Iowa drivers still enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance rates in the nation. Although recent years have brought cost pressure from inflation and more severe convective storms, the state’s below-average share of uninsured motorists helps keep premiums comparatively low. When looking for the best car insurance in Iowa, we considered affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction, and online resources. Based on 2024 studies, statewide averages are roughly about $275 per year for minimum coverage and about $1,400 per year for full coverage (your price will vary by driver profile). Whatever you’re looking for in a car insurance company, Iowa drivers are likely to find a good fit.
The 4 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Iowa
- Geico: Best for discounts
- Auto-Owners: Best for customer satisfaction
- American Family: Best for low rates
- USAA: Best for military-centric options
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies in Iowa
| Average Price for State Minimum* | Average Price for Full Coverage* | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Geico | $223 | $1,253 | A++ | 845 | |
| Pin Auto-Owners | $230 | $1,283 | A++ | 845 | |
| Pin American Family | $405 | $1,124 | A | 839 | |
| Pin USAA | $208 | $1,026 | A++ | 897 |
Information updated as of 2025. Company-specific figures shown in tables may reflect earlier datasets; statewide averages and market context below reflect 2024 studies.
* Recent statewide averages are informed by multiple 2024 market studies (e.g., Bankrate, NerdWallet, ValuePenguin, The Zebra); methodologies differ and individual quotes vary.
** J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Central region. Based on a 1,000-point scale. USAA not officially ranked due to eligibility restrictions.
Geico
Best for discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- High customer satisfaction
- Excellent digital tools
Cons
- No gap coverage
- Few local agents
Types of Coverage Offered
- Liability
- Medical
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Emergency road service
- Rental reimbursement
- Mechanical breakdown
Discounts Available
- Vehicle safety features
- Good driver
- Seat belt use
- Defensive driving
- Driver’s education course
- Good student
- Emergency deployment
- Federal employee
- Membership & employee
- Military
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
More Geico Insurance Reviews
Auto-Owners
Best for customer satisfaction
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Top-rated customer satisfaction
- Many coverage options
Cons
- No online quotes
- Few digital tools and services
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Medical payments
- Personal injury protection
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Road trouble service
- Additional expense
- Loan gap/lease gaps
- Diminished value
- Personal automobile plus
- Common loss deductible
- Rental cars
Discounts Available
- Multi-policy
- Payment history
- Green discount
- Multi-car
- Deductibles
- Student discounts
- Life multi-policy
- Paid-in-full
- Advance quote
- Safety features
- Favorable loss
More Auto-Owners Insurance Reviews
American Family
Best for low rates
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Many discounts available
- Lots of coverage options
- Many options for young drivers
Cons
- Below-average customer satisfaction
- Only available in 19 states
Types of Coverage Offered
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability
- Medical expense
- Personal injury protection
- Gap coverage
- Uninsured & underinsured motorist
- Rental reimbursement
- Emergency road service
- Accidental death & dismemberment
Discounts Available
- Multi-vehicle
- Loyalty
- Early bird
- Multi-product
- Steer into savings
- Auto safety equipment
- Defensive driver
- Good driving
- Low mileage
- KnowYourDrive
- Good student
- Teen safe driver
- Away at school
- Young volunteer
- Generational
- Auto-pay
- Customer full pay
- Paperless billing
More American Family Insurance Reviews
USAA
Best for military-centric options
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Low annual premiums
- Top-rated customer satisfaction
- Perks for military families
Cons
- Only available to current and former military members and their families
Types of Coverage Offered
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Liability
- Uninsured & underinsured driver
- Personal injury protection
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement
- Accident forgiveness
- Car replacement
Discounts Available
- Safe driver
- Defensive driving
- Driver training
- Good student
- New vehicle
- Multi-vehicle
- Annual mileage
- Vehicle storage
- Family discount
- Length of membership
- Military installation
- No payment plan fees
More USAA Insurance Reviews
* Recent statewide averages reflect 2024 market studies and may differ from historical company snapshots.
**J.D. Power’s U.S. Auto Insurance Study rating for the Central region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in Iowa
Iowa is one of the least expensive states in the nation for auto insurance, though premiums rose sharply through 2023–2024. Across recent studies, Iowa drivers pay about $275 on average for minimum coverage and roughly $1,400 per year for full coverage policies. Rates vary widely by company and profile. Your driving record, age, vehicle, location, and credit score all help determine your car insurance rates.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Iowa
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Hastings Mutual | Typically below state average (varies by driver profile) |
| Pekin | Typically below state average (varies by driver profile) |
| West Bend | Typically below state average (varies by driver profile) |
* Directional only. Company pricing varies by profile; current statewide averages from 2024 studies place Iowa roughly $1,250–$1,550 for full coverage and $230–$320 for minimum coverage.
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Iowa
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Allstate | Often above state average (varies by driver profile) |
| Grinnell Mutual | Often above state average (varies by driver profile) |
| Donegal | Often above state average (varies by driver profile) |
* Directional only; actual premiums depend on individual rating factors and market conditions.
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Iowa
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Ames | $1,350–$1,500 |
| Iowa City | $1,400–$1,500 |
| Dubuque | $1,400–$1,500 |
* Recent 2024 studies consistently place these cities below the Iowa statewide average for full coverage; exact figures vary by source and profile.
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in Iowa
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Des Moines | $1,600–$1,900 |
| Council Bluffs | $1,600–$1,800 |
| Sioux City | $1,600–$1,700 |
* Directional 2024 ranges for a standardized full-coverage profile; real quotes vary by ZIP code, carrier, and personal factors.
Guide to Iowa Car Insurance
Like most states, Iowa requires drivers to carry liability insurance to cover damages if they are at fault for an accident. Proof of financial liability coverage (including electronic proof) is required; failure to comply can result in a suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle license plates.
Iowa Minimum Insurance Requirements
Iowa law requires drivers to carry both bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, but you may reject these in writing; they are not mandatory.
Minimum liability required in the state of Iowa is divided as follows:
- $20,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
- $40,000 for bodily injury or death to multiple persons
- $15,000 for property damage in an accident
Iowa’s At-Fault Law
Under the Iowa Motor Vehicle Financial and Safety Responsibility Act, drivers who are found to be at-fault for an accident must cover any financial responsibilities that result from it. Iowa is a tort (at-fault) state, and the minimum liability insurance requirements are designed to help ensure drivers can cover their liabilities.
Car Insurance Add-Ons That May Further Protect You
- Gap coverage: If you total your car in an accident, you may end up in a situation where your car isn’t worth as much as you owe on your auto loan. With gap coverage, your insurance carrier covers the difference.
- Roadside assistance: If you find yourself stranded somewhere, your insurer’s roadside assistance service can send someone for towing service, battery jump, tire change, and more.
- New car replacement: If you have a new car and are in an accident, your new car replacement coverage will ensure you can replace your vehicle with another new one.
- Rideshare coverage: Personal auto policies often exclude app-based driving; a rideshare endorsement helps close gaps when the app is on but you’re waiting for a request, and many major insurers now offer this option.
Iowa Car Insurance FAQ
Methodology
Reviews.com reviews products, services and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. For the best car insurance companies, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company to determine top providers.
As for average pricing, we reference 2024 statewide studies of car insurance in Iowa (with Bankrate’s standardized profile as a primary benchmark) to reflect current market conditions. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
