Best car insurance companies in Iowa

Auto-Owners is the best car insurance company in Iowa, based on a 2024 analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 3.38. Travelers is the second-best auto insurance company in Iowa, with an overall rating of 3.65.

Below is a list of the top Iowa insurance companies based on price, NAIC complaint ratio and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.

Best car insurance in Iowa
CompanyAM BestAvg. Annual PremiumJD PowerNAICInsurance.com score
Auto-OwnersA++$1,4618290.53.83
TravelersA++$1,2387970.493.65
State FarmA++$1,3068330.73.49
ProgressiveA+$1,5898030.653.12
GeicoA++$1,7168190.913.01
AllstateA+$2,1268060.652.78

Cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa

Comparison shopping is key to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at the difference in rates from one company to another.

We gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in Iowa and compiled a list of the cheapest car insurance companies. Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, USAA is the cheapest auto insurance company in Iowa, with average rates of $1,165 annually or $97 a month, but it is only open to military families. Travelers offer the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Iowa open to all drivers, with average rates of $1,238 per year or $103 per month.

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa
Company State minimum liability50/100/50 liability100/300/100 liability with $500  deductible
USAA*$166$264$1,165
Travelers$310$369$1,238
State Farm$199$258$1,306
West Bend Mutual$199$230$1,311
Auto-Owners$189$219$1,461
Progressive$174$249$1,589
IMT Insurance$232$244$1,634
Geico$254$325$1,716
Iowa Farm Bureau$262$304$1,796
Allstate$508$591$2,126
Grinnell Mutual$362$468$2,591

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members and their families.

Average cost of car insurance in Iowa

The average cost of car insurance in Iowa is $1,630 a year for a full coverage policy with a coverage level of 100/300/100 for a driver age 40, according to a rate analysis by Insurance.com. For the state minimum coverage, the average annual cost in Iowa is $260.

Auto insurance calculator

Average auto insurance rates in Iowa
30
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Male
Male Female
50314 - Des Moines
For a 30-year-old male
$31 State minimum
$122 Full coverage
$36 Liability only
View most and least expensive zip codes

Most & least expensive ZIP codes for auto insurance in Iowa

Most Expensive

Zip CodeCityHighest Rate
51654Thurman$145
50843Cumberland$145
51532Elliott$144
51571Silver City$144

Least Expensive

Zip CodeCityLowest Rate
50014Ames$99
50010Ames$100
52241Coralville$100
52246Iowa City$101

Cheapest car insurance cost in Iowa by age

In Iowa, car insurance rates are higher for teenagers as they are more prone to accidents due to their lack of experience on the road.

IMT Insurance offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in Iowa at $2,966 per year for a full coverage policy.  

Car insurance rates will decrease as teens age and keep a good driving record. Car insurance rates for adults 25+ and seniors 60+ are lower than those for teens and young adults. 

In Iowa, USAA offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult and senior drivers, at $1,190 and $1,111 per year, respectively, but is only open to military families. For non-military members, Travelers offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers (25-55 year-olds) and senior drivers (60-75 year-olds) at $1,257 per year and $1,162 per year, respectively. 

Cheapest car insurance in Iowa by age
Age Company Avg annual premium 
Teens (16-19)IMT Insurance$2,966
Teens (16-19)USAA*$3,134
Teens (16-19)State Farm$3,380
Teens (16-19)Auto-Owners$3,595
Teens (16-19)Travelers$3,731
Teens (16-19)Geico$4,304
Teens (16-19)Progressive$4,767
Teens (16-19)Iowa Farm Bureau$4,800
Teens (16-19)West Bend Mutual$4,812
Teens (16-19)Grinnell Mutual$6,070
Teens (16-19)Allstate$7,084
Young Adults (20-24)USAA*$1,891
Young Adults (20-24)Travelers$1,917
Young Adults (20-24)State Farm$2,055
Young Adults (20-24)IMT Insurance$2,294
Young Adults (20-24)West Bend Mutual$2,447
Young Adults (20-24)Auto-Owners$2,454
Young Adults (20-24)Progressive$2,575
Young Adults (20-24)Geico$2,677
Young Adults (20-24)Iowa Farm Bureau$2,773
Young Adults (20-24)Allstate$3,269
Young Adults (20-24)Grinnell Mutual$3,977
Adults (25-60)USAA*$1,190
Adults (25-60)Travelers$1,257
Adults (25-60)State Farm$1,301
Adults (25-60)West Bend Mutual$1,306
Adults (25-60)Auto-Owners$1,457
Adults (25-60)Progressive$1,616
Adults (25-60)IMT Insurance$1,641
Adults (25-60)Iowa Farm Bureau$1,710
Adults (25-60)Geico$1,719
Adults (25-60)Allstate$2,186
Adults (25-60)Grinnell Mutual$2,531
Seniors (65-75)USAA*$1,111
Seniors (65-75)Travelers$1,162
Seniors (65-75)State Farm$1,180
Seniors (65-75)West Bend Mutual$1,317
Seniors (65-75)Auto-Owners$1,334
Seniors (65-75)Progressive$1,341
Seniors (65-75)Geico$1,490
Seniors (65-75)IMT Insurance$1,507
Seniors (65-75)Iowa Farm Bureau$1,528
Seniors (65-75)Allstate$2,022
Seniors (65-75)Grinnell Mutual$2,161

*USAA offers car insurance only to military veterans and their families.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa by driver profile

Drivers with accidents or tickets are considered a higher risk and will pay more. 

However, the severity and frequency of the incidents will also play a role in the insurance rates. For instance, drivers with one minor accident may see a smaller rate increase than those with multiple major accidents.

Below are average Iowa rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record.  

Cheapest auto insurance in Iowa for drivers with tickets and accidents
CompanyClean recordAccidentSpeeding Ticket
Nationwide$833$1,541$1,358
State Farm$896$1,021$958
USAA*$1,026$1,691$1,273
Travelers$1,041$1,576$1,551
Geico$1,107$1,951$1,809
Auto-Owners$1,206$1,626$1,549
American Family$1,350$1,555$1,728
Farmers$1,439$2,279$1,983
Allstate$1,575$2,368$1,758
Progressive$1,934$3,163$2,504

*USAA offers car insurance only to military veterans and their families.

Compare auto insurance rates by city in Iowa

Auto insurance rates in your city can differ significantly from the state average due to factors such as population density, increased instances of auto theft or accidents, and a few other factors. It's best to compare quotes from various insurance providers to find the most competitive rates for your specific city in Iowa.

CityAnnual insurance premium
Altoona
$1,441
Atkins
$1,618
Des Moines
$1,585

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates from major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with full coverage of 100/300/100 with comprehensive and collision; $500 deductible.

The car insurance rates for drivers with accidents and tickets are averaged based on rates for the following accidents and tickets: 

Accidents: 

  • 1 at-fault property damage accident over $2k
  • 1 at-fault property damage accident under $2k
  • At-fault bodily injury accident 
  • Single vehicle accident 

Tickets: 

  • Distracted driving ticket
  • Speeding ticket 1- 10 MPH over limit 
  • Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over limit 
  • Talking on cellphone ticket 
  • Texting ticket 

Insurance.com analyzed rates from more than 34,000 ZIP codes, 56 million quotes, and 136 companies. Rates sourced from Quadrant Data Services are for comparison purposes only; your rates may differ.

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