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Last updated: March 25, 2025
Compare Cheap Auto Insurance in Iowa
State Farm offers some of the best-priced auto insurance in Iowa for most driver categories, apart from USAA for eligible drivers.
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Iowa boasts fairly inexpensive auto insurance, with average rates lying around 20 percent below the national average for most driver categories. The average Iowan motorist pays approximately $1,744 per year for full coverage insurance, which is well below the national average of $2,399 annually.
For those looking for the cheapest option, the average automobile insurer in Iowa offers insurance for just $431 per year for minimum coverage—a similarly significant savings when compared with the $635 national average.
Overview
- Auto insurance in Iowa costs an average of $1,744 per year for full coverage, and $431 per year on average for minimum coverage.
- State Farm, USAA (for those eligible), and West Bend are the cheapest auto insurance full coverage providers in Iowa for most categories.
- Pekin and Travelers also offer competitive rates, especially in high-risk driver categories.
Jump to:
- Cheapest full coverage auto insurance in Iowa: USAA ($1,128 annually) and State Farm ($1,138 annually)
- Cheapest minimum coverage: USAA ($218 annually) and Pekin ($240 annually)
- Cheapest with a teen driver: State Farm ($2,485 annually) and IMT Insurance ($2,877 annually)
- Cheapest with a speeding ticket: State Farm ($1,287 annually) and USAA ($1,403 annually).
- Cheapest with an at-fault accident: State Farm ($1,335 annually) and Travelers ($1,527 annually)
- Cheapest with a DUI: State Farm ($1,531 annually) and Travelers ($1,629 annually)
- Cheapest with low credit: Travelers ($1,713 annually) and IMT Insurance ($2,010 annually)
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa for Full Coverage: USAA
USAA provides the cheapest full coverage auto insurance in Iowa at an average yearly cost of $1,128, but it’s only available to military personnel and their families. However, State Farm’s average full coverage premium is less than one percent higher, at $1,138 per year, and has no such eligibility restrictions.
| Provider | Annual Full Coverage | Monthly Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,128 | $94 |
| State Farm | $1,138 | $95 |
| West Bend | $1,275 | $106 |
| Pekin | $1,381 | $115 |
| Progressive | $1,409 | $117 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $1,510 | $126 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,515 | $126 |
| GEICO | $1,563 | $130 |
| Iowa
average |
$1,744 | $145 |
| National average | $2,399 | $200 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa for Minimum Coverage: USAA
USAA also offers the most affordable minimum coverage in Iowa at only $218 per year on average, which is about half the statewide average. For non-military drivers, Pekin and West Bend offer minimum coverage for around $22 or $60 per year more than USAA — still well below the state and national averages.
| Provider | Annual Minimum Coverage | Monthly Minimum Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $218 | $18 |
| Pekin | $240 | $20 |
| West Bend | $278 | $23 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $330 | $28 |
| Auto-Owners | $333 | $28 |
| Progressive | $359 | $30 |
| State Farm | $410 | $34 |
| Travelers | $455 | $38 |
| GEICO | $459 | $38 |
| Nationwide | $740 | $62 |
| Allstate | $847 | $71 |
| Iowa
average |
$431 | $36 |
| National average | $635 | $53 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa for Teen Drivers: State Farm
State Farm is a fairly clear winner in terms of the cheapest option for households insuring teen drivers in Iowa, with average yearly premiums of around $2,485 — beating out the next cheapest option, IMT, by nearly 16 percent. West Bend and Pekin also offer competitive rates.
| Provider | Annual with Teen Driver | Monthly with Teen Driver |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $2,485 | $207 |
| IMT Insurance | $2,887 | $241 |
| West Bend | $2,989 | $249 |
| Pekin | $3,034 | $253 |
| GEICO | $3,339 | $278 |
| Progressive | $3,395 | $283 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $3,552 | $296 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,732 | $311 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $4,478 | $373 |
| Allstate | $5,139 | $428 |
| Nationwide | $5,425 | $452 |
| Iowa
average |
$4,112 | $343 |
| National average | $5,327 | $444 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa With a Speeding Ticket: State Farm
For Iowan drivers with a speeding ticket, State Farm beats out even the USAA for the lowest average annual premium, coming in at around $1,287 per year compared with $1,403 for USAA. Travelers and West Bend also offer rates less than $10 per month above that.
