Iowa Auto Insurance

Iowa Insurance Information

The state of Iowa requires all insurance companies to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance to all their policy holders.  Uninsured and underinsured coverage provides protections against drivers who do not carry the mandatory liability auto insurance demanded by the state.  Underinsured and uninsured coverage is not mandatory in the state of Iowa but it is recommended.  If you decide to forego this option, the insurance company is required to provide a signed declaration page stating that you chose not to take the underinsured and uninsured coverage.

You or your insurance company may exclude members of your household from coverage on your insurance policy.  If the individual is not listed on your policy, the insurance company does not have to provide coverage for that person.  If your policy lapses or cancels you can be cited for driving without the required insurance so you must pay the premium to reinstate the policy.  If the policy is cancelled, then you must find a new auto insurance policy right away. 

Iowa insurance companies can use your credit history to accept applicants and set insurance rates.  They may also use your credit score to determine your risk factors however many other factors are used to determine your rates such as the age of the drivers on the policy, the car you drive, your driving record, where you live and your marital status.  Since Iowa is a Torte state, any individual who is found to be at fault in an accident can be sued for pain, suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses.  For this reason, insurance companies advise policy holders to buy more than the minimum liability auto insurance.  The average insurance premium in Iowa as of 2006 is approximately $536.00 and the state is ranked as the 50th most expensive for insurance premiums in the nation.

There are 129 officially accepted insurance companies listed in Iowa.  They include Adair County Mutual Insurance Association, Adams Mutual Insurance Association, Agri General Insurance Company, Allied Property and Casualty Insurance Company, AMCO Insurance Company, American Mutual Insurance Association, Appanoose-Davis mutual Insurance Association, ARAG Insurance Company, Auto Club property-Casualty Insurance Company, Benton Mutual Insurance Association, Berkley National Insurance Company, Black Hawk Mutual Insurance Association, Bohemian Mutual Insurance Association, Boone Farmers mutual Insurance Association, Bremer County Mutual Insurance Association, Brookwood Insurance Company, Brown Township Mutual Insurance Association, Buena Vista Mutual Insurance Association, Butler County Mutual Insurance Association, Calhoun Mutual Insurance Association, Carolina Casualty Insurance Company, Cascade Mutual Insurance Association, Castle Grove Mutual Insurance Association, Central Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Centurion Casualty Company, Century Mutual Insurance Association, Chickasaw Mutual Insurance Association, Clay Mutual Insurance Association, Clermont Insurance Company, Continental Indemnity Company, Continental Western Insurance Company, Dallas Mutual Insurance Association, Danish Mutual Insurance Association, Delaware County Mutual Insurance Association, Dickenson County Mutual Insurance Association, DMC Mutual Insurance Association, Dubuque County Mutual Insurance Association, Eastern Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Eden Mutual Insurance Association, EMC Property & Casualty Company, EMACASCO Insurance Company, Employers Mutual Casualty Company, Farm and Home Security Mutual Insurance Association, Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, Farmers Mutual Insurance Association, Farmers Union Co-Operative Insurance Company, Inc., Farmland Mutual Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, First Maxfield Mutual Insurance Association, Floyd County Mutual Insurance Association, Franklin County Farmers Mutual Insurance Association, German Farmers Mutual Insurance Association, German Mutual Insurance Association, GF Mutual Insurance Association, Glidden Mutual Insurance Association, Great Plains Casualty, Inc., Grinnell Select Insurance Company, Grundy Mutual Insurance Association, GuideOne America Insurance Company, GuideOne Elite Insurance Company, GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company, GuideOne Property & Casualty Insurance Company, GuideOne Specialty Mutual Insurance Company, Hamilton Mutual Insurance Company, Harding County Mutual Insurance Association, Harrison Mutual Insurance Association, Hawkeye Mutual Insurance Association, Heartland Mutual Insurance Association, Home Mutual Insurance Association of Carroll County Iowa, Howard County Mutual Insurance Association, Humboldt Mutual Insurance Association, Ida Mutual Insurance Association, Illinois EMCASCO Insurance Company, IMT Insurance Company, Iowa American Insurance Company, Iowa Mutual Insurance Company, Iowa Valley Mutual Insurance Association, Jefferson County Mutual Insurance Association, Johnson County Mutual Insurance Association, Le Mars Insurance Company, Lee County Mutual Insurance Association, Lenox Mutual Insurance Association, Lincoln Mutual Insurance Association, Louisa Mutual Insurance Association, Maple Valley Mutual Insurance Association, Marion county Mutual Insurance Association, MFS Mutual Insurance Company, Monona County Mutual Insurance Association, Muscatine County Mutual Insurance Association, National Indemnity Company of Mid-America, NCMIC Insurance Company, New Vienna Mutual Insurance Association, Northern Casualty Company (Mutual), Northfield Insurance Company, Northwest Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Norwegian Mutual Insurance Association, Patrons Mutual Insurance Association, Peoples Mutual Insurance Association, Pioneer Mutual Insurance Association, Pocahontas Mutual Insurance Association, Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association, Prairie Mutual Insurance Association, Preston Mutual Insurance Association, Readlyn Mutual Insurance Association, Ringgold Mutual Insurance Association, Shelby County Farmers Mutual Insurance Association, South Central Mutual Insurance Association, Southwest Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Svea Mutual Insurance Association, Tama County Mutual Insurance Association, Union Insurance Company, Union Insurance Company of Providence, United Mutual Insurance Association, Valley Mutual Insurance Association, Van Buren Mutual Insurance Association, Wadena Insurance Company, Walcott Mutual Insurance Association, West Side Mutual Insurance Association, Western Cherokee Mutual Insurance Association, Western Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Wheatland Mutual Insurance Association, White Pigeon Mutual Insurance Association, Winnebago Mutual Insurance Association, Winneshiek Mutual Insurance Association, and Worth Mutual Insurance Association.
One of the methods you can use to reduce the cost of your auto insurance premiums is to purchase more than one type of insurance policy with the same company.  You will also get discounts for a clean driving record and possibly for renewing you policy with the same company repeatedly.  Making sure you insurance never lapses will sometimes reduce your premiums as well as belonging to a particular professional group such as engineers, teachers, or doctors.  Younger drivers can get discounts for maintaining good grades, and completing a driver safety course approved by the state.  Insuring multiple vehicles will also reduce your premiums.  Anti theft devices and safety mechanisms such as airbags and seat belts will contribute to the reduction of your auto insurance premiums.  It may also be useful to know which cars are frequently targeted by thieves.  The list of the top ten most often stolen cars in the state of Iowa are listed below.

Top 10 Stolen Cars

1. 1995 Ford F150
2. 1999 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup (full size)
3. 1995 Pontiac Grand Am
4. 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
5. 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass
6. 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
7. 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
8. 1994 Ford Taurus
9. 1998 Dodge Ram Pickup
10. 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix