Iowa car insurance: minimums, prices and your estimate
Iowa requires at least $20,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $40,000 per accident, and $15,000 of property damage liability (written 20/40/15).
Iowa is an at-fault state whose 20/40 bodily injury minimum is among the lowest in the country. Every policy includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, with hit-and-run protection, unless you reject it on a separate signed form.
- Legal minimum
- 20/40/15
- Fault system
- At-fault
- Personal injury protection
- Not required
- Uninsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Underinsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Credit-based pricing
- Allowed
- Gender-based pricing
- Allowed
- High-risk proof filing
- SR-22 (2 years)
What drivers in Iowa can expect to pay
Monthly ranges from our model, anchored to Iowa's position in 7 published price studies from 2025 and 2026 ($2,187 a year for full coverage and $436 for minimum coverage for a standard adult driver; which studies). Suburban ZIP code, mid-size sedan a few years old.
| Driver | Estimated monthly | About per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, full coverage35, clean record, 100/300/100, $500 deductibles | $157-$208 | $2,187 |
| Adult, state-minimum coverage35, clean record, only what the law requires | $31-$42 | $436 |
| Young driver, full coverage20, own policy, clean record | $292-$438 | $4,374 |
| Senior, full coverage70, clean record | $151-$199 | $2,100 |
| After one at-fault accident35, full coverage | $235-$312 | $3,281 |
| After a DUI35, full coverage | $274-$411 | $4,112 |
| Poor credit35, clean record, full coverage | $279-$403 | $4,090 |
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Rules worth knowing in Iowa
- You can reject all uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, or just one of them, but only with a signed written rejection on a separate sheet. Coverage you keep must be at least 20/40, and a rejection carries over when you renew with the same insurer.
- Iowa does not require personal injury protection, and medical payments coverage is optional.
- You must carry proof of insurance whenever you drive. A bond, a certificate of deposit or a certificate of self-insurance can take the place of a liability policy.
- Insurers may use credit, but credit alone cannot be the reason your policy is denied, canceled or not renewed, or the basis for your renewal rate. If you have no credit history, insurers must treat it as neutral or leave credit out.
- After a qualifying suspension or revocation, the Iowa Department of Transportation requires an SR-22 for two years, counted from the effective date of the most recent one.
Questions about Iowa car insurance
What is the minimum car insurance in Iowa?
Iowa requires at least $20,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $40,000 per accident, and $15,000 of property damage liability (written 20/40/15).
How much is car insurance in Iowa per month?
For a 35-year-old with a clean record, our model puts full coverage at about $157 to $208 a month and state-minimum coverage at about $31 to $42. Age, record, car, ZIP code and the company you choose move the real number a lot.
Is Iowa a no-fault state?
At-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, pays for the other side's injuries and damage.
Can insurers in Iowa use my credit score?
Yes. Many insurers in Iowa use a credit-based insurance score, so better credit usually means a lower price.
Do I need an SR-22 in Iowa?
Only if a court or the state requires one, usually after a serious violation or a lapse. After a qualifying suspension or revocation, the Iowa Department of Transportation requires an SR-22 for two years, counted from the effective date of the most recent one.