| Provider | Annual With Speeding Ticket | Monthly With Speeding Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,287 | $107 |
| USAA | $1,403 | $117 |
| Travelers | $1,449 | $121 |
| West Bend | $1,518 | $127 |
| Pekin | $1,691 | $141 |
| Progressive | $1,755 | $146 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $1,755 | $146 |
| GEICO | $1,905 | $159 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $2,060 | $172 |
| Nationwide | $2,177 | $181 |
| Allstate | $2,413 | $201 |
| Auto-Owners | $2,440 | $203 |
| Statewide average | $1,986 | $166 |
| National average | $2,511 | $209 |
GOOD TO KNOW:
In Iowa, one speeding ticket can increase your yearly premiums by 14 percent on average. Getting a second speeding ticket — especially within a short time frame — can cause your insurance rates to increase significantly more. The amount by which you exceeded the speed limit can also be factored in, so abide by the limit if you want to keep your rates as low as possible.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa With an At-Fault Accident: State Farm
State Farm also has the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, with an average annual cost of $1,335 — well below the second-lowest option, Travelers, with an average rate of $1,527 per year. USAA is also fairly competitive for military-affiliated drivers who have been found at fault in an accident.
| Provider | Annual With At-Fault Accident | Monthly With At-Fault Accident |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,335 | $111 |
| Travelers | $1,527 | $127 |
| USAA | $1,659 | $138 |
| Pekin | $1,802 | $150 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,850 | $154 |
| Progressive | $1,983 | $165 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $2,060 | $172 |
| GEICO | $2,310 | $193 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $2,443 | $204 |
| Nationwide | $2,764 | $230 |
| Iowa
average |
$2,363 | $197 |
| National
average |
$2,812 | $234 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa With a DUI: State Farm
In Iowa, as in any other state, a DUI has a substantial effect on insurance premiums. However, in comparison with the national average cost, it can be quite a lot cheaper for Iowans in this situation. State Farm comes in with the lowest average annual premium at $1,531, but both Travelers and Progressive also have average annual premiums well below the state average of $2,636.
| Provider | Annual With DUI | Monthly With DUI |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $1,531 | $128 |
| Travelers | $1,629 | $136 |
| Progressive | $1,642 | $137 |
| USAA | $2,107 | $176 |
| West Bend | $2,496 | $208 |
| GEICO | $2,859 | $238 |
| Allstate | $2,884 | $240 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $3,234 | $270 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,352 | $279 |
| Nationwide | $3,417 | $285 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $4,282 | $357 |
| Statewide
average |
$2,636 | $220 |
| National
average |
$3,305 | $275 |
Cheapest Car Insurance in Iowa With Low Credit: Travelers
Drivers in Iowa with bad credit can experience much higher premiums, even surpassing the effect of having a DUI on record. For drivers in this situation, Travelers and IMT offer the lowest average annual premiums at $1,713 and $2,010, respectively. Progressive and GEICO charge a bit more, at around $2,400 annually, though their rates are still well below the state average.
| Provider | Annual With Low Credit | Monthly With Low Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $1,713 | $143 |
| IMT Insurance | $2,010 | $167 |
| Progressive | $2,348 | $196 |
| GEICO | $2,439 | $203 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | $2,621 | $218 |
| Nationwide | $2,476 | $206 |
| Allstate | $3,279 | $273 |
| State Farm | $3,601 | $300 |
| Auto-Owners | $3,621 | $302 |
| Grinnell Mutual | $3,883 | $324 |
| Statewide
average |
$3,196 | $266 |
| National
average |
$3,377 | $281 |
TIP:
Auto insurers in Iowa can use your credit history when determining your premiums — in Iowa, this can lead to a bigger increase than having a DUI. Keeping your credit in good standing, or finding ways to improve it, can save you hundreds of dollars per year on auto insurance.
Best Claims and Customer Satisfaction in Iowa: Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners does not provide the cheapest average rates in Iowa, but it beats out most other major insurers in terms of customer service. USAA technically ranks the highest but is only available to military drivers. State Farm is not far behind Auto-Owners and is often more affordable. It’s also worth noting that several regional insurers, such as West Bend and Pekin, are not ranked by J.D. Power, but have high scores from the CRASH Network Report Card.
| Provider | Central Region Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power)1 | Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power)2 | CRASH Network Insurer Report Card Great Lakes Region3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 759 | 726 | D+ |
| Auto-Owners | 663 | 692 | C- |
| State Farm | 647 | 710 | B+ |
| Progressive | 638 | 672 | C |
| Allstate | 629 | 691 | D |
| Nationwide | 628 | 728 | C |
| GEICO | 622 | 692 | C- |
| Travelers | 613 | 684 | C |
| Grinnell Mutual | N/A | N/A | B+ |
| Pekin | N/A | N/A | B |
| West Bend | N/A | N/A | B |
| IMT Insurance | N/A | N/A | B- |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Average | 647 | 699 | C+ |
How to Find the Cheapest Car Insurance Rates in Iowa
- Avoid traffic violations: Maintaining a clean driving record can save drivers a significant amount on their auto insurance. Having a DUI or speeding ticket on your record can raise premiums by quite a bit, and the effect will last for several years.
