The Best Cheap Iowa Car Insurance for 2024

Iowa auto insurance rates are pretty affordable for most drivers, but they still cost many people over $1,500 per year. It's possible to get those rates down, though, by seeking out the cheapest car insurance in Iowa. Here's a look at which providers offer the best rates for several common driver profiles.

• Cheapest for typical drivers: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers with prior accidents: State Farm
• Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets: State Farm
• Cheapest for young drivers: IMT Insurance
• Cheapest for senior drivers: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage: Geico
• Cheapest for drivers with poor credit: Geico

Cheapest for typical drivers

Female drivers usually pay about $1,559 per year for Iowa auto insurance, while male drivers usually pay about $1,572 per year. But Geico offers both a better deal: Women pay about $1,174 annually while men pay just $1,089 per year.

These insurers are also some of the best car insurance companies in Iowa:

• State Farm, where both men and women pay about $1,232 per year on average
• West Bend Insurance, which charges women $1,289 per year and men $1,266 per year

Cheapest for drivers with prior accidents

State Farm offers the best car insurance in Iowa for drivers with a single accident on their record. Its average annual premium for these drivers is just $1,398 -- well below the state average of $2,095.

These companies also offer cheap auto insurance in Iowa to drivers with an accident history:

• Farmers, which charges these drivers about $1,709 per year for Iowa auto insurance
• Geico, where these drivers pay about $1,855 annually

Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets

State Farm also had the best rates for drivers with a single speeding ticket. While the average Iowa auto insurance rate for these drivers is $1,885 per year, State Farm drivers only pay $1,315 per year.

These companies also offer affordable car insurance in Iowa to drivers with speeding tickets:

• Geico, which charges drivers with one speeding ticket $1,457 per year on average
• IMT Insurance, where these drivers pay about $1,585 annually

Cheapest for young drivers

The typical 18-year-old Iowa driver pays $3,484 per year for Iowa auto insurance. But those who choose IMT Insurance only pay about $2,183 per year.

Teen drivers can also get cheap car insurance quotes in Iowa from these insurers:

• Geico, where teens pay about $2,706 per year on average
• State Farm, which charges the average teen driver about $2,809 annually

Cheapest for senior drivers

Senior drivers only pay about $1,328 per year for their Iowa auto insurance. But those who choose Geico pay an even lower $933 per year.

Drivers 65 and up can also find cheap auto insurance in Iowa with these companies:

• State Farm, where the average 65-year-old driver pays $1,062 annually
• Nationwide, which charges these drivers about $1,110 per year

Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage

Iowa minimum car insurance costs about $348 per year. That's not bad, but those who choose Geico can get coverage for $225 per year.

Cheap liability car insurance in Iowa is also available through these companies:

• IMT Insurance, which has an average annual premium of $252 for minimum coverage
• State Farm, where drivers pay about $260 per year for minimum coverage

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

Drivers with bad credit should take a look at Geico. Its average annual premium of $1,654 for these drivers was well below the state average of $2,287.

These companies also offer great deals on Iowa auto insurance for drivers with bad credit:

• IMT Insurance, which charges these drivers about $1,699 per year
• State Farm, where drivers with bad credit pay about $1,953 annually

Average car insurance cost in Iowa compared to the national average

How much is car insurance in Iowa? That depends on several factors, including the driver's age, accident history, address, and vehicle make and model. But generally, Iowa auto insurance rates are below average compared to the rest of the nation. Here's a look at how its average rates for some of the driver profiles above compare to the U.S. as a whole.

Iowa auto insurance laws

All drivers should familiarize themselves with these Iowa car insurance laws:

Iowa is an at-fault state

Iowa is an at-fault auto insurance state. This means if there's a multi-car accident resulting in injuries, the driver found to be at fault pays the bills for all parties involved. That's different from no-fault states where each driver bills their own insurance provider for medical costs.

Consequences for driving without insurance in Iowa

Driving without Iowa auto insurance carries the following consequences:

• Suspension of license plates
• Suspension of vehicle registration
• Fines of up to $325, if not involved in an accident, or up to $645 if charged in connection with an accident

Iowa minimum coverage requirements

All Iowa drivers must carry at least the following coverage:

Bodily injury liability coverage

Drivers must carry at least:

• $20,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $40,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident

Property damage liability coverage

Drivers must also have at least $15,000 of property damage liability coverage.

How to get cheap auto insurance in Iowa

Drivers seeking low-cost car insurance in Iowa should take the following steps:

• Compare quotes from several companies: Each insurer weighs risk differently, which is why they all provide different quotes. It's worth taking time to get quotes from a few companies to see which offers the best deal.
• Claim all available discounts: Insurers apply most discounts automatically to qualifying drivers' premiums, but there are some discounts drivers must opt into. For example, driver monitoring programs require driver consent. This can be a way for drivers to prove their safe driving habits and shave a little extra off their premiums.
• Choose a higher deductible: Raising an auto insurance deductible usually lowers premiums.

Other things to consider when looking for car insurance in Iowa

Here are a few other things drivers ought to keep in mind when shopping for Iowa auto insurance:

Iowa minimum coverage requirements are lower than many other states

Iowa only requires its drivers to carry $20,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person and $40,000 per accident, plus $15,000 of property damage liability coverage. This is sometimes written as 20/40/15 coverage. Most other states require its drivers to carry at least 25/50/25 coverage so they're better protected in the event of an accident.

It's best to purchase more than state minimum coverage whenever possible. Car accidents, particularly those resulting in injuries, can quickly exceed state minimum coverage. If this happens, the driver is on their own to cover the rest.

State minimum coverage doesn't protect the policyholder's vehicle

Drivers should also consider beefing up their policy with collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays to repair the policyholder's vehicle if it's damaged in an accident with another car or a single-car accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for repairs needed because of animal-vehicle collisions, theft, vandalism, bad weather, and more.

Need homeowners insurance? Check out The Ascent's guide to the best cheap car insurance in Iowa.