Average car insurance cost in Des Moines, Iowa

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Des Moines is $2,383 per year, which is $77 less than the state average and $195 less than the national average. GEICO offers the lowest average rate at $1,416, but your actual premium depends on factors like your age, driving record, and coverage level.

Where you live plays a bigger role than most drivers expect. Insurers price risk by ZIP code, so local factors – traffic density, accident and theft rates, repair costs, weather, and the share of uninsured drivers on the road – all feed into what you pay in Des Moines. That’s why two drivers with identical records can pay very different rates depending on which side of a city line they live on.

Here’s how Des Moines’s average premium stacks up against Iowa and national rates:

How much car insurance do you need in Des Moines?

Every driver in Des Moines needs at least liability coverage, but full coverage offers better protection because it covers your own car too, not just the other driver’s.

Liability only covers damage you cause to others. If your car is damaged in an accident, stolen, or hit by a falling tree, you’re on the hook for the cost without full coverage. Here’s what each coverage level costs per year and what it includes:

• State minimum coverage: $466 per year – Limits of $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 total bodily injury per accident, $25,000 property damage. The lowest coverage level allowed by law.
• Liability only coverage: $507 per year – Limits of $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 total bodily injury per accident, $50,000 property damage. Pays for others’ injuries and property damage when you’re at fault but doesn’t cover your own vehicle.
• Full coverage: $2,383 per year – Limits of $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 total bodily injury per accident, $100,000 property damage. Combines liability with collision and comprehensive, so your own car is covered too.

What are the cheapest car insurance companies in Des Moines?

GEICO beats every insurer when it comes down to price for full coverage car insurance in Des Moines, at $1,416 per year. Progressive ranks second at $1,932 per year. Rates are based on limits of $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 property damage.

Rates differ by company, so comparing quotes from multiple providers is the best way to find a rate that fits your budget.

Below is a breakdown of average yearly and monthly car insurance rates from different insurers in Des Moines.

Do men or women pay more for car insurance in Des Moines?

Male drivers in Des Moines average $2,369 per year for full coverage car insurance,which is $29 less than female drivers at $2,398 per year.

Insurers in most states use gender as a rating factor. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania block this practice.

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), a nonprofit that researches insurance trends, reports that women are involved in fewer serious accidents than men. Insurers price that risk difference into premiums, which is why men pay more for car insurance.

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How does age affect car insurance rates in Des Moines?

No age group pays more than teens in Des Moines – $7,420 a year, or $618 monthly. Every year of driving experience chips away at that number – with drivers 20 to 24 averaging at $3,795 annually, drivers 25 to 55 averaging at$2,379, and drivers 60 to 75 averaging at $2,230.

According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teen drivers — between the ages of 16 to 19 — have crash rates over 3 times those of drivers 20 and older per mile driven. Insurers factor this risk in, pushing teen car insurance rates higher.

That gap narrows fast with age. By 20 to 24, drivers pay $3,795 a year – 49% what teens pay.

Below is a breakdown of average annual full coverage car insurance rates by age group.

How have car insurance rates changed in Des Moines?

Des Moines rates have moved in a upward direction since 2023 to 2025, climbing or falling by 48%, or $773.

If your own premium has been rising, shop around and confirm you’re not paying more than what other insurers charge.

The graph below tracks insurance costs from 2022 to 2025, showing the long-term trend behind today’s rates.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned car insurance rates in 2026 from Quadrant Information Services. To determine the average premiums, our team of data analysts and expert editors analyzed 65,756,440 auto insurance quotes collected in 2025 across 51 states, 29,159 cities and 34,595 zip codes. Quotes came from 195 insurance companies across 73 company groups, giving a national average annual premium of $2,578.

Each quote reflects a 40-year-old male and female driver with a Honda Accord LX, no violations and a good insurance score, driving 10,000 miles a year with a 12-mile daily commute. Coverage includes:

• 100/300/100 liability limits (up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $100,000 for property damage)
• $500 deductible for collision and comprehensive

The quoted insurance rates are for comparison purposes, and your rates may vary.

Read more about our research standards and methodology.

Alisha Ambre

 

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Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.