance
|
• $20,000 per person for bodily injury liability
• $40,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
• $15,000 for property damage
|
|
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
|
Not required; you can reject it in writing
|
|
Medical payments
|
Not required
|
|
Collision coverage
|
Not required
|
|
Comprehensive coverage
|
Not required
|
Can I Show My Insurance ID Card from My Phone in Iowa?
In Iowa you can show an auto insurance ID card from your phone. Check with your car insurance company to see if it offers a mobile app that includes access to electronic insurance ID cards.
Factors Allowed in Iowa Auto Insurance Rates
Auto insurance companies usually use driving records, past claims, vehicle model and more when setting rates. In Iowa, companies can also use these factors.
| Factor | Allowed in Iowa? |
|---|---|
|
Age
|
Yes
|
|
Credit
|
Yes
|
|
Education & occupation
|
Yes
|
|
Gender
|
Yes
|
|
Marital status
|
Yes
|
|
ZIP code
|
Yes
|
Source: American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Other factors will be used to calculate your rates, including driving record and the amount of coverage you want.
How Many Uninsured Drivers are in Iowa?
About 11% of Iowa drivers have no car insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council.
If an uninsured driver crashes into you, you can try to sue them. Or you can use your own uninsured motorist coverage for injuries, and your collision coverage for vehicle damage.
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in Iowa
If you’re caught driving without insurance in Iowa, you could get a $250 fine.
When Can a Vehicle Be Totaled in Iowa?
A vehicle can be totaled in Iowa when damage exceeds 50% of the vehicle’s value at the time of the accident.
Help with Iowa Insurance Problems
The Iowa Insurance Division is responsible for monitoring insurance companies and taking consumer complaints. The division has a complaint form online.
Methodology
To find the cheapest auto insurance companies in Iowa, we used rates from Quadrant Information Services, a provider of insurance data and analytics. Except where noted, rates are based on a 40-year-old female driver with a clean record insuring a new Toyota RAV4 with $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability (known as 100/300/100), uninsured motorist coverage and any other coverage required in the state. Rates also include collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
State averages for Iowa are based on rates from Allied, Allstate, American Family, Auto-Owners, Cameron Mutual, Celina Insurance Group, Donegal Mutual, Farm Bureau Mutual (Iowa Group), Farmers, Geico, Grange Mutual, Grinnell Mutual, Hastings Mutual, IMT Insurance, Nationwide, Partners Mutual, Pekin Insurance, Progressive, State Farm, Travelers, USAA, West Bend Mutual and Western National.
