What is an SR-22 in Iowa?

An SR-22 in Iowa is a requirement for a driver committing a serious driving offense, such as multiple traffic violations or DUI. It is not a separate policy but an additional form to prove that you have enough coverage to comply with the state minimum requirement.

How do I get an SR-22 certificate in Iowa?

Drivers who need to acquire an SR-22 certificate should ask their insurers to file the form on their behalf. If your insurance carrier does not offer this service, you will have to find a new provider that does. Shopping around can help you find competitive rates.

How much does SR-22 insurance cost compared to a standard policy in Iowa?

Since SR-22 insurance is the result of committing a high-risk traffic violation, it increases auto insurance premiums. In Iowa, the average cost of a policy with an SR-22 form for a DUI is $587 per year. Meanwhile, the average cost for a driver with a clean record is $355 per year. That means SR-22 can increase the average annual premium by $232.

Which company in Iowa is the cheapest for SR-22 insurance?

State Farm has the cheapest SR-22 insurance in Iowa. The average cost of a State Farm policy with state minimum coverage for a driver with an SR-22 is $302 per year.

How long do Iowa drivers need an SR-22?

In most cases, Iowa drivers will have to keep SR-22 insurance for two years.

Iowa SR-22 Insurance: What It Is and How Much It Costs

Traffic violations affect your driving record and your auto insurance. Iowa drivers convicted of serious driving violations, including DUI or reckless driving, have to secure an SR-22 form. This document confirms that their insurance policy meets the minimum car insurance requirements in the state. SR-22 insurance in Iowa is the same as a standard auto insurance policy. However, the premium is much more expensive due to the traffic violation’s seriousness. The cheapest car insurance provider in Iowa for most drivers who require an SR-22 is State Farm, which costs an average cost of $302 per year.

Which Iowa Insurance Companies Offer the Cheapest SR-22 Insurance?

The insurance policy of a driver who needs SR-22 insurance in Iowa is more expensive than a standard policy due to the severity of the violation. A typical policy with state minimum coverage for a driver with an SR-22 form due to DUI is $587 per year on average. That is $232 more than the average cost for a similar policy for drivers with clean records, which is $355 per year.

When looking for cheap SR-22 insurance in Iowa, you will have to consider your options. MoneyGeek found that the most affordable company for SR-22 Iowa car insurance is State Farm, which offers a minimum coverage policy that costs an average of $302 per year. Travelers, on the other hand, is the most expensive SR-22 insurer in this state, at an average of $1,120 per year.

Cheapest Companies for SR-22 Insurance in Iowa

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Company
Average Annual Rate
1.
State Farm
$302
2.
Progressive
$345
3.
USAA
$371
4.
American Family
$441
5.
GEICO
$443
6.
Farmers
$554
7.
Allstate
$635
8.
MetLife
$651
9.
Farm Bureau Mutual (IA Group)
$664
10.
Allied
$686
11.
Grinnell Mutual
$834
12.
Travelers
$1,120

These costs are for an auto insurance policy meeting the minimum auto insurance requirements in Iowa or a full-coverage policy covering $100,000 in bodily injury liability costs per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage costs.

These numbers are only average car insurance rates. Since various factors affect the cost of SR-22 insurance in Iowa — such as the cost of filing the form, the severity of your driving violation and the loss of discounts — it is best to compare quotes from at least three insurance carriers to find the best option.

Key Takeaways

Filing for SR-22 insurance comes with a one-time fee that costs around $25.

High-risk traffic violations will revoke your eligibility for good driver discounts, making SR-22 insurance even more expensive.

The cost of insurance for drivers who need to have an SR-22 form varies depending on the severity of the violation. More serious offenses, such as a hit-and-run, lead to steeper rates.

What Is SR-22 Insurance in Iowa? Who Needs It? How Do You Get It?

Despite its name, SR-22 insurance in Iowa is not a type of insurance policy. It is a form that your insurance carrier files on your behalf to show that you meet the state minimum liability coverage requirements. Iowa drivers who commit severe driving violations, such as a DUI or repeated offenses, must have an SR-22 form. In most cases, insurance after a DUI is more expensive than if you have a clean record. Your car insurance provider will file the SR-22 form on your behalf, but you should check with your insurer to see if it issues SR-22 forms. If it does not, you will have to find a carrier that does.

IOWA MINIMUM CAR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The SR-22 form serves as proof that a driver meets the state minimum coverage requirements. These include:

$20,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
$40,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
$15,000 property damage liability coverage per accident

Who Needs SR-22 Insurance in Iowa? And for How Long Do They Need It?

Violations requiring an SR-22 form vary from state to state. Drivers in Iowa will almost certainly need to file for SR-22 coverage if they commit one of the following severe violations:

DUI
Reckless driving
Driving without insurance coverage
Driving with a suspended license

Minor violations do not generally require SR-22 insurance in Iowa. If you are looking for insurance after an accident, you should shop around to find the best deals. Although rates will vary, they will not be as high as a policy for drivers who need to have an SR-22.

The severity of your conviction will determine how long you will need SR-22 insurance in Iowa. In most cases, it is two years after the reinstatement of your license.

How Do You Get SR-22 Insurance in Iowa?

Insurance companies in Iowa will file SR-22 forms with the Department of Transportation on behalf of policyholders. High-risk drivers are required to obtain an SR-22. Because of this risk factor, some insurers may not cover you. Those that offer insurance coverage for drivers with SR-22 in Iowa will likely increase your premium rates.

Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance in Iowa

In Iowa, major traffic violations like a DUI may lead to your license being revoked. When this happens, you will be required to provide proof of insurance to get your license reinstated. Your insurer will need to give you an SR-22 form confirming that you have a liability policy, even if you don’t own a car.

SR-22 insurance tends to be a more affordable option to provide verification that you have liability insurance coverage. People who do not own cars but drive rentals or borrow cars from others and need to prove they have insurance can also benefit from a non-owner car insurance policy.

In Iowa, the average cost of non-owner car insurance is $387 per year. Note that this rate can change depending on the car insurance company. If you are looking for cheap non-owner car insurance in Iowa, MoneyGeek found that the cheapest companies for non-owner SR-22 car insurance on average are State Farm which costs $162 per year and GEICO at $259 per year.

The Average Cost of Non-Owner SR-22 Car Insurance in Iowa

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Company
Average Annual Rate
1.
State Farm
$162
2.
GEICO
$259
3.
USAA
$265
4.
Progressive
$304
5.
Farmers
$481
6.
MetLife
$602
7.
Travelers
$637

Rates in this analysis are based on a non-owner car insurance policy for an Iowa driver with a DUI on their record with coverage limits of $50,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 for bodily injury liability per accident and $50,000 for property damage per accident.

FAQs About SR-22 Insurance in Iowa

When looking for SR-22 insurance in Iowa, many drivers have questions regarding the rates, filing process and who to shop with.

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance premiums from 12 of the top insurance companies in Iowa that were provided in partnership with Quadrant. Our analysis includes quotes from ZIP codes across Iowa. Quotes were gathered for policies that meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements and for full-coverage policies with $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per accident. Rates are for the same driver with both a clean record and a DUI.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.