Melanie is a blogger, author, and speaker specializing in personal finance and debt management. She’s also the author of the blog and book “Dear Debt.”
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Mark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications, Triple-I
Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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Cheapest recent rates in Iowa
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $25/mo for liability only and $46/mo for full coverage in Iowa.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users from Iowa within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 17, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 17, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users from Iowa within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 17, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 17, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Home to the college town of Iowa City and the capital of Des Moines, Iowa has a significant amount of farmland and a low crime rate, which positively affects its car insurance rates.[1] The average cost of liability-only insurance in Iowa is $58 per month, according to Insurify data, which is lower than the national average of $104 per month.
Learn what factors affect your costs and where to find cheap car insurance in Iowa.
Quick Facts
Auto-Owners, USAA, and GEICO offer the cheapest liability rates in Iowa.
Iowa drivers pay an average of $1,673 per year for full-coverage car insurance.
The Insurance Information Institute found that 9.9% of Iowa drivers are uninsured.[2]
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa
If you’re in the market for new auto insurance coverage, you have many factors to consider. Here are three of the cheapest options for car insurance in Iowa, and who might benefit the most from each company.
Keep them in mind as you begin your search.
Insurance Company
▲▼
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
▲▼
Full Coverage
▲▼
Liability Only
▲▼
Best for
▲▼
Auto-Owners
8.5
$46
$21
Farmers
USAA
9.4
$49
$23
Veterans and military members
GEICO
9.0
$53
$25
Homeowners
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.5 /10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$21/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$46/mo
4.0
Best choiceBased on 129 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about Auto-Owners
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Cheap rates
Senior drivers
Ample discounts
How drivers feel about Auto-Owners
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Cheap rates
Senior drivers
Ample discounts
Reviews (81)
Jeanette
October 16, 2024
Verified Review
Shop Around
My independent agent went missing in action and this company has continued to raise the prices. I literally drive less than 1,800 miles a year.
David
October 15, 2024
Verified Review
Sell Your Car to Auto Owners Insurance... They Pay Out Much More Than Its Worth!
They dropped me after two accidents. In one of these accidents, they paid out over 17 thousand dollars for a vehicle that was worth $6000 at best. I'm not happy about it! It's insane! I was told that glass damage didn't count as a claim against your insurance, but found out after they dropped me that it does. This resulted in five claims over five years.
Karen
October 11, 2024
Verified Review
Knowledgeable Agent!
My agent explained all my options, knew what I wanted and found a great deal for me! Awesome experience and service!
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
837
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.5
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A++
Why we picked this company
Iowa has a strong history in the agricultural industry, and farmers looking for car insurance should consider Auto-Owners. The company offers affordable auto insurance coverage and farm insurance in one place.
As an auto insurer, Auto-Owners offers standard coverage options in addition to road-trouble service, gap coverage, and accident forgiveness. The company also offers a multi-policy discount, and you may qualify if you also get farm insurance, home insurance, or life insurance from Auto-Owners.
Pros
Offers gap coverage
Many available discounts
Coverage for classic or modified vehicles
Cons
Low customer rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website
Not available in every state
Not as many discounts as some other insurers
Best insurer for veterans and military members: USAA
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.4 /10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$23/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$49/mo
4.9
Best choiceBased on 1527 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about USAA
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Members of the military community
Outstanding customer service
Competitive rates
How drivers feel about USAA
Drivers appreciate the ease of working with the carrier, competitive rates, and responsive service but dislike the price increases and lack of rideshare add-ons in some areas.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Members of the military community
Outstanding customer service
Competitive rates
Reviews (869)
Warren
October 20, 2024
Verified Review
Good Company
I haven't had a reason to file a claim, but for routine questions, they were always available and accommodating.
Terry
October 19, 2024
Verified Review
USAA, a Deal for Veterans
The rates are very competitive and the customer service is excellent.
Jennifer
October 19, 2024
Verified Review
Expensive Rates
My only objections are their rates and the difficulty in reaching an agent.
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
880
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
1.35
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A++
Why we picked this company
Iowa is home to more than 171,000 veterans and 1,300 active-duty service members, according to U.S. Census data and Military State Policy Source.[3][4]
USAA is a membership-based insurance and financial services company that works exclusively with the military community. It offers a range of insurance products and discounts if you’re on a military base or if you store your car on base during a deployment.
Pros
Military-specific discounts
Highly rated mobile app
Significant savings potential of up to 30% with SafePilot program
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.0 /10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$25/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$53/mo
4.0
Best choiceBased on 9891 verified guest reviews and ratings
How drivers feel about GEICO
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Teen drivers
Cheap rates
Accident forgiveness
How drivers feel about GEICO
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
Teen drivers
Cheap rates
Accident forgiveness
Reviews (5,446)
Narasimha Rao
October 20, 2024
Verified Review
Not Value for Money, Always Extra Charges
Initially, it was shown that the monthly cost would be 'x' value. However, it has now increased to 'x+20', 'x+30', 'x+40', which is inconsistent.
Patti
October 20, 2024
Verified Review
Very Expensive Insurance
Their rates have become unaffordable.
Ronald
October 20, 2024
Verified Review
GEICO
The service is good, except for the frequent price increases.
