Updated
The average cost of car insurance in Iowa is $84 per month.
State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance in Iowa, with an average rate of $25 per month.
Insurify expects car insurance rates in Iowa to decrease by 0.2% in 2026.
How much is car insurance in Iowa?
Iowa drivers pay an average of $56 per month for liability insurance and $111 for full coverage. Rates in Iowa are typically much lower than the national average.
Neighboring Minnesota usually has higher rates, at $93 per month for liability insurance and $182 for full coverage. Nearby Missouri also tends to have higher rates.
The following table shows the average monthly rates for state-minimum and full-coverage insurance in Iowa.
Coverage Type | Average Monthly Quote | Average Annual Quote |
|---|---|---|
| State-minimum coverage | $56 | $674 |
| Full coverage | $111 | $1,335 |
Minimum car insurance requirements in Iowa
Iowa requires drivers to have minimum liability coverage. You need $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, plus $15,000 of property damage liability coverage.[1]
If you cause an accident that results in injury, bodily injury liability insurance helps pay for the other driver’s medical bills. Property damage liability coverage helps pay for damages you cause to another driver’s vehicle or property.
The table below shows the minimum car insurance requirements in Iowa.
Coverage Type | Iowa Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 per accident |
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Cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance in Iowa, with average liability rates of $25 per month.
Liability-only coverage is usually the cheapest car insurance you can buy. That’s because it covers only injuries, death, and property damage that you cause to another person in an accident. It doesn’t cover your medical bills or damage to your vehicle.
Iowa’s low minimum liability requirements and lower population density may help explain why its average liability rates are lower than in neighboring states.
The following table shows the cheapest liability-only rates in Iowa.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $25 |
| Auto-Owners | $40 |
| USAA | $43 |
| GEICO | $44 |
| American Family | $49 |
| Safeco | $53 |
| National General | $55 |
| The General | $58 |
| Bristol West | $59 |
| Farmers | $60 |
| Allstate | $61 |
| Liberty Mutual | $64 |
| Direct Auto | $65 |
| Dairyland | $71 |
| Root | $73 |
| Travelers | $80 |
Average Iowa car insurance rates by city
Cedar Rapids offers some of the cheapest car insurance in Iowa, with average monthly rates of $25. Des Moines has the highest average rates, at $26 per month.
Des Moines’ higher population density and higher traffic fatalities partly explain its higher premiums.[2] More people on the road and higher accident rates usually increase car insurance rates.
The table below shows average monthly liability and full-coverage quotes for different cities in Iowa.
City | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Sioux City | $84 |
| Cedar Rapids | $85 |
| Council Bluffs | $87 |
| Davenport | $88 |
| Des Moines | $88 |
Average Iowa car insurance rates by age
Car insurers consider many factors when determining your premiums, including your age. Teens and young drivers pay some of the highest rates because they have less experience. Rates tend to decrease as you age and gain more experience behind the wheel.
In Iowa, teens pay an average of $104 per month for liability-only coverage. But 40-year-old adults pay $58 per month, and senior drivers pay an average of $49.
The table below shows the average cost of car insurance for Iowa drivers of different ages.
Age | Average Monthly Liability-Only Quote | Average Monthly Full-Coverage Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Teens | $104 | $205 |
| Adults (40s) | $58 | $116 |
| Seniors | $49 | $97 |
How your driving record affects car insurance rates in Iowa
Your driving record is another factor that insurers consider when calculating your premiums. A clean driving record can result in lower average insurance rates, while drivers with infractions typically pay more. In Iowa, 6.1% of drivers have a recent speeding ticket, 4.7% have an at-fault accident, and 1.1% have a conviction for operating while intoxicated (OWI) on their record, according to Insurify data.
Any infraction on your driving record can lead to higher rates, but an OWI conviction results in the largest increase, at 77%.
The following table shows how your rates increase based on driving infractions in Iowa.
Driving Record | Average Monthly Quote in IA | % Increase Compared to Clean Driving Record |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $84 | N/A |
| With speeding ticket | $133 | 58% |
| With accident | $143 | 70% |
| With DUI | $149 | 77% |
What affects car insurance rates in Iowa?
In addition to your age and driving record, these are some other factors that can affect your car insurance rates in Iowa:
Deer and wildlife: Animal and deer collisions account for nearly 14% of car crashes in Iowa, according to state data. Full-coverage car insurance helps cover damages if you hit an animal. But full coverage typically costs more than liability-only insurance.
Population density: Compared with larger states like California and Florida, Iowa has a relatively low population density. Fewer people on the road usually means less congestion, fewer accidents, and fewer insurance claims.
Low minimum requirements: Iowa has relatively low minimum insurance requirements compared to neighboring states. Lower requirements usually reduce premiums.
Credit history: In Iowa, insurance companies can consider your credit when calculating your insurance premiums. Drivers with poor credit tend to pay higher rates.[3]
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How Iowa car insurance rates have changed over the past five years
Car insurance rates in Iowa hit a high in the spring and summer of 2024 but dropped throughout 2025, according to a recent report by Insurify. Rates have remained fairly stable in 2026.
The average annual cost of car insurance in Iowa in June 2026 was $1,331, and the projected average annual cost for December 2026 is $1,322. High inflation and supply-chain disruptions caused insurance premiums to rise in 2023 and 2024 but have started to cool, allowing rates to come down.
To find car insurance rates in Iowa and the U.S. over the last five years, download our data here.
How to lower car insurance costs in Iowa
While Iowa auto insurance rates are usually lower than the national average, you have ways to lower your premiums even more. To find cheap car insurance in Iowa, try these tips:
Ask about car insurance discounts. When comparing insurance companies, check if you qualify for any discounts. Many Iowa insurers offer bundling discounts for combining your auto and homeowners insurance. Other common discounts include safe driver, claims-free, or good student discounts.[4]
Maintain good credit. Since Iowa insurers can use your credit history when setting your car insurance premiums, maintaining good credit can lower your rates.
Compare Iowa car insurance quotes. Compare quotes from national and regional car insurance companies. Pricing can vary significantly between insurers, so shopping around is one of the easiest ways to save money.
Iowa average car insurance cost FAQs
Here’s more information to help you find the best car insurance in Iowa.
How much is car insurance in Iowa?
The average cost of car insurance in Iowa is $84 per month. Liability-only coverage costs an average of $56 per month, and full coverage averages $111.
What company has the cheapest car insurance in Iowa?
State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance in Iowa, with an average liability rate of $25 per month. But your personal rates depend on many different factors, including your age, driving record, and ZIP code.
Is $300 per month expensive for car insurance in Iowa?
Yes. In Iowa, $300 per month is expensive for car insurance. The average cost of car insurance in Iowa is only $84 per month. But monthly premiums vary based on many factors, including your age, ZIP code, credit, driving record, and the type and coverage level you choose.
What are the car insurance requirements in Iowa?
To legally drive in Iowa, you need to have minimum liability insurance of 20/40/15. You need at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident of personal injury liability coverage, and $15,000 of property damage liability coverage.
Sources
- Iowa Insurance Division. "Auto Insurance."
- Iowa Department of Transportation. "Number of Traffic Fatalities by County."
- Iowa Insurance Division. "Consumer Connection: What is a Credit Score?."
- Iowa Insurance Division. "Consumer Connection: Saving Money on Your Auto Insurance."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
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