State guide

Iowa Car Insurance

By YesWeSure EditorialReviewed October 1, 2026Editorial standardsReport an errorSources

Iowa drivers must carry 20/40/15 liability under Iowa Code chapter 321A¹. UM and UIM are a must-offer at the compulsory liability limits under Iowa Code § 516A.1², with written rejection required to decline. Iowa is a traditional tort state and does not require PIP⁴.

YesWeSure Bottom Line

Traditional tort state. Iowa does not require PIP. First-party medical bills typically flow through health insurance or optional MedPay; tort recovery against the at-fault driver remains the primary mechanism⁴.

UM/UIM default is on. Every Iowa personal auto policy includes UM and UIM unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing². Rejecting in writing is a choice, not an oversight.

How to make a real decision. Treat 20/40/15 as a floor, not a target. For how to think about higher limits, see how to choose coverage limits.

State requirements at a glance

What Iowa car insurance law requires

Minimum liability limits

20 / 40 / 15¹

$20,000 bodily injury per person, $40,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage per accident, under Iowa Code chapter 321A (Financial Responsibility).

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Not required⁴

Iowa is a traditional tort state. No PIP is required on personal auto. Medical Payments coverage is an optional first-party add-on insurers typically offer.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist

Must offer; 20 / 40 BI if purchased²

Iowa Code § 516A.1 requires every Iowa personal auto policy to include UM and UIM bodily-injury coverage at not less than the compulsory liability limits unless the named insured rejects it in writing.

Coverage verification

Iowa DOT proof-of-insurance enforcement³

Iowa Code § 321.20B requires drivers to carry proof of financial responsibility and produce it at traffic stops and crashes.

Rate approval regime

Iowa Insurance Division oversight⁴

Iowa does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age as personal-auto rating factors.

20/40/15 compulsory liability

Iowa Code chapter 321A compels every registered Iowa vehicle to carry 20/40/15 liability¹. Many Iowa drivers carry higher limits.

PIP: not required in Iowa

Iowa does not require Personal Injury Protection. Medical Payments coverage is an optional first-party add-on that insurers typically offer. For how MedPay compares to PIP in states that require it, see our medical payments coverage guide.

UM and UIM must-offer under Iowa Code § 516A.1

Every Iowa personal auto policy must include UM and UIM bodily-injury coverage at not less than the compulsory liability limits unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing².

DOT proof-of-insurance and lapse enforcement

Iowa Code § 321.20B requires drivers to carry proof of financial responsibility and produce it at traffic stops and crashes³⁵. A confirmed lapse can trigger registration and license consequences. For a general lapse treatment, see our after-a-lapse guide.

Rating-factor landscape

Iowa does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age⁴.

Where the Iowa situation rules live on YesWeSure

This State Guide owns the Iowa pricing and legal framework. Situation-specific mechanics live on the sibling Situation guides:

After an accident. See our after-an-accident guide.
After a DUI. Iowa SR-22 and reinstatement mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide.
After a lapse. DOT consequences of a lapse are treated in our after-a-lapse guide.
Moving into Iowa. New-resident registration is treated in our moving-to-another-state guide.

Ready to compare Iowa quotes at or above the compulsory limits?

Compare Iowa car insurance quotes

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Common questions

What is the minimum car insurance required in Iowa?

20/40/15 liability under Iowa Code chapter 321A¹. UM/UIM is a must-offer at the compulsory liability limits and ships on the policy unless rejected in writing².

Is Iowa a no-fault state?

No. Iowa is a traditional tort state and does not require PIP⁴.

Is UM/UIM required in Iowa?

UM and UIM are must-offer. Every Iowa personal auto policy includes UM/UIM at the compulsory liability limits unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing under Iowa Code § 516A.1².

Sources & methodology

Iowa Code chapter 321A (Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility): 20/40/15 compulsory liability. (Iowa Legislature)
Iowa Code § 516A.1: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist must-offer; written rejection required. (Iowa Legislature)
Iowa Code § 321.20B: compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance; proof of financial responsibility. (Iowa Legislature)
Iowa Insurance Division: Automobile Insurance consumer guide. (Iowa Insurance Division)
Iowa Department of Transportation: Motor Vehicle Division information on financial responsibility. (Iowa Department of Transportation)
YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure)
YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (YesWeSure)
YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure)
YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure)
YesWeSure: What is medical payments coverage? (YesWeSure)
YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure)
YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure)

Every claim on this page traces to a source listed above. Every legal number traces to an Iowa primary source: Iowa Code chapter 321A, §§ 321.20B, 516A.1. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.