Auto Insurance Minimums for Iowa

The state of Iowa demands that all drivers carry a minimum of 20/40/15 liability insurance.  This ratio translates to $20K of Liability Bodily Injury coverage per person injured, $40K of Liability Bodily Injury coverage per accident, and $15K of Property Damage Coverage per accident.  This type of coverage is in place to insure drivers against loss that results from civil liability for injury or damage to others.

Approximately 12% of all Iowa motorists drive without insurance.  These 237,349 drivers do not include the additional thousands of motorists that drive with inadequate coverage.  The Iowa Insurance Division strongly recommends that drivers purchase more than the legal limit of coverage in addition to uninsured/underinsured motorist protection (UM/UIM).  Monthly premiums can be very manageable, especially when you take the time to shop for auto insurance quotes online.  On average, Iowa drivers spend $996 per year on car insurance. This is nothing compared the stress and potential burden associated with driving without adequate coverage.

If you do decide to drive without insurance in Iowa, you can look forward to having your license and registration suspended until you can provide proof that you have auto insurance.  Purchasing car insurance is simple when you have access to resources like Save Today Auto Insurance Quotes; all you need to do is spend a little bit of time shopping around to find the coverage best suited to you.  Once you have it you can rest easy knowing that you and your loved ones are adequately covered in the case of an automobile accident.

Iowa DUI Law

In Iowa, DUIs are referred to most commonly as OWIs (Operating Under the Influence) and carry severe penalties. First time offenses can lead to license suspension, mandatory substance abuse treatment, and even jail time. Multiple offences can lead to a felony record.
The blood alcohol content limit (BAC) for the state of Iowa is 0.08%, with harsher penalties metered out to those whose BAC is 0.15% or more. If you are arrested for a DUI in the state of Iowa, then you will have your license suspended for six months for a first offense. You may apply for a limited license only if your BAC is was under 0.15%.  You will also go to jail for a minimum of 48 hours and may have to take a substance abuse evaluation.

Iowa Teen Driving Laws/Auto Insurance Requirements

As with many states, teens in Iowa are more likely to be involved in auto accidents than adults. For this reason, Iowa has adopted the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system.

Under Iowa’s GDL system, teens may apply for a learner’s permit when they are 14 after they have completed a driver education course. In a year they may then apply for a restricted license at 15 years old. In order to receive a restricted license, teens must have permission from their parents, and must have completed at least 50 hours of behind the wheel instruction from a parent/guardian or other fully licensed driver. They must also have taken a driver education course, and must pass a written/road test.

At 16, a teen may apply for an unrestricted license if they have maintained a clean driving record and have completed at least 50 hours of supervised driving. To obtain an unrestricted license, teens must take a written/road test and complete a driver education course.

In Iowa, teens that drive with a BAC of 0.02% or higher are considered driving under the influence, and may face license suspension.

All drivers in Iowa must carry the minimum amount of insurance required by the state. This includes teens. Because teens are more likely to be involved in accidents than other age groups, they are advised to carry more than the minimum amount of coverage. Teens can lower their auto insurance quotes by enrolling in driver safety courses and maintaining a B average.