bestauto insuranceDes MoinesCompare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Des Moines, IA
The average annual cost of auto insurance in Des Moines is $778, similar to the average rate in Iowa. GEICO, the most affordable car insurer in this city, has an average rate of $473 per year. MoneyGeek also evaluated rates by coverage level and driver profile. If you are focused on both cost and quality, MoneyGeek ranked the best auto insurers in Des Moines.
REVIEW AUTO INSURANCE RATES
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your auto insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/5/2023
Edited By |
Margarita Barresi
Written By |
Mark Fitzpatrick
If you live in Des Moines, GEICO is the best option for car insurance since it offers the cheapest overall auto insurance, cheapest state minimum policies and cheapest policies for drivers with a speeding ticket. Veterans and current members of the military can see if USAA is their best option; however, the best insurance company for drivers looking for a balance of affordability and service quality is GEICO.
bestauto insuranceDes MoinesThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Des Moines
Methodology
MoneyGeek gathered quotes from multiple insurance carriers and data from J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to identify the best car insurers in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Des Moines
The most affordable car insurance companies for full coverage policies in Des Moines are:
- GEICO: $473 per year
- State Farm: $616 per year
For drivers with a military background, USAA offers the second most affordable insurance in Des Moines at $614 per year. GEICO, the cheapest in the city, is less than MetLife’s premium by $525. In fact, MetLife has the most expensive premium in Des Moines for full coverage insurance, at 111% more than GEICO.
Full coverage policies include comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to liability insurance as prescribed by state laws. You can always increase your liability insurance limits, although doing so will cost you more in premiums.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$473
- 2.$614
- 3.$616
- 4.Allied$673
- 5.$730
MoneyGeek gathered full coverage insurance rates for our sample driver, a 40-year-old male, from multiple insurers in Des Moines and evaluated average costs as per our methodology.
Full coverage policy includes comprehensive and collision coverage along with liability insurance as per state laws. Although full coverage policies are not required by law in Iowa, your lender may stipulate that you include comprehensive and collision insurance if your car is leased or financed to protect against any damage.
- Comprehensive insurance: pays for damage to your vehicle caused by something other than a collision, such as a fallen tree or acts of vandalism
- Collision insurance: pays to repair your car when you’re in an accident
If you own an older car, full coverage premiums may add up to more than its replacement value. In such cases, you may wish to consider state minimum or liability-only insurance.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Des Moines
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines for Minimum Coverage
Auto insurance carriers in Des Moines and elsewhere consider the amount of coverage you purchase when calculating annual premiums. Des Moines has an average cost of $367 for a state minimum liability-only policy and $778 for a full coverage policy, a difference of $411.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Des Moines
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$226
- 2.$232
- 3.$273
- 4.Allied$300
- 5.$320
By law, drivers in Iowa are required to have state minimum car insurance with 20/40/15 in liability limits and uninsured motorist coverage. This is the cheapest auto insurance option you can find, but you may be responsible to cover expenses not paid for by your insurer.
For instance, if you are at fault in an accident that results in $25,000 in medical bills for the other driver, and your insurance only covers $20,000 of that, you will have to pay the balance of $5,000 out of pocket.
Iowa Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$20,000 per person, $40,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines if You Have Driving Violations
Your driving record directly impacts your insurance premium. If you have violations, such as speeding tickets, DUIs or at-fault accidents, your rates will increase. For drivers with prior violations, the cheapest car insurance companies in Des Moines are:
- Cheapest after a ticket: GEICO, $493 per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: GEICO, $687 per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: State Farm, $671 per year
If you improve your driving history, you may be able to reduce your yearly premiums. In the meantime, MoneyGeek recommends getting quotes from multiple insurers to find the best cheap car insurance for drivers with bad records.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper year
- 1.$493
- 2.$671
- 3.$752
- 4.$754
- 5.Allied$806
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Des Moines
Des Moines$778
Iowa$778
U.S.$1,424
In the city of Des Moines, the average annual cost of car insurance is $778, which is equal to the Iowa average but drastically lower than the national annual premium average of $1,424. Auto coverage is considerably cheaper in Des Moines compared with many cities in America.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Des Moines
Car insurance companies in Des Moines use several factors to calculate accurate insurance quotes, including driving history, age, credit score, gender and car make and model, among others.
If you have no driving violations or you have a good credit score, you have a better chance of finding affordable coverage. To get an accurate quote for your policy, you should approach car insurance companies in Des Moines for a personalized quote. You should also inquire if they have discounts, rebates or promos to help you save money.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Des Moines
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Des Moines
MoneyGeek identified the best car insurance companies in Des Moines by analyzing average premiums, customer satisfaction and claims ratings for multiple insurers. Using these criteria, we found that the top-rated insurers in the city are:
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100
USAA received a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100, making it the second-best auto insurance company in Des Moines, Iowa. However, we excluded it from our analysis because only military members and their families can purchase its policies.
1
GEICO
Score:97
GEICO is MoneyGeek’s top-rated insurer in Des Moines. With excellent affordability, service quality and financial stability scores, GEICO provides full coverage policies at $473 per year. The company also offers a rare add-on, mechanical breakdown insurance.
More About GEICO
GEICO is one of the country’s leading insurers and for good reason. It offers a widely applicable add-on coverage that its competitors rarely offer — mechanical breakdown insurance. This coverage protects all your car’s parts and systems, not just those covered by typical dealer extended warranties. You are eligible for this coverage if your new or leased car is less than 15 months old and has less than 15,000 miles. Drivers in Des Moines will also benefit from GEICO’s accident forgiveness coverage, which guarantees your insurance rate won’t increase after your first at-fault accident.
Read MoneyGeek's GEICO auto Insurance Review2
State Farm
Score:87
State Farm scored highly on measures of financial stability, customer satisfaction, claims resolution and affordability and is MoneyGeek’s runner-up in Des Moines. A full coverage policy is competitively priced at $616 per year, with the option to add rideshare insurance, a rare supplement.
More About State Farm
State Farm policyholders in Des Moines who work for a ridesharing company like Uber or Lyft will benefit from this insurer’s unique rideshare insurance. With this coverage, most of your personal auto policy protection remains in effect while the app is on and you’re available for hire.
Read MoneyGeek's State Farm auto Insurance Review3
American Family
Score:73
4
Progressive
Score:62
5
Farmers
Score:55
6
Allstate
Score:55
7
Allied
Score:44
8
Travelers
Score:44
9
Farm Bureau Mutual (IA Group)
Score:41
10
MetLife
Score:28
11
Grinnell Mutual
Score:21
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Your ZIP code matters when calculating car insurance quotes. There are location-specific factors at play, like the average rate of car accidents and fatalities in an area. The cheapest car insurance quotes in Des Moines by ZIP code are in 50317 with a $757 average annual premium. On the other hand, drivers in ZIP code 50315 can expect an $800 premium on average.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 50317$757
- 50315$800
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Des Moines
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in Des Moines. How Des Moines ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
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