Iowa Car Insurance
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.
What we verified for this page
- Strong20/40/15 minimum liability verified against Iowa Code chapter 321A.
- StrongIowa is a traditional tort state (no PIP) verified against the Iowa Insurance Division consumer guide. Consistent with the frozen YesWeSure medical-payments guide; no conflict.
- StrongUM/UIM must-offer at compulsory liability limits under Iowa Code § 516A.1 verified against the statute. Written rejection required to decline.
- StrongIowa DOT proof-of-insurance enforcement under Iowa Code § 321.20B verified against the statute and the Iowa DOT consumer page.
- LimitedDeliberately omitted from V1. An Iowa modeled cost anchor; carrier-specific IA underwriting; the exact SR-22 duration (deferred to the after-a-DUI guide); and telematics program detail.
- LimitedNamed author and expert reviewer. V1 attributes to "YesWeSure Editorial." An Iowa-licensed reviewer is tracked as a pre-launch YMYL item.
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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, TIER 1)
- Iowa Code § 516A.1: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist must-offer; written rejection required. (Iowa Legislature, TIER 1)
- Iowa Code § 321.20B: compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance; proof of financial responsibility. (Iowa Legislature, TIER 1)
- Iowa Insurance Division: Automobile Insurance consumer guide. (Iowa Insurance Division, TIER 1)
- Iowa Department of Transportation: Motor Vehicle Division information on financial responsibility. (Iowa Department of Transportation, TIER 1)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: What is medical payments coverage? (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (Iowa Code, Iowa Insurance Division, Iowa Department of Transportation). 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 .