Car insurance · Iowa
Car insurance requirements in Iowa
Liability minimum 20/40/15. Claims system: fault-based claims.
Verified summaryAll Iowa insurance topics
Requirements
Minimum car insurance requirements in Iowa
| Coverage | Requirement in Iowa |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $20,000 for one person / $40,000 for two or more people in any one accident |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident |
| Injury protection | Not listed as required |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Included in every liability policy at limits at least equal to the liability minimums, unless the named insured rejects it in writing |
What the law requires you to carry
- Bodily injury or death: at least $20,000 for one person in any one accident
- Bodily injury or death of two or more people: at least $40,000 in any one accident
- Property damage: at least $15,000 in any one accident
Uninsured drivers
Uninsured motorist coverage in Iowa
Included in every liability policy at limits at least equal to the liability minimums, unless the named insured rejects it in writing.
- Under Iowa Code section 516A.1, no auto liability policy may be issued in Iowa without uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run motorist coverage, with limits at least equal to the financial responsibility minimums. The named insured may reject all of it, or the uninsured/hit-and-run part, or the underinsured part, by a written rejection signed by the named insured.
Optional coverage
Coverage you can add in Iowa
- Uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run motorist coverage (included unless rejected in writing)
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Medical payments
Penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance in Iowa
Iowa Code section 321.20B covers the financial liability coverage requirement, proof of coverage, violations and penalties. Confirm current penalties with the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Good to know
Other things to know in Iowa
- That coverage need not be included in a renewal policy if the named insured rejected it on a policy previously issued by the same insurer.
- The Insurance Division notes that collision and comprehensive coverage may be required if there is a lienholder on the vehicle.
General information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources listed below.
Contacts
Who to contact in Iowa
- Iowa Insurance Division
- Website: iid.iowa.gov
- NAIC directory of state insurance departments
Sources
Where this summary comes from
Reviewed 2026-10. Check each source for the current rule.
Keep reading
Guides that explain these coverages
- Minimum car insurance requirements by state
- Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
- No-Fault vs. At-Fault Car Insurance: Which States Use Which
- States That Raised Minimum Car Insurance Limits Since 2018
- Liability coverage explained
- Collision vs. comprehensive coverage
- What affects your car insurance rate
- After an accident: what to do and what to expect
More about Iowa.
Home insurance resources and the health marketplace for Iowa are on its overview page.