Average car insurance rate increases after a traffic violation in Iowa

In Iowa, drivers with a clean driving record pay $1,630 a year on average for car insurance. However, drivers with speeding tickets pay $2,164, and drivers with DUIs pay $2,540.

Not all traffic violations are equal. More severe violations receive higher rate increases. For example, a DUI generally impacts rates more than a speeding ticket or one at-fault accident.

How much does insurance increase after a ticket in Iowa?

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The more tickets you get, especially in a short period of time, the more your rates could increase but shopping around can help you to find a better deal, even with tickets.
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How much do insurance rates increase after a ticket in Iowa?

Iowa drivers understand that traffic tickets cause auto insurance rates to increase. However, it might surprise you how much a ticket increases rates.

Typically, if you have a clean driving record, a first offense won't increase rates too significantly. However, a more severe offense, such as a hit-and-run or a DUI, causes rates to increase drastically.

Check out this table to see how various traffic violations affect your Iowa car insurance rates.

ViolationAverage annual premium$ Increase% Increase
Careless driving$2,289$65940%
Distracted driving ticket$2,128$49831%
Driving without a license or permit$2,012$38223%
Driving without insurance$1,986$35622%
DUI/DWI first offense$2,541$91156%
Failure to stop$2,012$38223%
Failure to yield$2,012$38223%
Following too closely$2,012$38223%
Improper turn$2,015$38524%
Improper/illegal pass$2,123$49330%
Passing stopped school bus$2,171$54133%
Seatbelt infraction$1,939$30919%
Speeding 30+ over limit$2,334$70443%
Speeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limit$1,947$31719%
Speeding ticket 11-29 MPH over limit$2,211$58136%
Talking on cellphone ticket$2,012$38223%
Texting ticket$2,038$40825%
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

How much do insurance rates go up after a ticket by the company?

Each car insurance company treats traffic violations differently. For example, one company may increase rates significantly for an accident, while another may take speeding tickets more seriously.

This table compares insurers and how Iowa car insurance rates increase after one at-fault accident and after multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage annual premium after a ticket
State Farm$1,306$1,394
Travelers$1,238$1,748
Auto-Owners$1,461$2,091
Progressive$1,589$2,092
Allstate$2,126$2,363
Geico$1,716$2,467
USAA$1,165$1,515
Data updated in 2024
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How are car insurance rates affected by a traffic violation in Iowa?

The average cost of car insurance with multiple speeding tickets is $2,471 a year. If you have more than one DUI, you can expect rates to be very high. The average car insurance rate with multiple DUIs in Iowa is $3,447.

Moving violations like speeding and reckless driving significantly affect car insurance rates. However, the severity of the violation also impacts rates. For example, a speeding ticket for going 15 mph over the speed limit is less serious if you do it on the interstate vs. in a school zone.

The number of violations also affects your insurance premiums. Your first speeding ticket may only slightly increase rates, but your third speeding ticket will likely cause rates to skyrocket.

The good news is that your insurance rates will decrease over time as long as you don't add violations.

Keep in mind that non-moving violations, such as parking tickets, generally don't affect car insurance rates.

ViolationAverage annual premiumAverage annual premium after violation
DUI$1,630$2,541
Hit and run$1,630$2,595
Reckless driving$1,630$2,544
Single vehicle accident (so the drivers car only)$1,630$2,371
Speeding$1,630$2,164
Talking on cellphone ticket$1,630$2,012
Texting ticket$1,630$2,038
Data updated in 2024
Read our methodology

How long does a traffic violation stay on your record in Iowa?

Various traffic violations affect your driving record for different lengths of time. For example, a speeding ticket in Iowa stays on your record for five years, and a DUI stays on your record for 12 years. It's important to note that the length of time a ticket affects your insurance rates often differs from how long it stays on your record.

How do you check if you have tickets on your record in Iowa?

You can access your driving record through the Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division. You may be able to see your driving history online or receive a copy in person or through the mail.

You will need personal information, such as name, date of birth, driver's license number, and possibly your social security number. You may also be required to pay a fee to obtain a copy of your driving record.

How can you reduce your insurance cost after a traffic violation in Iowa?

If your Iowa driving record is less than stellar, there are still things you can do to find affordable car insurance.

First, improve driving skills. Since most traffic tickets stop affecting car insurance in three to five years, you can get lower rates by avoiding traffic tickets. Pay attention while behind the wheel and practice defensive driving techniques to prevent accidents and speeding tickets.

Additionally, most states allow you to take a defensive driving course to remove points from your driver's license and lower insurance rates.

Next, take advantage of car insurance discounts. While you may not initially qualify for a safe driving discount, you can save money with multi-policy, vehicle safety features, and other discounts.

"Even with a moving violation on your motor vehicle record, drivers can take advantage of other common discounts to reduce their insurance costs. This includes bundling auto and home or renters insurance with the same insurer, multi-vehicle (having more than one vehicle in the household on the same policy), paying your premium in full, paperless billing, and student and military discounts. Signing up for a usage-based telematics program could also help reduce your insurance costs if you maintain safe driving habits following the infraction," says Friedlander.

Finally, shop around for car insurance. Each insurer in Iowa offers different rates based on your personal factors, like age, driving record and credit score. Compare multiple insurers to find one offering you the best rate.

Insurance.com commissioned auto insurance rates from Quadrant Data Services in late 2023 in all 50 states and D.C. Rates are based on a 40-year-old driver with full coverage consisting of 100/300/100 liability limits and $500 deductibles driving a Honda Accord LX. Rates were fielded for drivers with a clean record as well as with multiple different violations across 34,588 ZIP codes and from 170 insurance companies.

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