Low-cost car insurance in Iowa

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Drivers in Iowa can find the cheapest average premium with Travelers, at $1,449 per year. By comparison, the statewide average monthly cost is $186. Keep in mind that rates vary for each driver depending on factors like driving record, ZIP code, and vehicle type.

Since auto insurance laws differ by state, Iowa requires drivers to carry at least $20,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $40,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage liability.

For broader protection, full coverage may be a smart option. It combines liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, giving you coverage not only for other drivers but also for your own vehicle if it’s damaged in a crash, stolen, or affected by severe weather.

Here’s how different insurers stack up for drivers in Iowa, depending on your situation.

Key Takeaways

Travelers has the lowest average car insurance premium in Iowa, costing $1,449 per year. That’s $779 the state average.
For drivers with an at-fault accident on record, Travelers offers the most affordable coverage at around $2,051 annually.
The 52246 ZIP code stands out as the cheapest area for auto insurance in Iowa, with an average yearly cost of $1,806.

Low-cost car insurance companies in Iowa

Travelers offers the lowest car insurance rates in Iowa, with an average annual premium of $1,449 per year. It’s $779 less expensive than the average car insurance cost in Iowa. Your actual rate will vary based on factors such as your driving history, age, ZIP code and the make and model of your car.

When shopping for auto insurance, compare rates from multiple companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Below are the annual rates from low-cost car insurance companies..

Company	Average annual rates
Travelers	$1,449
Auto-Owners	$1,772
GEICO	$1,871
State Farm	$2,005
West Bend Insurance Company	$2,036
IMT Insurance	$2,066
Progressive	$2,079
Allstate	$3,046
Iowa Farm Bureau	$3,212
Grinnell Mutual	$3,670
USAA*	$1,319

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How we choose low-cost car insurance companies in Iowa

170+

Carriers reviewed

78M+

Quotes analysed

34K+

ZIP codes examined

ZIP codes with the cheapest car insurance in Iowa

In Iowa, drivers living in the 52246 ZIP code enjoy the lowest average annual premium at $1,806. Check the table below to see which other ZIP codes in the state have more affordable rates.

ZIP code	City	Average annual rates
52246	Iowa City	$1,806
52241	Coralville	$1,808
52245	Iowa City	$1,819
52242	Iowa City	$1,822
50014	Ames	$1,846
52240	Iowa City	$1,857
50010	Ames	$1,859
50021	Ankeny	$1,902
50323	Urbandale	$1,913
50023	Ankeny	$1,922

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Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

Car insurance rates in Iowa by city

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Low-cost car insurance in Iowa by age

Teenagers pay significantly more for car insurance than adults in Iowa. For instance, a 16-year-old driver pays $6,366 more on average than a 40-year-old.

The following table shows car insurance rates by age group in Iowa.

Age group	Full coverage annual premiums
Teens (16-19)	$6,134
Young Adults (20-24)	$3,491
Adults (25-60)	$2,223
Seniors (65-75)	$2,000

Low-cost car insurance in Iowa by driver history

Insurers weigh your driving record heavily when setting premiums. You can expect your rates to rise if you’re ticketed or at fault in an accident. On the other hand, drivers with clean records are considered lower risk and usually qualify for cheaper coverage.

Low-cost car insurance after a speeding ticket in Iowa

One speeding ticket in Iowa can cause your insurance rates to jump by 33%, or roughly $730 per year. Combined with the cost of the fine, a violation can get expensive fast. The table below highlights insurers with lower-priced options even after a ticket.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
Travelers	$1,449	$2,120	46%	$671
State Farm	$2,005	$2,141	7%	$135
Progressive	$2,079	$2,615	26%	$536
Auto-Owners	$1,772	$2,730	54%	$958
GEICO	$1,871	$2,930	57%	$1,059
Allstate	$3,046	$3,346	10%	$300
USAA*	$1,319	$1,642	24%	$323

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Low-cost car insurance after an accident in Iowa

Being at fault in an accident will drive your premiums up, but some insurers remain more affordable than others. Travelers is the lowest-cost option for these drivers, with an average annual premium of $2,051.

If you’ve had an accident, comparing quotes can help you avoid overpaying. See the table below for the cheapest companies after one at-fault accident.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	% Increase	$ Increase
Travelers	$1,449	$2,051	42%	$603
State Farm	$2,005	$2,276	13%	$271
Auto-Owners	$1,772	$2,341	32%	$570
Progressive	$2,079	$3,014	45%	$934
GEICO	$1,871	$3,293	76%	$1,422
Allstate	$3,046	$4,472	47%	$1,426
USAA*	$1,319	$1,954	48%	$636

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Low-cost car insurance after a DUI in Iowa

Being labeled a high-risk driver after a DUI usually means paying much more for car insurance. However, some insurers are less expensive than others. The table below shows which companies in Iowa offer the most affordable rates after a DUI conviction.

Company	Average annual premium	New rate after accident	$ Increase	% Increase
State Farm	$2,005	$2,141	$135	7%
Progressive	$2,079	$2,195	$115	6%
Travelers	$1,449	$2,211	$763	53%
GEICO	$1,871	$3,365	$1,494	80%
Allstate	$3,046	$4,002	$956	31%
Auto-Owners	$1,772	$4,301	$2,530	143%
USAA*	$1,319	$2,176	$857	65%

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

Average cost of car insurance Iowa

While full coverage is more expensive than minimum liability, the extra protection is worth it for most drivers. Liability-only policies cover damage you cause to others, but not your own car. Full coverage adds collision and comprehensive protection, covering accidents, theft, weather, and other risks.

In Iowa, the average cost of full coverage is $285 less compared to the national average.

We recommend carrying at least 100/300/100 in coverage – $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in property damage liability. These limits provide stronger protection in serious accidents that could otherwise exceed state minimums.

What is full coverage car insurance?

Full coverage car insurance includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision insurance covers your vehicle if it’s damaged or destroyed in an accident, while comprehensive insurance provides protection against damage that is caused by something other than collisions, such as hail or theft.

If you lease or finance your car in Iowa, your lender may ask you to purchase collision and comprehensive insurance beyond the state-mandated liability coverage.

The bottom line on saving and staying protected

Everyone wants to save on car insurance, but skimping on coverage can leave you with big bills after an accident.

The best approach is to balance affordability with protection. Always compare quotes from at least three companies to find the cheapest car insurance in Iowa.

Methodology

Insure.com gathered data from Quadrant Information Services to get car insurance rates in Iowa. The rates are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driving a Honda Accord LX with a good insurance score and no violation on record for a full coverage insurance policy with limits 100/300/100 and $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles.

We analyzed 53,409,632 insurance quotes from 170 insurance companies across 34,588 ZIP codes nationwide.

To determine car insurance rates for high-risk drivers with a history of traffic violations, we used a sample profile of a 40-year-old male and female driver who own a Honda Accord LX.

We also used sample profiles of drivers from different age groups: Teen drivers (Age 16-19), young drivers (Age 20-24), adult drivers (Age 25-60) and senior drivers (Age 65-75)

We determined the premiums for a high-risk driver with the following incidents applied

1 At-fault property damage accident over $2K
1 At-fault property damage accident under $2K
At-fault bodily injury accident
Poor credit
DUI/DWI first offense
Speeding 30+ over limit
Speeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limit
Speeding ticket 11-29 MPH over the limit

These are sample rates, and your exact rates may vary.

Shivani Gite

Contributing Writer

Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions.