Insurance
Car Insurance in Iowa
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
Iowa drivers paid about $708 a year for car insurance in 2023. That's the 3rd lowest average in the country. Compared with what households earn, Iowa is also one of the most affordable states, at about 1% of income.
Two things are worth knowing before you buy here: Iowa's legal minimum is one of the lowest in the U.S., and November on Iowa roads belongs to the deer.
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Iowa's 20/40/15 minimum
Iowa requires liability coverage of at least:
- $20,000 for injury or death of one person
- $40,000 for injury or death of two or more people
- $15,000 for damage to other people's property
Many states require more. Think about that $15,000 for property damage. Hit a new pickup or SUV, and the repair bill can pass that limit fast. Whatever your policy doesn't pay, the other driver can ask you to pay.
Because Iowa prices are low, moving up to higher limits often costs less than drivers expect. Ask for quotes at a few levels before you decide.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage: on unless you say no
Iowa policies must include coverage for crashes with uninsured, underinsured, and hit-and-run drivers, at least at the state minimum limits. About 11.4% of Iowa drivers were uninsured in 2023.
You can reject this coverage, but only in writing. Iowa law adds a protection: if the insurer gives you a rejection form, it has to be on its own sheet of paper, with nothing on it except the rejection and information about it. That's so you don't sign it away by accident in a stack of forms.
You can also reject just one part. For example, you could keep uninsured coverage and drop underinsured. Ask what each piece costs first.
Carry your insurance card
Iowa law says you can't drive unless coverage is in effect and your proof of insurance card is in the car. Your insurer issues a card for each car it covers. If you're stopped without coverage, your car can be impounded until you show proof and pay the fine and towing and storage costs.
Caused a crash without insurance? The $1,500 rule
If you cause a crash that leads to injury, or more than $1,500 in property damage to the other party, Iowa's DOT will ask you to show you had insurance. If you can't, your license will be suspended.
To stop or end the suspension, you can provide one of these:
- Proof you had insurance at the time of the crash
- A security deposit, in the amount on your notice
- A signed release from the other party
- A written agreement to pay the other party
- Proof the car was sold before the crash
Getting your license back costs a $20 reinstatement fee plus a $10 duplicate license fee. If you've gone more than a year without a valid license, you'll also need to pass the knowledge and driving tests.
Deer season: the first half of November
Iowa DOT crash data from 2014 to 2023 shows the top 10 days for animal crashes all fall in the first half of November. November 8 ranked first, with 718 crashes over that decade. That's the peak of the deer mating season, when deer move more and cross roads with less caution.
Hitting a deer is covered by comprehensive, not collision or liability. If you drive rural roads at dawn or dusk, make sure your policy includes it. Learn what comprehensive covers.
Car insurance in Des Moines and Iowa's cities
Drivers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport follow the same state rules. City driving usually means more traffic and more claims than rural Iowa, while rural drivers face more deer. Either way, compare quotes with the same limits and the same deductibles.
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Sources
- NAIC auto insurance data (2023) and IRC affordability index, via Insurance Information Institute
- Insurance Information Institute, Uninsured motorists (IRC 2023 data)
- Iowa Code chapter 321A, Motor vehicle financial responsibility
- Iowa Code §321.20B, Financial liability coverage: proof required
- Iowa Code §516A.1, Uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run motorists
- Iowa DOT, Suspension due to an accident
- Iowa DOT, Roadside Chat: It's time, it's place, deer are in motion (Nov. 8, 2024)