Updated: November 14, 2024
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Progressive offers the cheapest car insurance in Iowa for minimum coverage. But depending on the type of driver, American Family or Allstate might be more affordable.
MoneyGeek ranked the best auto insurance companies in Iowa for drivers who value both affordability and quality of service.
CheapestCar InsuranceIowaTable of Contents
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We performed an analysis using current information from the Iowa Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services.
These rates reflect the cheapest car insurance quotes in Iowa as of October 2024.
On average, the following are the cheapest auto insurance companies offering minimum coverage policies in Iowa:
Allstate has the most expensive minimum coverage premiums, at approximately $570 annually. Minimum insurance coverage requirements in Iowa are limited to bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
| Progressive | $188 | $16 |
| Westfield | $220 | $18 |
| State Farm | $227 | $19 |
| West Bend Mutual | $240 | $20 |
| Grange Insurance | $262 | $22 |
| Western National | $269 | $22 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $287 | $24 |
| Travelers | $293 | $24 |
| American Family | $298 | $25 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $298 | $25 |
| GEICO | $302 | $25 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $415 | $35 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $430 | $36 |
| Farmers | $504 | $42 |
| Allstate | $570 | $48 |
Under minimum coverage policies, only the damage you cause to others is covered; your car is not. Comprehensive and collision insurance, generally called a full coverage policy, can provide better protection.
Find the Best Car Insurance in Iowa for You
Your premiums will be influenced by your preferences and insurance requirements. You can find the most affordable auto insurance rates for minimum coverage in Iowa in the table above.
Learn more about how much car insurance you need.
Our research highlights the best car insurance providers in Iowa in terms of both service quality and affordability.
If cost is your primary concern, we researched the average cost of auto insurance in Iowa based on a variety of factors.
On average, the cheapest full coverage auto insurance policies in Iowa are from:
Grinnell Mutual has the most expensive full coverage policy in Iowa, with yearly premiums of approximately $1,686.
Typically, full coverage is more expensive. In Iowa, a full coverage policy from Travelers is $395 more expensive than its minimum coverage policy.
Full coverage provides greater financial protection, especially in the event of a collision with another vehicle or an off-road occurrence. Vandalism and flooding are often covered by a full coverage policy.
| Travelers | $688 | $57 |
| American Family | $738 | $62 |
| West Bend Mutual | $749 | $62 |
| GEICO | $826 | $69 |
| Grange Insurance | $841 | $70 |
| State Farm | $881 | $73 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $902 | $75 |
| Progressive | $907 | $76 |
| Westfield | $989 | $82 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $1,023 | $85 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $1,111 | $93 |
| Allstate | $1,189 | $99 |
| Farmers | $1,261 | $105 |
| Western National | $1,293 | $108 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $1,686 | $141 |
Your premiums are significantly influenced by how much auto insurance you need. MoneyGeek's sample full coverage policy with liability protection includes:
If you want to save money, you could drop your comprehensive and collision coverage or raise your deductible. However, you may lack adequate coverage in the event of an accident.
Typically, auto insurance rates can be obtained online. However, some insurance carriers require you to submit personal information, and these applications might take up to 15 minutes to complete. Comparing premiums can be time-consuming because you must provide information to each company's website.
MoneyGeek provides an auto insurance calculator so that you do not have to share your personal information with many companies. Simply enter your driving record, age and gender to obtain an estimate of the cheapest options. This can help you get started with your search for a car insurance company.
MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Nov 20, 2024
Although MoneyGeek partners with some of the companies we recommend, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of writers, editors and licensed agents. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Allstate, American Family and Travelers are the cheapest car insurance in Iowa for family members of different ages.
Cheapest for teens: Allstate
Cheapest for young adults: American Family
Cheapest for seniors: Travelers
In Iowa, the average cheapest auto insurance companies for teenagers on their parents' coverage are:
Travelers has the most expensive policy for teenage boys, at an average of $2,217, whereas Farmers has the most expensive rates for teenage girls at $1,992.
A teen's car insurance rates decrease with age anywhere in the U.S. including Iowa, with 19-year-olds having to pay the cheapest premiums. In the state, the provider with the lowest rate for 19-year-old men is Allstate ($1,217 per year).
Adding a teenager to a family policy is frequently more economical than purchasing a separate policy. For instance, an individual policy for a 16-year-old driver in Iowa typically costs roughly $2,281 more than adding him to a family policy.
| State Farm | $1,332 | $1,782 |
| Allstate | $1,644 | $5,041 |
| Travelers | $1,765 | $3,507 |
| Progressive | $1,854 | $5,545 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $1,921 | $1,958 |
| GEICO | $1,943 | $3,709 |
| Farmers | $1,992 | $5,174 |
On average, car insurance rates for male teens tend to be significantly more expensive than for female teens. This rate difference is not as notable when drivers reach their 20s and beyond.
Families with young drivers might be eligible for discounts that lower their rates. All of the car insurance providers in Iowa we looked into provide good student discounts and distant student discounts with the exception of GEICO, which only offers good student discounts.
On average, the auto insurers offering the cheapest full coverage car insurance for Iowa drivers in their 20s are:
Grinnell Mutual is the most expensive insurer in the state, with policies costing around $2,334 annually.
Younger drivers typically pay more for auto insurance than middle-aged drivers. In Iowa, young drivers pay approximately $281 more on average for full coverage than drivers who are 40 years of age.
| American Family | $771 | $64 |
| Travelers | $810 | $68 |
| West Bend Mutual | $896 | $75 |
| Grange Insurance | $993 | $83 |
| State Farm | $1,105 | $92 |
| GEICO | $1,111 | $93 |
| Progressive | $1,225 | $102 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $1,240 | $103 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $1,264 | $105 |
| Westfield | $1,274 | $106 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $1,294 | $108 |
| Farmers | $1,522 | $127 |
| Allstate | $1,526 | $127 |
| Western National | $1,939 | $162 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $2,334 | $195 |
The cheapest car insurance providers for senior drivers in Iowa are:
The most expensive rates are offered by Grinnell Mutual, at approximately $1,396 per year.
In Iowa, senior drivers pay around $98 less on average than their middle-aged counterparts for a full coverage policy. Note that prices are typically higher for drivers in their 70s and 80s.
| Travelers | $645 | $54 |
| American Family | $652 | $54 |
| West Bend Mutual | $748 | $62 |
| Progressive | $766 | $64 |
| State Farm | $773 | $64 |
| Grange Insurance | $776 | $65 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $817 | $68 |
| GEICO | $824 | $69 |
| Westfield | $907 | $76 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $950 | $79 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $961 | $80 |
| Western National | $1,117 | $93 |
| Allstate | $1,124 | $94 |
| Farmers | $1,167 | $97 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $1,396 | $116 |
Senior drivers may qualify for discounts from some auto insurance providers. In Iowa, these include Allstate, GEICO, Farmers and American Family. It is advisable to compare your options in order to find the most affordable insurer.
Auto insurance premiums in Iowa are often more expensive for high-risk drivers. American Family has the best prices for drivers with DUI, accidents and tickets on their record and sports cars. Travelers is the cheapest provider for people with poor credit.
Cheapest after a ticket: American Family ($867 per year)
Cheapest after an accident: American Family ($738 per year)
Cheapest after a DUI: American Family ($867 per year)
Cheapest for poor credit: Travelers ($1,007 per year)
Cheapest for sports cars: American Family ($674 per year)
On average, the following car insurance providers offer affordable prices to customers with speeding tickets in Iowa:
Grinnell Mutual is the most expensive insurer, with an average annual premium of $1,746.
