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Updated November 20, 2024
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Table of contents
Des Moines drivers pay an overall average of $107 per month for car insurance — more than the state average of $94. As the capital city of Iowa and the most populous city in the state, the high number of vehicles on its roads likely influences its above-average car insurance costs.
With more vehicles on the road, more accidents follow, which also increases insurance rates. In 2022, Des Moines logged 5,442 accidents, according to Iowa Department of Transportation data. By comparison, Cedar Rapids — the second-largest city in the state with a population 65% of that of Des Moines — had 1,886 crashes in the same year.[1]
Auto-Owners, USAA, and Auto-Owners offer some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Des Moines. But you may be able to find even cheaper options by comparing car insurance quotes from multiple companies.
Here’s what you should know about finding affordable car insurance in Des Moines, Iowa.
On average, drivers in Des Moines pay $69 per month for liability-only car insurance and $146 for a full-coverage insurance policy.
Des Moines has a population of around 211,000,[2] which could contribute to higher insurance costs.
The overall average cost of insurance in nearby South Dakota is $105 per month.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Des Moines
Every driver in Des Moines has a unique situation that affects their insurance premiums. However, some of the top insurance companies consistently offer more affordable car insurance rates than others.
Insurance companies each assess your situation differently, which results in different rates. Shopping around can help you find the cheapest car insurance premiums. To help your search, below is some information about some of the best insurance companies in Des Moines.
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. ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Best for ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Auto-Owners | 8.5 | $43 | $22 | Cheap coverage |
USAA | 9.4 | $46 | $23 | Military members and veterans |
GEICO | 9.0 | $50 | $25 | Families |
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.
Best insurer for cheap coverage: Auto-Owners
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
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. | 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. | $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. | $50/mo |
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
Debra
November 3, 2024
Excellent
Scotty
November 2, 2024
They are a bunch of crooks. My policy has increased every single time, and I've only had one small claim.
Dana
October 31, 2024
Average
For both liability-only and full-coverage policies, Auto-Owners provides Des Moines drivers with the lowest average monthly costs. The insurer pairs its low rates with an above-average customer satisfaction rating. Through this major insurance company, you can also find home insurance, life insurance, and renters insurance policies.
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in the Central region
Many available discounts
Must work with an agent to finalize insurance policy
Limited digital tools
Best insurer for military members and veterans: USAA
User Reviews | 4.9 |
---|---|
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. | 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. | $26/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. | $54/mo |
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.
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.
Gloria
November 15, 2024
Not Good for Claims
Martin
November 11, 2024
Price Shopping
Rena Sabine
November 8, 2024
Disappointing and inflexible service
The capital city of the Hawkeye State is home to more than 9,400 veterans who can tap into the relatively low rates that USAA has to offer. In addition to low rates, USAA earned top marks in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
The catch is that USAA is only available to active-duty, reserve, or retired military members and their immediate families.
Affordable coverage
Good drivers can save up to 30% with SafePilot program
No customer service on Sundays
Must meet eligibility requirements
Best insurer for families: GEICO
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
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. | 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. | $28/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. | $58/mo |
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
Drivers appreciate the excellent customer service and initial low prices but dislike the frequent price increases.
James
November 19, 2024
Unsatisfactory Experience with Geico
Edward
November 18, 2024
Experience with Geico
Chris
November 18, 2024
Poor
The company offers a long list of discount opportunities for young drivers. Some discounts are available for good students, multiple vehicles, and driver educational courses. Plus, GEICO offers optional accident forgiveness, which could come in handy if you have new drivers in your household. The downside is that GEICO has a slightly below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ranking in the Central region.
Long list of available discounts
Accident forgiveness option
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ranking in the Central region
Rideshare coverage not available
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Des Moines
Insurance companies take a range of factors into account when determining your premiums, including your age, location, driving record, credit history, and the type of insurance you want.
As you look for the cheapest car insurance option, here are some ways to lock in low rates:
Raise your deductible. A higher deductible usually translates into lower auto insurance premiums. If you have the ability to cover a higher deductible, this might be a good idea.
Ask for a discount. Most insurance companies provide discount opportunities. Find out if you qualify for any savings.
Shop around. Every insurance company looks at your situation differently, which leads to different rates. Getting quotes from multiple insurance companies can help you find cheap car insurance.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Des Moines: Auto-Owners
Liability-only car insurance helps you pay for any damages or injuries you cause to others during an accident. For example, your liability policy could help pay for another party’s medical bills or vehicle repairs after an accident.
