State Farm has the best cheap car insurance in Iowa, at $88 per month for a full coverage policy.

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Best cheap car insurance in Iowa

How we chose the top companies

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481,000+ quotes from 9 top companies
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1,001 Iowa ZIP codes for personalized rates

Best and cheapest car insurance in Iowa

Monthly rates based on full coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old man. Some rates use different ages or coverage limits.


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State Farm offers the best mix of affordable quotes and reliable customer service in Iowa. American Family and Auto-Owners also have good rates and service. However, they're typically much more expensive than State Farm.

Progressive is also cheap in Iowa, but its customer service reviews aren't very good. That means it will probably take longer to get back on the road after an accident if you choose Progressive.

Cheapest auto insurance in IA: State Farm

State Farm has the cheapest full coverage quotes in Iowa.

At $88 per month, full coverage from State Farm is $70 per month cheaper than the average in Iowa. It's also much less expensive than the second-cheapest company, Progressive.

Cheapest car insurance in the state of Iowa

Find Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Iowa

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The average cost of car insurance in Iowa is $158 per month for a full coverage policy. That's $16 per month cheaper than the U.S. average.

Best cheap full coverage car insurance in Iowa

Company
Monthly rate
State Farm logo
State Farm$88
Progressive logo
Progressive$121
American Family logo
American Family$133
Auto-Owners logo
Auto-Owners$138
Farm Bureau logo
Farm Bureau$156
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Cheapest liability car insurance in Iowa: Progressive and State Farm

Progressive and State Farm offer the cheapest minimum liability insurance in Iowa, at around $21 per month.

That's half the Iowa state average, which is $42 per month for a liability-only policy.

Although Progressive costs slightly less, State Farm is a better choice for most people due to its superior customer service.

Best cheap IA auto insurance

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A liability-only policy is the cheapest insurance option for drivers in Iowa. However, it provides much less protection than a full coverage policy. Full coverage protects your own car from damage and can also have higher liability limits.

Cheap IA auto insurance for teens: Progressive and State Farm

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Progressive has the cheapest liability-only insurance for Iowa teens. A policy costs $72 per month, which is $51 per month less than the state average.

Young drivers looking for minimum liability insurance should also compare rates from State Farm. It's only $1 more per month than Progressive, but it has much better customer service reviews. That could be important if you have an accident in the future.


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State Farm has the cheapest full coverage quotes, at $236 per month, for an 18-year-old driver in Iowa. That's $166 per month less than the Iowa average.

Affordable insurance in IA for teens

Company
Liability only
Full coverage
Progressive$72$327
State Farm$73$236
Farm Bureau$79$341
Grinnell Mutual$108$454
American Family$111$495
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The average cost of minimum liability car insurance in Iowa for young drivers is $123 per month. That's about three times more than a 30-year-old driver pays for the same coverage.

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Young drivers can usually get the cheapest rates by sharing a policy with their parents.

Many companies also have discounts geared toward teens. For example, the State Farm Steer Clear program offers a discount when you take a series of online courses and practice driving with a mentor.

Cheap auto insurance in Iowa after a speeding ticket: State Farm

State Farm has the cheapest auto insurance in Iowa for people with a speeding ticket. Full coverage from State Farm costs $92 per month, which is less than half the average in Iowa.

Company
Monthly rate
State Farm$92
Progressive$148
American Family$172
Farm Bureau$191
Grinnell Mutual$202
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Drivers in Iowa can expect their car insurance rates to go up by around 22% after one speeding ticket. That's an average increase of $34 per month for a full coverage policy.

Cheapest car insurance in IA after an accident: State Farm

State Farm offers the cheapest quotes for Iowa drivers with an accident on their record. Full coverage auto insurance from State Farm costs $88 per month, which is $135 per month cheaper than the Iowa average for drivers with one accident.

Company
Monthly rate
State Farm$88
Progressive$161
Auto-Owners$181
Grinnell Mutual$202
American Family$222
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On average, the cost of car insurance goes up by 40% for Iowa drivers after an at-fault accident.

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You don't need to worry about switching car insurance companies right after your accident. Your rates won't go up until your current policy renews. However, they will go up if you switch companies.

Instead, wait until you get your rate offer from your current company in the mail, usually a few weeks to a month before your policy renews. Then, you should get quotes from multiple companies to find the cheapest policy for you.

Cheap IA auto insurance for teens with a ticket or accident: Progressive and State Farm

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Progressive has the cheapest rates in Iowa for young drivers with a speeding ticket. A minimum liability policy from Progressive costs $77 per month for an 18-year-old with one ticket. That's nearly half the state average.

Teens with a ticket should also consider State Farm, which costs just $3 per month more than Progressive. State Farm has better customer service ratings than Progressive. That means it will probably get you back on the road faster if you ever have an accident.


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State Farm has the most affordable quotes for Iowa teens who have caused an accident. Liability-only coverage from State Farm costs $73 per month for these drivers, which is less than half the Iowa average.

Cheap Iowa car insurance for teens after a ticket or accident

Company
Ticket
Accident
Progressive$77$82
State Farm$80$73
Farm Bureau$97$129
Grinnell Mutual$108$108
American Family$119$169
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Accidents have a big impact on the cost of car insurance for most people. However, young drivers see a smaller rate increase after an accident than older drivers.

An 18-year-old driver can expect to pay 24% more for insurance after an at-fault accident, while rates for a 30-year-old driver go up by 41%, on average. That's because insurance companies already view teens as risky drivers, even if they have a clean record. So they pay much more for car insurance to begin with.

Cheap insurance in Iowa after a DUI: Progressive

Progressive is the cheapest insurance company for Iowa drivers with a DUI. A full coverage policy from Progressive costs $132 per month after a DUI, which is less than half the Iowa average.

