Car Insurance in Des Moines


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Key Takeaways
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GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage in Des Moines at $344 per year. Other insurers serving the area include State Farm, Auto-Owners and Progressive.

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Des Moines drivers pay an average of $828 per year for car insurance, with minimum coverage averaging $69 monthly and full coverage at $828 annually.

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Travelers provides the cheapest car insurance in Iowa at $336 per year for minimum coverage and $790 for full coverage.

Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines?

State Farm offers the lowest rates across most driver categories in Des Moines. Adult drivers with clean records pay just $237 per year through State Farm, while seniors pay $312 annually.

Young drivers face higher premiums at $585 per year with State Farm, which is 147% more than adult rates. At-fault accidents increase costs to $281 annually through State Farm, a modest 18% bump.

DUI and speeding violations add $258 per year with State Farm. The relatively small premium differences between violation types make Des Moines one of Iowa's most forgiving markets for drivers with infractions.

Young DriversState Farm$49
Adult DriversGEICO$29
Senior DriversState Farm$26
Drivers With an AccidentState Farm$23
Drivers With a DUIState Farm$21
Drivers With a Speeding TicketState Farm$21
Drivers With Bad CreditIMT Insurance$64
Drivers With Newer CarsGEICO$34
Drivers With Old CarsAuto-Owners$22
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Cheapest Des Moines Car Insurance by Company

GEICO provides the cheapest minimum coverage in Des Moines at $344 per year. This is 28% below the city average of $828. For full coverage, GEICO charges $904 annually. State Farm offers minimum coverage at $237 annually for certain driver profiles

GEICO$29$75-28%
State Farm$20$87-26%
Auto-Owners$33$90-15%
Progressive$26$98-14%
Farm Bureau$28$112-3%

Cheapest Des Moines Car Insurance by Age

Young drivers in Des Moines pay the highest rates at $585 annually through State Farm. This insurer charges seniors just $312 per year, representing a 47% discount compared to young drivers.

Adult drivers pay $237 annually. The age-based pricing in Des Moines follows expected patterns.

Data filtered by:
Adult Drivers
State Farm$20$237-47%
Progressive$26$312-30%
Farm Bureau$28$330-26%
Geico$29$344-23%
Auto Owners$33$398-11%

Cheapest Des Moines Car Insurance by Driving Record

State Farm delivers the lowest rates for clean-record drivers in Des Moines at $237 per year. At-fault accidents increase premiums to $281 annually with State Farm. DUI violations and speeding tickets both cost $258 per year.

Data filtered by:
At Fault Accident ($1000-$1999 Prop Dmg)
State Farm$23$281
Progressive$42$504
Farm Bureau$44$523
Auto Owners$45$545
Geico$49$587

Best Car Insurance Companies in Des Moines

Auto-Owners ranks as the best car insurance company with a MoneyGeek score of 92, balancing affordability with excellent service. Progressive follows closely with a score of 89, offering competitive online tools and steady rates.

Auto-Owners provides personalized service through local agents. Progressive is good for drivers who prefer digital policy management.

Auto-Owners92316
Progressive89432
State Farm89257
GEICO88167
Travelers85725
Auto-Owners

Auto-Owners: Best Customer Service

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  • Top-rated customer service in Des Moines

  • Extensive coverage customization options

  • Strong claims satisfaction ratings

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  • Higher minimum coverage rates

  • Limited digital tools

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Auto-Owners ranks first among Des Moines insurers. Customers benefit from personalized service and efficient claims processing.

Progressive

Progressive: Best for Coverage Options

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  • Extensive coverage add-ons available

  • Competitive rates for most drivers

  • User-friendly digital tools

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  • Average customer service ratings

  • Higher full coverage rates

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Progressive earns the second spot in Des Moines with its broad coverage selection and competitive rates. Its strong digital tools make policy management and claims filing straightforward.

How Much Is Car Insurance in Des Moines?

Car insurance in Des Moines costs an average of $828 per year. Minimum coverage averages $69 monthly while full coverage runs $828 annually.

These rates position Des Moines among Iowa's most affordable cities for coverage, reflecting the state's generally low insurance costs. State Farm and GEICO both offer rates well below the city average, with minimum coverage starting as low as $237 annually through State Farm.

Des Moines drivers benefit from Iowa's competitive market and favorable loss experience, creating opportunities for savings.

Full Coverage$102$1,230
Minimum Coverage$36$426

Des Moines Car Insurance Cost by Category

Monthly coverage costs in Des Moines range from $31 to $343 based on your driver profile. Check the table below for rates in your category.

