Cheap Car Insurance in Iowa (2024)
- Expertise: Auto insurance, home insurance and renters insurance
- Education: University of California-Berkeley (BA in History)
Rob Bhatt is a licensed insurance agent and joined the staff of Lending Tree in 2021. Previously, he spent more than 20 years writing for and editing regional publications in California, Nevada and Washington. Rob enjoys helping readers understand how different coverages work so they can make informed purchasing decisions, and he specializes in producing research-backed content for LendingTree about auto, home and renters insurance. His work has been cited by ABC, Business Insider, MSN and Yahoo.
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance in Iowa for most drivers. Progressive is the cheapest for Iowa drivers with a DUI. American Family is the cheapest for drivers with bad credit.
Savings Tips
You can save around $700 a year by comparing full-coverage car insurance quotes in Iowa.
State Farm, Auto-Owners, Farm Bureau and American Family all offer liability-only policies under $300 a year on average.
Farm Bureau and State Farm offer the cheapest car insurance quotes for teen drivers.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Iowa: State Farm
State Farm is the best company in Iowa to contact for cheap full-coverage car insurance quotes. Its rates average $955 a year for a typical adult driver, or $80 a month.
State Farm’s full-coverage rate is 43% less than the state average of $1,663 a year. It’s also 26% less than the next cheapest rate, at $1,292 a year from Auto-Owners.
Full-coverage car insurance rates in Iowa
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $955 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,292 |
| Farm Bureau | $1,371 |
| American Family | $1,430 |
| State Average | $1,663 |
| Nationwide | $1,913 |
| Progressive | $1,955 |
| Geico | $1,977 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $2,015 |
| Allstate | $2,055 |
Your actual price depends on your driving record, credit, location, vehicle and other factors. Since each company weighs these factors differently, it’s good to compare quotes from multiple companies.
Cheapest liability auto insurance in Iowa: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest liability-only auto insurance in Iowa, with rates that average $237 a year, or $20 a month.
State Farm’s liability rate is 47% less than the state average. Auto-Owners, Farm Bureau and American Family are not much more expensive.
Liability car insurance rates in Iowa
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $237 |
| Auto-Owners | $249 |
| Farm Bureau | $262 |
| American Family | $295 |
| Progressive | $405 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $421 |
| State average | $444 |
| Geico | $676 |
| Allstate | $697 |
| Nationwide | $754 |
Liability car insurance covers injuries and property damage you cause to others in a car accident. Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive, which cover your own vehicle for theft and damage.
Cheapest for teen drivers in Iowa: Farm Bureau and State Farm
Farm Bureau and State Farm have the cheapest car insurance quotes in Iowa for teen drivers.
Farm Bureau has the cheapest liability-only quotes for young drivers. It charges 18-year-olds an average of $743 a year for liability insurance, or $62 a month. The next-best rate comes from State Farm, which charges $816 a year, or $68 a month.
Liability car insurance rates for young drivers
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| Farm Bureau | $743 |
| State Farm | $816 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,004 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $1,014 |
| American Family | $1,261 |
| Geico | $1,293 |
| Progressive | $1,311 |
| State average | $1,328 |
| Allstate | $2,140 |
| Nationwide | $2,372 |
State Farm has the cheapest full-coverage rates for 18-year-olds at $2,623 a year. State Farm’s rate is 39% less than the state average.
Full-coverage car insurance rates for young drivers
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $2,623 |
| Farm Bureau | $3,135 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,531 |
| Geico | $3,952 |
| State average | $4,332 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $4,534 |
| Allstate | $4,849 |
| Progressive | $5,031 |
| American Family | $5,350 |
| Nationwide | $5,979 |
Cheapest rates after a speeding ticket in Iowa: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for Iowa drivers with a speeding ticket. It charges these drivers $1,020 a year for full coverage, or $85 a month.
In Iowa, a speeding ticket bumps the average price of car insurance up by 21% to 2,016 a year. State Farm’s rate is 49% less than the state average for drivers with a ticket.
Iowa auto insurance rates after a speeding ticket
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,020 |
| Farm Bureau | $1,677 |
| American Family | $1,845 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $2,015 |
| State average | $2,016 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,219 |
| Allstate | $2,260 |
| Geico | $2,331 |
| Progressive | $2,389 |
| Nationwide | $2,392 |
Cheapest rates after an accident in Iowa: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest rates in Iowa for drivers with a prior at-fault accident. It charges these drivers an average of $1,086 for full coverage, or $91 a month. This is 35% less than the next-cheapest rate, $1,682 a year from Auto-Owners.
An accident increases the average cost of car insurance in Iowa by 41% to $2,349 a year.
