Cheapest car insurance in Iowa for 2023

Insuring your car in the Hawkeye State can be a positive experience. Several insurance companies offer cheap car insurance in Iowa. The average annual cost of car insurance in Iowa is $252 for minimum coverage and $1,260 for full coverage. Iowa boasts some of the cheapest car insurance on average in the nation.

The cheapest car insurance in Iowa

Bankrate’s insurance editorial team has obtained current premium information from Quadrant Information Services for the largest insurance companies in Iowa by market share. Although finding the cheapest auto insurance in Iowa may be a priority, we also took coverages, discounts and customer satisfaction ratings into consideration.

If you are looking for the cheapest car insurance in Iowa, you might want to start by getting quotes from these companies:

USAA

USAA offers the cheapest auto insurance in Iowa for minimum coverage and full coverage according to our research. However, the company only sells insurance to current and retired military members and their immediate family members. Although USAA’s eligibility restrictions preclude it from official ranking with J.D. Power, the company did earn the highest number of points in the 2020 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study in the Central region, which includes Iowa.

USAA also offers numerous ways to save on top of its already low average rates. If you insure a new vehicle, are a safe driver or drive low annual miles, you could qualify for a discount. The company also offers military-focused savings opportunities, like discounts for garaging your vehicle on a military base or storing your vehicle while you are deployed.

Learn more: USAA Insurance review

Iowa Farm Bureau

If you are looking for a provider with cheap average rates but do not qualify for coverage with USAA, Iowa Farm Bureau could be a good option. To save even more, you might be able to take advantage of the company’s Driveology telematics discount or Young Driver Safety program. You might also save for being claims-free, driving low annual mileage or bundling your home and auto insurance.

You may also want to tailor your coverage with options like roadside assistance or replacement cost coverage. And if you own a motorcycle, farm vehicle or recreational vehicle, Farm Bureau has insurance options for those, too.

Learn more: Farm Bureau Insurance review

Geico

Geico’s average rates in Iowa are just below the state average, but the company offers a long list of discounts to help you keep your premium down. You might save for having certain vehicle safety features on your car, being a member of the military or a federal employee, being a good student or wearing your seatbelt.

If you want to handle your insurance digitally, Geico’s technology might impress you. The company’s online customer portal is robust, and the mobile app is highly-rated on the App Store and Google Play. From within the app, you can view ID cards, make a payment, call for roadside assistance, file a claim or make a change to your policy.

Learn more: Geico Insurance review

Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners is a regional carrier and may not be as familiar as some of the other companies on our list. However, the company offers an impressive car insurance product. Auto-Owners has the highest average full coverage rate out of all the carriers on our list, but the higher premium comes with a range of unique coverage options, including the Personal Automobile Plus package, which provides identity theft coverage and cell phone coverage.

Auto-Owners also offers multiple discounts to help policyholders lower their premiums. You might save by paying in full, bundling your home and auto policies, enrolling in paperless statements, getting a quote before your current policy expires and having a life insurance policy with Auto-Owners.

Learn more: Auto-Owners Insurance review

Progressive

Progressive is another cheap car insurance contender in the Hawkeye State. The Name Your Price tool allows you to enter the amount you are able to pay and then populates a range of coverage options within your specified budget. Animal lovers with collision coverage through Progressive will appreciate that their pets are also covered in an accident. The carrier will pay for veterinary expenses if pets in the vehicle were injured in a car crash.

Progressive also offers numerous discounts to help you lower your premium. You might save if you get your quote and buy your policy online, being a homeowner, insuring a good student or participating in Progressive’s Snapshot driver program.

Learn more: Progressive Insurance review

Minimum coverage requirements for Iowa drivers

Iowa, like most states, has minimum car insurance limits. All vehicle owners in the state of Iowa must have car insurance with minimum liability limits of:

• $20,000 bodily injury per person
• $40,000 bodily injury per accident
• $15,000 property damage per accident

Insurers are required to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at $20,000/$40,000, but individuals can reject this coverage in writing if they prefer.

Keep in mind that the minimum required coverage only pays for injuries and damages you cause to others. If you need coverage for damages to your own vehicle, you will need to upgrade your car insurance by adding collision and comprehensive insurance. This is referred to as “full coverage.”

Additionally, while minimum coverage insurance can be less expensive than full coverage, most insurance professionals encourage drivers to purchase higher liability limits if they are able to do so. If the damages from an at-fault loss exceed the amount of liability coverage you carry, you will be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket.

How to get cheap car insurance in Iowa

Iowa’s car insurance rates are already lower than the national average, but there are still ways to find additional savings. You may save on car insurance a few ways:

• Get multiple quotes: Car insurance varies in price from one carrier to another. It can be helpful to get multiple quotes before you choose a car insurance company so you can compare the price each company offers for the coverage you need.
• Find and apply for discounts: Many auto insurance providers offer discounts for students, professionals, military service members, certain types of vehicles, safe drivers and for setting up automatic payments. Take advantage of as many discounts as you qualify for and you might reduce your car insurance bill.
• Choose a higher deductible: If you have full coverage and you file a claim on your collision or comprehensive coverage, you will have to pay the applicable deductible out of pocket. Generally, the higher your deductible is, the lower your premium will be. Be sure to quote this change before committing, as it does not always result in significant savings, and make sure you can afford the higher deductible if you are involved in an accident.
• Improve your credit score: Most car insurance companies check your credit score to evaluate how likely it is that you will file a claim. If you have judgments and unpaid bills on your credit, your car insurance may be more expensive. Working to improve your credit score may have a beneficial impact on your insurance premiums.

One of the best ways to keep your car insurance premiums at an affordable level is to maintain a clean driving record. Avoiding accidents, tickets and DUIs can help you avoid surcharges on your policy that can dramatically increase your premium.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.