Nationwide offers the cheapest auto insurance rates in Iowa at about $881 a year or $73 monthly, on average. That’s below the average Iowa car insurance rate of $1,321 a year.
However, cheap isn’t everything, and an Insurance.com analysis of rates, complaints, and financial stability found State Farm to be the best insurance company in Iowa.
Many factors go into your insurance premium. Insurance companies use your driving record, the type of car you drive and the coverage you select to determine your annual car insurance cost.
Read on to compare Iowa insurance rates by company, age and more.
Key takeaways
- State Farm is the best car insurance company in Iowa overall, with below-average rates and a low complaint ratio.
- Nationwide is the cheapest car insurance company in Iowa at $881 per year.
- Geico also has the cheapest rates for teens, and Nationwide offers the cheapest rates for adult and senior drivers.
Average cost of car insurance in Iowa
The average car insurance rate in Iowa is $1,321 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 $263.
Best car insurance companies in Iowa
State Farm is the best car insurance company in Iowa, based on a 2023 analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 4.45. Nationwide is the second-best auto insurance company in Iowa, with an overall rating of 4.41.
Below is a full 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.
| Insurance company | AM Best | Average annual rate | NAIC Complaint ratio | Insurance.com score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | A++ | $ 1,110 | 0.52 | 4.45 |
| Nationwide | A+ | $ 881 | 0.66 | 4.41 |
| Auto-Owners | A++ | $ 1,270 | 0.64 | 4.32 |
| Geico | A++ | $ 1,147 | 0.77 | 4.19 |
| USAA* | A++ | $ 1,148 | 0.99 | 3.74 |
| Travelers | A++ | $ 1,088 | 1.03 | 3.72 |
| American Family | A | $ 1,487 | 0.57 | 3.63 |
| Farmers | A | $ 1,423 | 0.77 | 3.29 |
| Allstate | A+ | $ 1,512 | 0.95 | 3.12 |
| Progressive | A+ | $ 2,149 | 0.73 | 2.87 |
USAA offers car insurance only to military members and their families.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa
Don't just go with the first insurer you come across. Comparison shopping is the key when it comes to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at how much difference there can be in rates from one company to another.
We have gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in Iowa and put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies. Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, Nationwide is the cheapest auto insurance company in Iowa, with average rates of $881 annually or $73 a month.
| Company | State minimum | 50/100/50 liability only | 100/300/100 liability with $500 comp/coll deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $ 293 | $ 299 | $ 881 |
| Travelers | $ 327 | $ 382 | $ 1,088 |
| State Farm | $ 186 | $ 241 | $ 1,110 |
| Geico | $ 180 | $ 208 | $ 1,147 |
| USAA* | $ 150 | $ 248 | $ 1,148 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 168 | $ 203 | $ 1,270 |
| Farmers | $ 332 | $ 406 | $ 1,423 |
| American Family | $ 416 | $ 482 | $ 1,487 |
| Allstate | $ 386 | $ 445 | $ 1,512 |
| Progressive | $ 190 | $ 265 | $ 2,149 |
*USAA offers car insurance only to military members and their families.
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.
Geico offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in Iowa at $2,859 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, Nationwide offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers (25-55 year-olds) and senior drivers (60-75 year-olds) at $888 per year and $763 per year, respectively.
| Age (group) | Company Group | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Teens (16-19) | Geico | $ 2,859 |
| Teens (16-19) | State Farm | $ 2,870 |
| Teens (16-19) | USAA | $ 2,887 |
| Teens (16-19) | Auto-Owners | $ 3,029 |
| Teens (16-19) | Nationwide | $ 3,123 |
| Teens (16-19) | Travelers | $ 3,293 |
| Teens (16-19) | American Family | $ 3,515 |
| Teens (16-19) | Allstate | $ 3,654 |
| Teens (16-19) | Farmers | $ 5,373 |
| Teens (16-19) | Progressive | $ 6,821 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Nationwide | $ 1,561 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Travelers | $ 1,655 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | State Farm | $ 1,743 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | USAA | $ 1,766 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Geico | $ 1,851 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Allstate | $ 1,857 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Farmers | $ 1,942 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | American Family | $ 2,046 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Auto-Owners | $ 2,085 |
| Young Adults (20-24) | Progressive | $ 3,434 |
| Adults (25-55) | Nationwide | $ 888 |
| Adults (25-55) | Travelers | $ 1,099 |
| Adults (25-55) | State Farm | $ 1,123 |
| Adults (25-55) | USAA | $ 1,152 |
| Adults (25-55) | Geico | $ 1,216 |
| Adults (25-55) | Auto-Owners | $ 1,288 |
| Adults (25-55) | Farmers | $ 1,407 |
| Adults (25-55) | American Family | $ 1,460 |
| Adults (25-55) | Allstate | $ 1,580 |
| Adults (25-55) | Progressive | $ 2,257 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Nationwide | $ 763 |
| Seniors (60-75) | State Farm | $ 1,000 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Travelers | $ 1,000 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Geico | $ 1,018 |
| Seniors (60-75) | USAA | $ 1,058 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Auto-Owners | $ 1,140 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Farmers | $ 1,289 |
| Seniors (60-75) | American Family | $ 1,330 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Allstate | $ 1,427 |
| Seniors (60-75) | Progressive | $ 1,962 |
*USAA offers car insurance only to military veterans and their families.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa by driver profile
Drivers who have 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 a single minor accident may see a smaller increase in their rates compared to those with multiple major accidents.
Below are average Iowa rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record.
| Company | Clean record | Accident | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $ 838 | $ 1,417 | $ 1,138 |
| State Farm | $ 896 | $ 1,021 | $ 958 |
| USAA* | $ 1,035 | $ 1,506 | $ 1,262 |
| Geico | $ 1,060 | $ 1,827 | $ 1,542 |
| Travelers | $ 1,068 | $ 1,526 | $ 1,510 |
| Auto-Owners | $ 1,206 | $ 1,558 | $ 1,305 |
| American Family | $ 1,378 | $ 1,378 | $ 1,727 |
| Farmers | $ 1,416 | $ 2,013 | $ 1,937 |
| Allstate | $ 1,575 | $ 2,184 | $ 1,735 |
| Progressive | $ 1,934 | $ 2,915 | $ 2,527 |
*USAA offers car insurance only to military veterans and their families.
Methodology
Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2022 to field rates from up to six major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving 2021 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 the limit
- Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over the limit
- Talking on a 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.