The cheapest insurer for liability-only car insurance in Des Moines is Auto-Owners, with an average cost of $25 per month. In general, a liability-only car insurance policy that meets the minimum-coverage requirements is the most affordable option. But this bare-bones approach might not provide enough coverage for your situation, especially if you lease or finance your vehicle.
The following table shows examples of average liability rates from some insurance companies.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Auto-Owners | $25 |
USAA | $26 |
GEICO | $28 |
American Family | $31 |
Allstate | $32 |
Farmers | $36 |
Safeco | $48 |
Nationwide | $49 |
Travelers | $49 |
National General | $57 |
Progressive | $58 |
Bristol West | $63 |
Dairyland | $64 |
Direct Auto | $68 |
Liberty Mutual | $80 |
Root | $92 |
Foremost | $101 |
The General | $101 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Des Moines: Auto-Owners
A full-coverage auto insurance policy includes comprehensive and collision insurance on top of liability coverage. After an accident, a full-coverage policy will help you get back on the road by paying for repairs.
Most auto lenders require you to carry a full-coverage policy. But even if you aren’t required to carry this coverage, the more robust policy might provide the financial protection you need.
Generally, the cost of this type of a full-coverage policy is more than a liability-only policy. The cheapest insurer for full-coverage car insurance in Des Moines is Auto-Owners, with an average cost of $50 per month.
The following table illustrates the range of quotes for full-coverage car insurance that Des Moines drivers can find.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Auto-Owners | $50 |
USAA | $54 |
GEICO | $58 |
American Family | $61 |
Allstate | $65 |
Farmers | $75 |
Nationwide | $100 |
Travelers | $100 |
Safeco | $104 |
National General | $109 |
Progressive | $118 |
Direct Auto | $127 |
Root | $138 |
Dairyland | $183 |
Bristol West | $207 |
Liberty Mutual | $208 |
Foremost | $224 |
The General | $231 |
Cheapest recent rates near Des Moines, Iowa
Recent Des Moines, Iowa car insurance prices for Pontiac, Toyota, Nissan , and more.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Des Moines, Iowa within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 20, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Des Moines, Iowa within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 20, 2024
Car insurance requirements in Iowa
Des Moines drivers must carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to legally use public roads. Below is a breakdown of the minimum-coverage requirements:
Coverage ▲▼ | Minimum Requirements ▲▼ |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident |
Property damage liability | $15,000 per accident |
Collision coverage
After an accident, collision coverage can help you pay for repairs to your own vehicle. It can also cover repair costs if you collide with an object like a phone pole, tree, or fence.
Comprehensive coverage
After a non-collision event that causes damage, comprehensive coverage can help you cover repairs. Some non-collision events include severe weather, vehicle theft, and vandalism.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
A mistake on the road could lead to a traffic violation on your driving record. Some serious offenses include speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and at-fault accidents. These incidents on your driving record usually represent a red flag to car insurance companies. In general, insurers offset this risk by raising your insurance premiums.
As the most populous city in the state, Des Moines also sees more traffic issues. For example, Polk County — which covers most of Des Moines — saw 44 traffic fatalities in 2021.[3] That’s significantly more than any other county in the state.
In the sections below, you’ll see how an incident can affect car insurance costs for Des Moines drivers.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners
In 2021, Polk County — which covers most of Des Moines — saw 16,272 speeding convictions.[4] That accounts for approximately 13% of speeding tickets in the entire state. After a speeding ticket, most drivers see their car insurance costs increase.
On average, Des Moines drivers see their overall car insurance premiums rise from $107 per month to $172 after a speeding ticket. Below is a breakdown of costs by insurance companies for drivers with a speeding ticket in Des Moines.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Auto-Owners | $25 | $35 |
USAA | $26 | $36 |
GEICO | $28 | $39 |
American Family | $31 | $44 |
Allstate | $32 | $45 |
Farmers | $36 | $50 |
Safeco | $48 | $68 |
Nationwide | $49 | $69 |
Travelers | $49 | $69 |
National General | $57 | $80 |
Progressive | $58 | $81 |
Bristol West | $63 | $89 |
Dairyland | $64 | $90 |
Direct Auto | $68 | $95 |
Liberty Mutual | $80 | $120 |
Root | $92 | $138 |
Foremost | $101 | $152 |
The General | $101 | $144 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
An at-fault accident often leads to higher rates. In fact, Des Moines drivers could find an at-fault accident affects their car insurance premiums for three years or longer.
In Des Moines, car insurance can average $246 per month for full coverage following an accident and $116 for liability-only coverage.
Below is a closer look at some of the cheapest auto insurance companies for Des Moines drivers with an at-fault accident in their past.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Accident ▲ |
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