The cost of auto insurance in Iowa can increase by around $234 for drivers with traffic tickets.
| American Family | $867 | $72 |
| Travelers | $936 | $78 |
| State Farm | $944 | $79 |
| West Bend Mutual | $973 | $81 |
| GEICO | $1,085 | $90 |
| Progressive | $1,125 | $94 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $1,180 | $98 |
| Westfield | $1,194 | $99 |
| Western National | $1,290 | $108 |
| Grange Insurance | $1,301 | $108 |
| Allstate | $1,329 | $111 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $1,349 | $112 |
| Farmers | $1,613 | $134 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $1,665 | $139 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $1,746 | $145 |
The following insurers provide the cheapest average rates in Iowa for drivers with at-fault accidents on their driving records:
The most expensive rate is offered by Farmers, which costs around $1,827 annually for the same driver profile.
After an at-fault accident in the state, auto insurance premiums can increase by an average of $352 per year.
| American Family | $738 | $62 |
| Travelers | $973 | $81 |
| State Farm | $1,007 | $84 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $1,211 | $101 |
| Western National | $1,290 | $108 |
| Grange Insurance | $1,300 | $108 |
| West Bend Mutual | $1,305 | $109 |
| Westfield | $1,370 | $114 |
| Progressive | $1,378 | $115 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $1,378 | $115 |
| GEICO | $1,454 | $121 |
| Allstate | $1,609 | $134 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $1,746 | $145 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $1,783 | $149 |
| Farmers | $1,827 | $152 |
MoneyGeek discovered that the most affordable average rates for DUI-convicted drivers in Iowa are from:
Grinnell Mutual offers the highest rates in the state for drivers with a DUI conviction, at around $4,024.
If a driver gets a DUI, their annual rates can jump by an average of $712 in Iowa.
| American Family | $867 | $72 |
| State Farm | $944 | $79 |
| Progressive | $968 | $81 |
| Travelers | $1,076 | $90 |
| Western National | $1,290 | $108 |
| West Bend Mutual | $1,413 | $118 |
| Grange Insurance | $1,521 | $127 |
| Allstate | $1,586 | $132 |
| GEICO | $1,658 | $138 |
| Farmers | $1,745 | $145 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $1,801 | $150 |
| Westfield | $2,228 | $186 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $2,310 | $193 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $2,333 | $194 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $4,024 | $335 |
The following are the cheapest average auto insurance providers for Iowa drivers with poor credit:
Your credit score plays a significant role in determining your premiums. Grinnell Mutual charges approximately $3,607 per year to individuals with poor credit, making it the most expensive provider in the state.
Individuals with poor credit (below 580) typically pay $827 more than those with good credit (750 and above).
| Travelers | $1,007 | $84 |
| Grange Insurance | $1,098 | $91 |
| American Family | $1,125 | $94 |
| GEICO | $1,270 | $106 |
| West Bend Mutual | $1,368 | $114 |
| IMT Insurance Company | $1,388 | $116 |
| Progressive | $1,502 | $125 |
| Allstate | $1,683 | $140 |
| Westfield | $1,802 | $150 |
| Farmers | $1,912 | $159 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $2,016 | $168 |
| State Farm | $2,246 | $187 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $2,318 | $193 |
| Western National | $3,150 | $262 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $3,607 | $301 |
Since drivers with poor credit have a greater likelihood of submitting a claim, insurance companies charge them higher premiums. Although this is not permitted in some states, it is in Iowa.
Improving your credit score is an excellent strategy to obtain a lower rate. Alternatively, you can compare premiums or search for insurance companies that provide common discounts.
On average, the following are the cheapest car insurance providers for sports car owners:
Sports car drivers with Allstate pay approximately $1,323 per year, making it the most expensive provider in the state. Due to the higher maintenance and replacement fees associated with sports cars, insurance can be more expensive for them depending on the state. In Iowa, insuring a Toyota Camry LE is $22 less expensive than insuring a sports car.
| American Family | $674 | $56 |
| Travelers | $679 | $57 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | $907 | $76 |
| State Farm | $1,105 | $92 |
| Progressive | $1,173 | $98 |
| GEICO | $1,176 | $98 |
| Farmers | $1,185 | $99 |
| Allstate | $1,323 | $110 |
MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car in this study, but costs may differ depending on your particular car model. It is generally more expensive to insure sports, electric and luxury cars; otherwise, model may not be a significant factor. However, this may not be true for all states.
