If you live in Iowa, you might not even need car insurance. That's right. You can legally drive in Iowa without auto insurance as long as your driving record is clean and you have enough money to pay for any accidents you cause.
Those are two pretty important "ifs." You must have a good driving record and be able to pay for the car. Under these two rules, most people can't really qualify.
And if you have a loan on your car, your lender won't be as understanding. If you have a loan on your car, you'll have to buy insurance.
So, how do you find cheap auto insurance in Iowa? Actually, there are a few things you can do to keep your monthly premium cost down. Once you've done everything you can to keep rates low, you'll compare prices online to find the best rate.
First, let's look at your record as a driver. This is where most people have trouble with their insurance rates. If you want to pay less for car insurance, you need to drive legally and carefully. No moving violation, like speeding, can get you a ticket. With a DUI or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) conviction, you can say goodbye to the best auto insurance rates for years. If you've been convicted of DUI or DWI more than once, you'll have to buy insurance from a high-risk pool at rates that will make you feel dizzy.
If you are under 25 and have a choice, you should stay in school and keep your GPA at least 3.0. Then, you can get a 5% discount on your car insurance every month for being a good student.
Drivers age 55 and up can also get a discount on their premiums if they take and pass a special refresher course for drivers. Talk to your insurance agent about this discount, as not all insurance companies offer it.
Older cars that no longer have any Kelly Blue Book value shouldn't be insured for collision or comprehensive coverage, since your insurance company will only pay you the Kelly Blue Book value if your car is in an accident.
Do you only drive a few miles a week, like to the grocery store and back, or to see a friend or the doctor once in a while? If so, you might be able to get a discount for having low mileage. Contact your agent.
How much can you really pay as a deductible? Remember that your deductible is money you'll have to pay for yourself if you need to make a claim, so be honest about how much you can afford. However, the more you can pay for your deductible, the less you'll pay each month in premiums.
Now it's time to find one of the many comparison sites on the Internet and start comparing policies and prices. Just remember that you need to take the extra time to compare on at least three different websites so that you can be sure to compare all of the Iowa insurance companies.
Using multiple sites to compare prices takes a little more work, but you'll be laughing all the way to the bank each month if you do it because you'll save so much money.