Company
Monthly rate
Progressive$132
State Farm$153
American Family$256
Geico$276
Allstate$307
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A DUI increases the cost of car insurance in Iowa by 79%, on average.

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Drivers with a DUI may also have to get SR-22 insurance in Iowa.

It usually costs between $15 and $50 for an insurance company to file an SR-22 certificate on your behalf. That's on top of any increase in your car insurance rates.

Affordable insurance in IA for drivers with poor credit: Progressive

Progressive is the cheapest car insurance company in Iowa for drivers with bad credit. Full coverage from Progressive costs around $201 per month. That's $98 per month cheaper than the state average.

Drivers with poor credit should also compare rates from American Family. Although it's $18 per month more than Progressive, American Family has better customer service reviews. It could be worth spending the extra money for the peace of mind that your insurance company will take great care of you after a crash.

Cheapest insurance companies in Iowa for bad credit

Company
Monthly rate
Progressive$201
American Family$219
Geico$248
Nationwide$264
Farm Bureau$269
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Even though your credit score isn't related to your ability to drive safely, drivers with poor credit pay nearly twice as much for insurance in Iowa as those with good credit. That's because insurance companies believe drivers with bad credit are more likely to file a claim in the future.

Best car insurance in Iowa

Farm Bureau has the best-rated customer service for drivers in Iowa.

It earned a high score on J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey and gets far fewer complaints than an average company its size. While Farm Bureau's rates are typically lower than average, it's not the cheapest option in Iowa. So you'll pay more for the peace of mind that your insurance company will take great care of you after a crash.

State Farm also has reliable customer service, and it's the cheapest company for many Iowa drivers. You should compare rates from both Farm Bureau and State Farm to find the best policy for you.

Top auto insurance companies in Iowa

Company
Editor's rating
J.D. Power
AM Best
Farm Bureau
673A
State Farm
657A++
Auto-Owners
654A++
Geico
637A++
Nationwide
641A
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Car insurance quotes in Iowa by city

Ames, home to Iowa State University, has the cheapest car insurance quotes in Iowa.

The average cost of car insurance in Ames is $131 per month for a full coverage policy.

Gravity, a small city in southwest Iowa, has the most expensive rates in the state. At $182 per month, full coverage in Gravity costs $24 per month more than the state average.

You're likely to pay more for car insurance in places with higher rates of theft, or where roads are narrow or poorly maintained, which may lead to more car accidents.

Average cost of full coverage insurance in IA by city

City
Monthly rate
% from average
Ackley$144-6%
Ackworth$1552%
Adair$1658%
Adel$148-3%
Afton$1658%
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What is the minimum auto insurance coverage in Iowa?

Iowa is one of the few states in the nation that doesn't require auto insurance. Drivers can either get a policy with a minimum amount of liability coverage or make a deposit with the Iowa Department of Transportation or the state treasurer.

Drivers in Iowa who buy car insurance need to get 20/40/15 of liability coverage.

If you don't want to buy insurance, you can show proof of financial responsibility. This means you have to deposit a large amount of money and agree to pay for any damage you cause in an accident.

There are two ways to show proof of financial responsibility in Iowa:

  1. Bond insurance card: If you post a bond of at least $55,000 with Iowa's Department of Transportation, you will get a bond insurance card that acts as proof of financial responsibility.
  2. Security insurance card: You can file an endorsed certificate of deposit with the state treasurer to get a security insurance card. This card shows you've deposited at least $55,000 with an Iowa bank that will cover the damage if you cause an accident.

If you choose either of these options, you're responsible for any damage you cause in a car crash, but you won't be guilty of driving without insurance.

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What's the best car insurance coverage for Iowa drivers?

Full coverage car insurance is the best choice for most Iowa drivers.

That's because full coverage includes collision and comprehensive coverage, which protect your car.

  • Collision insurance covers the cost of damage to your own car after an accident, regardless of fault.
  • Comprehensive insurance pays for damage unrelated to a crash, like damage from severe weather or vandalism.

Your lender typically requires these coverages if you have a car loan or lease. You should also consider adding these coverages if your car is worth more than $5,000 or is less than 8 years old.

In addition, full coverage often includes higher liability limits than the state requires. This is important because the Iowa requirements may not be high enough to cover the cost of a serious accident.

For example, if you cause a major crash with a brand new car, $15,000 probably won't be enough money to replace it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best insurance in Iowa?

Farm Bureau has the best-rated car insurance in Iowa. It has excellent customer service, but it's not typically the cheapest option. State Farm is also a good choice for Iowa drivers because of its reliable service and affordable rates.

How much is car insurance in Iowa per month?

The average price of a full coverage car insurance policy in Iowa is $158 per month. Liability-only coverage policies cost $42 per month, on average.

What insurance is required in Iowa?

Iowa drivers must have at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, plus $15,000 of property damage liability coverage. Alternatively, you can show proof of financial responsibility with a bond or security insurance card.

How much is car insurance in Des Moines, Iowa?

The average cost of car insurance in Des Moines is $152 per month for a full coverage policy. That's $6 per month less than the Iowa state average of $158 per month.


Methodology

To find the best cheap Iowa auto insurance, ValuePenguin collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across Iowa for the largest insurance companies in the state. Rates are for a 30-year-old man who owns a 2015 Honda Civic EX with good credit and a clean driving record.

Quotes are based on a full coverage policy with the following limits:

  • $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, and $100,000 per accident
  • $25,000 of property damage liability
  • $10,000 of personal injury protection
  • $50,000 of bodily injury uninsured motorist coverage per person, and $100,000 per accident
  • $25,000 of uninsured motorist coverage for property damage
  • Collision and comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurance company filings and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.

Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.