The cheapest full coverage car insurance policy in Iowa for active duty military officers or those with a military background is provided by USAA, with an average cost per year of $612. USAA is renowned for offering special coverage benefits and discounts explicitly catered to the needs of military personnel.
USAA offers a military discount, adding even more savings to its already competitive rates.
The cost of auto insurance might differ significantly depending on the city in which you reside. Residents in riskier areas in Iowa, such as those with a higher crime rate, may be required to pay higher insurance premiums.
Cedar Rapids has the most affordable rates for full coverage. Grange Insurance is the cheapest insurer in this city, with annual rates averaging $712. Drivers in Des Moines pay more for car insurance, at around $773 per year with Travelers.
Below, we provide a breakdown of the state's average auto insurance rates by location.
| Cedar Rapids | Grange Insurance | $712 |
| Davenport | Travelers | $768 |
| Des Moines | Travelers | $773 |
All drivers in Iowa are required to acquire auto insurance that meets the state's minimum requirements. This consists of coverage for personal injury and property damage. Determining how much auto insurance you need helps guarantee that you are adequately protected in an accident.
You have to purchase the minimum necessary car insurance in Iowa. This includes liability for bodily injury and property damage. Purchasing the minimum state-mandated coverage reduces costs but offers less protection in an accident.
Those who commit serious traffic violations in Iowa are required to have an SR-22 form. If you need an SR-22, your required coverage and premiums may increase.
MoneyGeek recommends readers purchase as much liability coverage as possible for added protection.
Bodily Injury Liability
Drivers in Iowa are required to have a minimum of $20,000 worth of bodily injury liability insurance per person and $40,000 worth of bodily injury liability insurance per accident. Iowa drivers who are found to be at fault in a car accident are required to pay for any medical expenses that exceed these limits.
Property Damage Liability
If you are at fault in an accident and have the minimum required insurance coverage, you are responsible for paying any additional costs over the $15,000 limit. Property damage coverage can pay for the expense of repairing another vehicle or another piece of property.
MoneyGeek suggests increasing bodily injury liability insurance limits to $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 per accident for property damage.
Comprehensive and collision insurance gives you better protection in a covered event. Comprehensive insurance can protect you against costs associated with off-road incidents, including vandalism and animal damage. Collision insurance helps compensate for vehicle damage in the event of an accident.
Those with expensive vehicles are encouraged to purchase comprehensive and collision insurance, even if they don’t have to.
There are other ways to comply with Iowa's insurance regulations. Consider buying a bond or making a security deposit if it meets the requirements. Multiple-vehicle owners may also opt for self-insurance.
A surety bond ensures that the driver will fulfill their financial commitments if they cause an accident and need to pay liability expenses.
The Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles allows drivers who cannot provide proof of car ownership to submit a cash or indemnity bond.
Non-owner auto insurance in Iowa is particularly beneficial for individuals who regularly rent or borrow vehicles. It is also suitable for car-sharing drivers and includes the minimum coverage required by the state.
Auto insurance can be a complicated subject, so it is normal to have questions regarding its quality and cost. MoneyGeek provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding auto insurance in Iowa.
MoneyGeek determined that Progressive offers the cheapest car insurance in Iowa for minimum coverage at an average rate of $188. American Family is the cheapest for drivers with sports cars and accidents. Your most cost-effective option will depend on your situation. The average cost of auto insurance in Iowa is $1,009 yearly.
Progressive's low-cost policies may appeal to drivers who value affordability above all else. The insurer offers the cheapest car insurance in Iowa in multiple categories. However, remember that the cheapest option will vary based on your driving record and needs. Overall, West Bend Mutual offers the best auto insurance in Iowa due to its cost-effectiveness and high level of service.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