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
835
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
0.74
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A++
Why we picked this company
According to U.S. Census data, 71.5% of Iowa residents own their home.[3] GEICO is a top option for homeowners, as the company offers savings when you bundle home and auto insurance.
GEICO offers standard coverage options as well as rental reimbursement, mechanical breakdown insurance, and emergency roadside assistance.
Pros
Mobile app available
15% good student discount
Streamlined claims process with Auto Repair Xpress
Cons
Limited agent network
Rideshare and gap insurance not available
Complaints on Trustpilot about surprise policy cancellations[7]
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Iowa
Car insurance can be costly, but you can do some things to make it more affordable. In addition to driving safely and maintaining a clean record, the following steps can help you get the cheapest car insurance in Iowa:
Research discounts. Insurance companies may offer discounts based on your driving, affiliation, or safety features. Review which ones you qualify for and how much you could save.
Bundle insurance policies. You may get the best deal if you have more than one insurance policy with a company. Adding home insurance or renters insurance could lower your rate.
Check your credit report. Insurance companies may use your credit history as one of the factors to determine your rates. Drivers with good credit typically pay lower rates than drivers with poor credit. Review your credit report to ensure there are no errors that could be costing you money. If there are, dispute them with the appropriate credit bureau.
Compare options. Many insurance companies offer coverage to Iowa drivers, so compare several companies and quotes to find the best coverage for you.
Find Affordable Car Insurance in Iowa
Liability rates average $58 per month
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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Iowa: Auto-Owners
Liability-only coverage meets the basic minimum coverage required in Iowa. Liability insurance covers your liability and pays out to cover injuries and damages suffered by the other parties in an accident you cause. But it doesn’t cover any of your damages.
Liability-only coverage costs an average of $58 per month in Iowa.
The table below shows average monthly rates offered by many of the state’s top companies.
10 cheapest insurers for liability-only
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Iowa: Auto-Owners
With full-coverage car insurance, you’re typically getting state-required liability insurance, as well as collision and comprehensive coverage. If you’re financing a vehicle or want additional protection, full coverage is likely a good fit for you.
Drivers in Iowa pay an average of $139 per month for full coverage.
In the table below, you can see the top insurance companies offering cheap full-coverage car insurance in Iowa.
10 cheapest insurers for full coverage
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest recent rates in Iowa
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $32/mo for liability only and $61/mo for full coverage in Iowa.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 17, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 17, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 17, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 17, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Car insurance requirements in Iowa
Iowa requires drivers to carry at least minimum coverage or liability insurance. Iowa is an at-fault or tort state, which means it assigns fault to the driver that caused the incident.[8]
The table below shows the minimum requirements you must meet to drive legally in Iowa:[9]
Coverage
▲▼
Minimum Requirements
▲▼
Bodily injury liability
$20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident
Property damage liability
$15,000
While you’re only required to carry minimum liability car insurance, it can be a good idea to look into additional coverage options depending on your needs. You can consider the following coverages for more financial protection:
Collision coverage
Liability-only insurance doesn’t cover the damage to your car if you’re in an at-fault accident. Collision coverage can help pay for damage to your vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage
It’s not just accidents you need to worry about. Comprehensive insurance will cover you in events like damage from falling rocks, floods, theft, and vandalism.
Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
Personal injury protectioncoverage helps pay for medical expenses if you or your passengers get injured in an accident.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps pay costs if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or if you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run.
The Iowa Automobile Insurance Plan
If you’ve tried to secure coverage through conventional insurers and have been rejected, you can get car insurance through the Iowa Automobile Insurance Plan (IAIP).
The program began in 1969 and works with insurers to provide high-risk drivers coverage when they lack other options. Iowa drivers seeking coverage through the IAIP must certify they’ve been unable to get auto insurance coverage elsewhere.[10]
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
While different factors affect your car insurance premiums, your driving history carries a lot of weight. People with a clean driving record free of incidents qualify for the most competitive rates. High-risk drivers with an incident on their record will likely receive more expensive rates.
Rates start as low as $27 for drivers with an incident
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4.8/5
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners
Speeding affects reaction time and your ability to slow down, elevating your level of risk. Iowa drivers with excessive speeding can get a misdemeanor.[11] If you get a speeding ticket, your insurer will likely hike up your rates.
The average cost of car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Iowa is $215 per month for full coverage and $90 for liability only.
The table below shows what rates you might pay with a clean driving record versus having a speeding ticket on record.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
Insurance companies raise car insurance premiums after an at-fault accident because there’s potential for it to happen again.
Drivers with an at-fault accident in Iowa pay an average of $94 per month for liability coverage and $226 per month for full coverage.
The table below illustrates how much rates go up with an accident, compared to a clean driving record. You can also see which insurance companies offer the cheapest car insurance after an accident in Iowa.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners
Iowa drivers found driving under the influence face a range of consequences, including higher car insurance premiums. In Iowa, this is referred to as operating while intoxicated (OWI).
Car insurance companies consider a DUI conviction a major offense, and some insurers may refuse you coverage altogether. Others will raise your rates significantly due to the dangers and risks involved.
Liability-only coverage costs Iowa drivers $106 per month, on average.
Here are the cheapest options for car insurance in Iowa if you have a DUI and the effect it has on rates compared to a clean record.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.