Iowa auto insurance rates after an at-fault accident
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,086 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,682 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $2,015 |
| Farm Bureau | $2,225 |
| American Family | $2,399 |
| State average | $2,349 |
| Progressive | $2,589 |
| Nationwide | $3,019 |
| Allstate | $3,042 |
| Geico | $3,088 |
Cheapest car insurance for Iowa drivers with a DUI: Progressive
Progressive has the cheapest car insurance for Iowa drivers with a DUI. It charges an average of $2,157 a year for full coverage, or $180 a month. Next is Allstate at $2,709 a year, or $226 a month.
In Iowa, a DUI raises the average cost of insurance by 87% to $3,110 a year, or $259 a month.
Iowa auto insurance rates after a DUI
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| Progressive | $2,157 |
| Allstate | $2,709 |
| American Family | $2,744 |
| Farm Bureau | $2,992 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,007 |
| State average | $3,110 |
| Geico | $3,165 |
| State Farm | $3,557 |
| Nationwide | $3,755 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $3,902 |
Best rates in Iowa for drivers with bad credit: American Family
Iowa drivers with bad credit can get the cheapest auto insurance quotes from American Family and Farm Bureau.
American Family is the cheapest, with rates that average $2,349 a year for full coverage, or $196 a month. Farm Bureau’s rates average $2,362 a year, which is only $13 more.
In Iowa, drivers with bad credit pay an average of 88% more for car insurance than those with good credit. Improving your credit can help you get cheaper car insurance in the future.
Auto insurance rates for Iowa drivers with bad credit
| Company | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| American Family | $2,349 |
| Farm Bureau | $2,362 |
| Nationwide | $2,730 |
| Geico | $2,852 |
| Allstate | $3,043 |
| State average | $3,124 |
| Progressive | $3,251 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,294 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $3,541 |
| State Farm | $4,693 |
Iowa car insurance rates by city
In Iowa’s cities, car insurance rates for full coverage range from $1,432 in Coralville to $1,973 a year in Council Bluffs.
Drivers in Des Moines pay an average of $1,686 a year for car insurance, or $141 a month. Cedar Rapids drivers pay an average of $1,604 a year, or $134 a month.
Average car insurance rates by city
| City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| Ames | $1,433 |
| Ankeny | $1,468 |
| Bettendorf | $1,607 |
| Burlington | $1,526 |
| Cedar Falls | $1,614 |
| Cedar Rapids | $1,604 |
| Clinton | $1,610 |
| Coralville | $1,432 |
| Council Bluffs | $1,973 |
| Davenport | $1,671 |
| Des Moines | $1,686 |
| Dubuque | $1,627 |
| Fort Dodge | $1,613 |
| Iowa City | $1,445 |
| Johnston | $1,493 |
| Marion | $1,570 |
| Marshalltown | $1,559 |
| Mason City | $1,496 |
| Muscatine | $1,541 |
| Ottumwa | $1,622 |
| Sioux City | $1,810 |
| Urbandale | $1,549 |
| Waterloo | $1,663 |
| Waukee | $1,555 |
| West Des Moines | $1,558 |
Iowa car insurance laws
Iowa’s financial responsibility law requires you to have liability car insurance. The penalties for driving without insurance include fines and a suspension of your license of registration.
If you cause an accident without insurance, you have to pay for a victim’s medical and car repair costs out of your pocket.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Iowa
Iowa’s minimum car insurance requirements include:
- Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per injured person/$40,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $15,000
All auto insurance policies in Iowa include uninsured motorist coverage. However, you can sign a waiver to remove the coverage for your policy. Uninsured motorist insurance covers you and your passengers for injuries caused by an uninsured driver.
Liability covers injuries and damage you cause to others in a car accident. You are personally responsible for costs that exceed your liability limits. Higher liability limits provide more protection for your savings, home and other assets.
The key optional coverages to consider adding to your car insurance include:
- Collision and comprehensive: These combine to cover your car for theft or damage. Lenders require both for car loans. They are also often worth having for any vehicle worth more than a few thousand dollars.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers injuries you and your passengers suffer in a car accident, regardless of fault.
SR-22 car insurance in Iowa
You usually need SR-22 insurance in Iowa to reinstate a suspended license or registration. An SR-22 is a certificate your insurance company files with the state when you buy your policy.
Some companies do not insure drivers with an SR-22. Companies that do often add a $20 to $40 filing fee to your rate.
The actual cost of SR-22 insurance depends largely on the offense that led to the filing requirement. You’ll usually pay more for SR-22 insurance after a DUI than for driving without insurance.
Frequently asked questions
No. Iowa has traditional at-fault car insurance laws for car accidents. If you cause an accident, you are financially responsible for your victim’s medical and car repair costs. You may have to pay less if others are partially responsible.
The average cost of minimum-liability car insurance in Iowa is $444 a year, or $37 a month. Full coverage costs an average of $1,663 a year, or $139 a month.
Yes. It is illegal to drive without insurance in Iowa. The state’s financial responsibility law requires drivers and vehicle owners to have liability auto insurance.