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.

CompanyAM BestJD PowerNAICInsurance.com scoreAverage annual premium
Auto-OwnersA++8290.53.83$1,461
TravelersA++7970.493.65$1,238
State FarmA++8330.73.49$1,306
ProgressiveA+8030.653.12$1,589
GeicoA++8190.913.01$1,716
AllstateA+8060.652.78$2,126

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

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.

CompanyState 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.

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

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
$30 State minimum
$146 Full coverage
$36 Liability only

Most & least expensive ZIP codes for auto insurance in Iowa

Most Expensive

ZIP codeCityHighest rate
50833Bedford$183
50848Gravity$178
50836Blockton$174
50841Jasper$174

Least Expensive

ZIP codeCityLowest rate
52246Iowa City$116
52241Coralville$117
50014Ames$119
52242Iowa City$119
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

The Iowa Insurance Division says...

Iowa law requires minimum liability coverage:

  • $20,000 of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident;
  • $40,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident; and
  • $15,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
  • Many drivers find that the right amount of insurance coverage for them may be above those minimums for liability and may also include coverage for property damage in the form of comprehensive or collision coverage.
- The Iowa Insurance Division

Iowa car insurance requirements

You need car insurance with minimum coverage levels of 20/40/15 in Iowa, which costs $256 each year or $21 each month.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for Iowa:

  • Bodily injury liability (BI): $20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability (PD): $15,000 per accident

Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in Iowa

According to Insurance.com, Progressive has the cheapest state minimum liability coverage at $163 per year or $14 each month. USAA offers cheaper rates but is available only to military veterans and their family members.

Here are the most affordable car insurance companies for state minimum coverage in Iowa.

State minimum auto insurance coverage in Iowa, IA
Company Liability insurance premiumMonthly liability insurance premium
USAA*$163$14
Progressive$169$14
Auto-Owners$189$16
West Bend Mutual$196$16
State Farm$199$17
IMT Insurance$217$18
Geico$240$20
Iowa Farm Bureau$254$21
Travelers$316$26
Grinnell Mutual$362$30
Allstate$508$42

*USAA offers coverage only to military veterans and their family

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Cheapest car insurance cost in Iowa by age

IMT
Cheapest for teens
$2,966/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for adults
$1,257/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for seniors
$1,162/yr
Learn more

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. 

Compare car insurance rates by age

Select your age group and age below to see the insurance company and its
average annual and average monthly premium rates.

Age group
Teen
Age
16
Table
Graph
IMT Insurance$3,350$279
State Farm$3,986$332
Auto-Owners$4,017$335
USAA$4,167$347
Geico$5,021$418
Travelers$5,125$427
Progressive$6,832$569
Iowa Farm Bureau$7,216$601
West Bend Mutual$8,195$683
Grinnell Mutual$8,931$744
Allstate$11,186$932
Yearly premium

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

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Cheapest car insurance companies in Iowa by driver profile

company_name
Cheapest for at-fault accident
$1,482/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for DUI
$1,394/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for speeding ticket
$1,394/yr
Learn more

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.  

CompanyClean recordAccidentSpeeding ticket
State Farm$1,306$1,482$1,394
USAA$1,165$1,726$1,450
Travelers$1,238$1,753$1,811
Progressive$1,589$2,302$1,998
Auto-Owners$1,461$1,931$2,252
Allstate$2,126$3,121$2,336
Geico$1,716$3,020$2,688

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

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

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
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Car insurance average rates increase most years and various factors contribute to these changes, including shifts in economic conditions, changes in state laws, and the number and severity of insurance claims.

That's why it's important to keep track of car insurance premiums to make better decisions. The graph below shows how insurance rates in Iowa have increased or decreased from 2020 to 2023.

Whether you're planning to renew your policy with your current insurer or looking for a new one, this analysis is invaluable for making informed insurance choices.

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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