Iowa Car Insurance

Buying Iowa car insurance doesn't have to be all that complicated. You will need to buy the minimum level of car insurance the Iowa government has determined you need to carry. Plan to have at least that much insurance coverage on your car and then think about whether you will need additional coverage for your Iowa located vehicles.

Iowa Car Insurance: Minimum Coverage Required By Law

In Iowa, all drivers must buy liability insurance. This type of coverage protects the driver from having to pay damages to an injured person as the result of an accident for which they are at fault. Liability insurance also pays for damage to property, including a fence, a shed, or a building, when the driver is at fault.

As an Iowa resident, you need to buy at least $20,000 in liability insurance for an individual injured in an accident and $40,000 in coverage for all people injured in a single accident for which you are at fault.

An additional $15,000 insurance coverage for damage to property must also be purchased. Your insurance company or agent may refer to this coverage as 20/40/15.

Iowa Auto Insurance: Optional Coverage

Simply because a type of car insurance is not mandatory in Iowa, that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider buying a policy with this coverage. All types of insurance provide protection in different situations and you should give careful thought to the consequences of not having adequate coverage in case you are involved in an accident.

Here are the other types of insurance coverage available:

• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage - If you are injured in an accident where the other driver either doesn't have car insurance or does not have sufficient coverage to pay for your medical expenses, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will pay the difference (up to your policy limit). If you don't have this coverage in place, you will need to pay for these expenses out of your own pocket. Many people would not be able to pay these expenses without experiencing some degree of financial difficulty and, for some, paying these expenses would result in financial hardship. Buying this type of insurance coverage makes a lot of sense, when you consider how quickly medical expenses can add up following an accident. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage also pays for vehicle repairs.
• Comprehensive Insurance - Buying comprehensive insurance pays for repairs to your vehicle if you are involved in an accident. If you took out a loan to pay for your car when you bought it, the lender may require you to have comprehensive coverage in place, even though this provision is not included by state law. In a situation where the car is totaled, the insurance company will pay the owner the blue book value of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Iowa Car Insurance: Keeping Costs Down

When you are looking for Iowa car insurance, there are some things you can do to keep costs down.

• Don't Lend Your Car To Anyone Else - If someone else is driving your car and is involved in an accident, your insurance rates will likely increase as the result. When you decide to be the sole driver of your vehicle, any accidents that occur will be your responsibility and you won't have to pay more money because of someone else's negligence.
• Pay Your Insurance Premium In One Lump Sum - Insurance companies often add on additional fees when customers want to pay their premiums in installments. Ask about the whole cost of your insurance coverage if you are thinking of paying in something other than a lump sum.
• Shop Around For Coverage - Even if you have been with the same insurance company for some time and are happy with your coverage, that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider what a different provider can offer you. Taking the time to compare rates and policy provisions from other companies may save you money when your policy comes up for renewal.

Shop For Free Iowa Auto Insurance Quotes Online Now!

Would you like to compare rates and policy provisions for Iowa car insurance right now? The Iowa car insurance quote tool at the top of this page can help you do that. All you need to do to get started is to click on it.