Young Drivers$89$234
Adult Drivers$36$102
Senior Drivers$51$123
Drivers With an Accident$50$140
Drivers With a DUI$64$181
Drivers With a Speeding Ticket$45$130
Drivers With Bad Credit$138$343
Drivers With Newer Cars$49$142
Drivers With Old Cars$31$90

Des Moines Car Insurance Costs by ZIP Code

Car insurance rates by ZIP code in Des Moines range from $32 to $109 monthly. ZIP code 50380 is the most expensive, while 50395 is the cheapest.

Data filtered by:
50307
50307$35$103

How to Get the Best Cheap Des Moines Car Insurance

Finding good, cheap car insurance in Des Moines is challenging due to expensive average state rates and the difficulty of determining the right coverage. Follow these steps to get the best coverage and reduce your auto insurance costs.

  1. 1
    Calculate your coverage requirements

    Find out exactly how much coverage you need for your situation. Use our car insurance coverage needs calculator to evaluate your needs based on your car's value, assets and risk tolerance.

  2. 2
    Explore different coverage types

    Review various types of car insurance to find the best fit. Consider pay-per-mile if you drive infrequently or non-owner coverage if you don't own a vehicle. These alternatives could offer huge savings.

  3. 3
    Know the average costs

    Research average vehicle insurance costs in Des Moines to set realistic expectations. Understanding rates helps you recognize good deals and avoid overpaying. Use this knowledge as a benchmark when comparing quotes.

  4. 4
    Check available discounts

    Explore every car insurance discount opportunity. Consider bundling multiple policies or getting multi-car discounts. Safe driver programs and telematics devices can also lead to big savings.

  5. 5
    Research company reputations

    Investigate insurance providers' customer service records and claims handling processes. Check customer reviews and complaints specific to Des Moines. A company's local reputation matters as much as its rates when choosing your insurer.

  6. 6
    Get quotes from multiple providers

    Request quotes from at least three insurance companies. Use a mix of online tools, local agents and direct contact with insurers. Companies use different factors to determine rates, so comparing multiple offers helps find the best deal.

  7. 7
    Review coverage annually

    Set a yearly reminder to review your policy and shop for new rates. Life changes like moving, buying a new car or improving your credit score can affect your premiums.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines: Bottom Line

Finding the cheapest car insurance in Des Moines depends on your age, driving record, vehicle type and credit score. State Farm and GEICO consistently offer low rates across different driver profiles, but compare quotes from multiple providers to get the best deal.

Cheap Des Moines Car Insurance: FAQ

MoneyGeek answers frequently asked questions about the cheapest car insurance in Des Moines.

What is the cheapest car insurance company in Des Moines, Iowa?

Who offers the best car insurance in Des Moines?

What is the average cost of car insurance in Des Moines?

Is car insurance in Des Moines expensive?

How We Chose the Best and Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines, IA

Des Moines drivers face moderate insurance costs influenced by harsh winter weather, causing frequent accidents, hail damage from severe thunderstorms, and urban traffic congestion that pushes premiums higher than rural Iowa but lower than many major metros. We built this research to show you which insurers offer the lowest rates for your specific driving profile, so you can maintain required coverage without overpaying in Iowa's capital city.

We collected rate data from the Iowa Insurance Division and Quadrant Information Services, reviewing quotes from 12 major insurers across all ZIP codes in the city and comparing hundreds of thousands of data points to find options that best match local drivers' needs.

We used a standard driver profile: a 40-year-old male driving a 2012 Toyota Camry LE with a clean record, good credit, and no claims history. This driver logs 12,000 miles annually and maintains continuous coverage with a valid license. We also adjusted factors such as age, driving record, credit score, and military affiliation to identify the best insurers for different types of drivers.

Iowa requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. These minimums satisfy legal requirements but leave you financially exposed after serious accidents, especially in a metro area where medical costs and vehicle values run moderate to high.

For full coverage comparison, we used $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 liability limits plus comprehensive and collision with $1,000 deductibles. This level provides stronger financial protection when you cause an accident or your car gets damaged, stolen, or totaled—particularly important given Des Moines's severe weather patterns that frequently damage vehicles through hail and winter accidents.

We scored each insurer based on three main factors: 

Affordability (60%), analyzing quotes for several driver profiles compared among Des Moines competitors.

Customer Experience (30%) reviewing feedback from Google reviews, J.D. Power, AM Best, and Reddit discussions to gauge overall satisfaction.

Coverage Options (10%), considering the number and quality of each company's coverage options, including unique add-ons or benefits. This methodology identifies insurers offering genuine value for Des Moines drivers navigating Iowa's challenging weather conditions and competitive insurance market.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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