- Bundle policies: Most auto insurance providers also offer other types of insurance, such as homeowners and renters, and if you’re in the market for one of those anyway, getting multiple insurance policies from the same company could get you an overall discount.
- Pay in full: If you have the cash up front, many insurers offer a discount to customers when they pay for their policies upfront. You can still cancel at any time and receive a prorated refund, though some companies may charge a small cancellation fee, so keep this in mind.
- Take advantage of young driver discounts: Teenagers are often subject to significantly higher premiums than more experienced drivers, but many insurers offer young driver discounts for meeting various criteria, like being insured consistently for at least one year, maintaining a good GPA, or completing extra driver’s education.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Iowa
The state of Iowa sets minimums for insurance limits that all drivers must carry. Iowa is one of several states that allows some drivers to self-insure, for example by holding state bonds that can be used in lieu of ordinary insurance. For most drivers, however, it’s required that they have proof of insurance that meets the following minimums:
- Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
Many drivers choose to pay higher insurance premiums to increase their coverage, which we highly recommend. Higher coverage means greater financial protection in an accident. In addition, for drivers who lease or finance their cars, the lender will likely require full coverage.
Average Auto Insurance Cost in Iowa by City
Iowan auto insurance rates vary by city. In Iowa, the spread is relatively small, perhaps in part because there aren’t such big metropolitan areas with more frequent damage claims. Of the towns and cities we looked at, the cheapest (Iowa City) and most expensive (Council Bluffs) average premiums lie about 15 percent above and below the state average, respectively. Auto insurance in all of these areas lies well below the national average.
| City | Annual Full Coverage | Monthly Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Council Bluffs | $1,785 | $149 |
| Sioux City | $1,624 | $135 |
| Des Moines | $1,520 | $127 |
| Cedar Rapids | $1,473 | $123 |
| Iowa City | $1,329 | $111 |
| Iowa average | $1,744 | $145 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who offers the cheapest car insurance in Iowa?
USAA offers the cheapest insurance in Iowa for both full coverage ($1,128 annually) and minimum coverage ($218 annually) However, its eligibility is restricted to the military community. State Farm also has cheap average rates for full coverage at $1,138 annually, while Pekin has the next-cheapest minimum coverage rates at $240 annually.
What cars are the cheapest to insure?
Compact SUVs with good crash-test ratings often have the lowest insurance rates. You can also expect to pay lower premiums if your car is less valuable (has lower MSRP, is older, etc.) as the insurer will expect payouts for your vehicle in the event of damages to be lower.
What’s the risk of driving uninsured?
The biggest risk of driving uninsured is that in the event of an accident, you will be liable for all damages. Beyond that, in Iowa, if you are pulled over for any reason and fail to provide proof of insurance, you can face a fine of up to $250.
What is the best car insurance in Iowa for full coverage?
For those eligible, USAA not only has the cheapest full coverage premiums on average but also the highest customer satisfaction rating from J.D. Power. For those outside the military, State Farm is the next cheapest for full coverage and still ranks relatively highly in terms of customer satisfaction.
Methodology
We analyzed average auto insurance premiums in Iowa for full and minimum coverage for drivers with clean records and good credit. We also analyzed average premiums for other driver profiles, including those with DUIs, accidents, speeding tickets, low credit, and households with teen drivers. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
- Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
- Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible
Managing Editor & Industry Analyst
Maya Afilalo holds over 10 years of professional experience in writing, communications, and research, which she leverages to provide accurate and reliable information to empower consumers. In addition to overseeing content production, Maya has herself written many articles on auto insurance costs, company comparisons, state laws and requirements, and other topics. She is committed to helping consumers navigate the complex world of car insurance with clarity and confidence. Maya holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s from North Carolina State University.
Citations
2024 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. J.D. Power. (2024, June 11).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-insurance-study2024 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. J.D. Power. (2024, October 29).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-studyInsurer Report Card. CRASH Network. (2025).
https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/
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