Car Insurance in Des Moines, Iowa
Estimated full coverage in Des Moines runs about $1,220 a year ($102/month) — ▲ +12% versus the Iowa average, ranking 2nd most expensive of the 8 Iowa cities we cover.
Why car insurance in Des Moines costs more than the Iowa average
Insurers price by territory, and Des Moines's numbers explain most of the gap. With 213,096 residents on 88.2 square miles, the city's density (2,417 people per square mile) is 7.6 times the density where the typical Iowa resident lives (316). The average commute is 19.5 minutes (Iowa: 19.8), and 71% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 1.12× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 1.12× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for Polk County is included.
| Factor | Des Moines | Iowa ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 2,417 / sq mi | 316 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 19.8 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 3.3% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 70.9% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 0.8% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 13.1% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 9.0% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 83.0 | 80.1 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Car insurance cost by ZIP code in Des Moines
Rates can change from one ZIP code to the next. Across 10 Des Moines ZIP codes, our full-coverage estimate ranges from $1,155 in 50321 to $1,270 in 50315. Denser, longer-commute neighborhoods estimate higher. Click a column to sort.
| ZIP | Population | Density / sq mi | Commute | No car | Est. full / yr | vs. city |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50317 | 36,548 | 1,653 | 22.0 min | 6.8% | $1,220 | 0% |
| 50315 | 34,816 | 3,381 | 22.3 min | 8.6% | $1,270 | +4% |
| 50310 | 31,177 | 3,880 | 19.2 min | 7.0% | $1,245 | +2% |
| 50320 | 24,807 | 1,477 | 22.0 min | 4.8% | $1,215 | 0% |
| 50316 | 16,710 | 4,685 | 18.7 min | 6.9% | $1,250 | +2% |
| 50312 | 15,802 | 2,807 | 15.6 min | 8.2% | $1,190 | −2% |
| 50311 | 14,574 | 5,711 | 17.5 min | 12.2% | $1,255 | +3% |
| 50314 | 10,438 | 4,228 | 16.5 min | 17.7% | $1,225 | 0% |
| 50309 | 10,110 | 3,725 | 13.3 min | 19.7% | $1,185 | −3% |
| 50321 | 7,900 | 697 | 20.5 min | 3.7% | $1,155 | −5% |
Minimum car insurance in Des Moines
Des Moines drivers follow Iowa's rules: at least 20/40/15 liability coverage. Iowa is at-fault (tort). We estimate state-minimum coverage in Des Moines at $345 a year, and $520 for 100/300/100 limits.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $15,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — Iowa does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Policies must include uninsured and hit-and-run motorist coverage unless the named insured signs a written rejection. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Policies must include underinsured motorist coverage unless the named insured signs a written rejection. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Risk factors that shape Des Moines premiums
Accidents
Iowa recorded 356 traffic deaths, or 1.05 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
Iowa's vehicle theft rate is 117 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates Polk County as relatively high for hail, relatively moderate for inland flooding and very high for strong wind, and very low for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
3.3% of Des Moines commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.71 vehicles per household. 13.1% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 97.9 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 98.1 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 27.5 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 92.1 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | — | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 99.2 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 90.3 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in Des Moines by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Des Moines model (about $1,120 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $3,355, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $2,255.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $950 | $1,435 | $3,355 | $280 |
| Young adult (22) | $550 | $835 | $1,950 | $163 |
| Adult in their 30s | $345 | $520 | $1,220 | $102 |
| Adult in their 50s | $320 | $480 | $1,120 | $93 |
| Senior (72) | $385 | $585 | $1,365 | $114 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $500 | $755 | $1,770 | $148 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $640 | $965 | $2,255 | $188 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Des Moines
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $345 | $29 | $285–$405 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $520 | $43 | $430–$615 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,220 | $102 | $1,000–$1,440 |
Estimate your premium in Des Moines
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Cheap car insurance in Des Moines: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Des Moines's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $100 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $85 | You're among the 13.1% of Des Moines workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $385 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $700 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $270 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in Des Moines
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 32 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the Iowa Insurance Division (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Des Moines, our estimates differ by up to $115 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Des Moines, IA
We found 32 insurance offices within about 7 miles of central Des Moines, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
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Ketelsen Davis Agency
106 SW 7th St, Ste B101, Des Moines, IA 50309 -
Jester Insurance Services
303 Watson Powell Junior Way, #300, Des Moines, IA 50309 -
Diversity Insurance Inc / Seguros Mundo Latino
1541 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316 -
GEICO
1221 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, IA 50309 -
Don Khongmaly Agency Inc
2706 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 -
Brad Van Meter - State Farm
4229 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321 -
Kimberly Reed - State Farm
3812 Ingersoll Avenue, Suite 201, Des Moines, IA 50312 -
Matthew Rainey - Allstate
5601 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321 -
Yolanda Mendoza - Farmers Insurance
2704 Easton Blvd, Des Moines, IA 50317 -
Terry Taylor - State Farm Insurance
IA -
Kaylynn Thi Ngo - Farmers Insurance
4806 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 -
Donaghy-Kempton Insurors
4000 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50313 -
Corey Chancellor - State Farm
4436 E University Avenue, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 -
Davis Insurance
2815 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310 -
Chuck Smith - State Farm
3801 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310 -
Dern Agency Inc
4830 Maple Dr, Ste 6, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 -
Valley Junction Insurance Services
509 5th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265 -
Shelter Insurance Mike Martens Agency
513 Maple Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265 -
Peter J Schoneberg - Farmers Insurance
5806 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50322 -
State Farm Matt Cale Agency
6733 University Avenue, , IA 50324 -
Brehm Financial Group, Inc.
2929 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310 -
Flavio Ortiz - Farmers Insurance
5713 Madison Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 -
Cody Carlson - American Family Insurance
1905 Ep True Pkwy, #201, West Des Moines, IA 50265 -
Farmers Insurance
6800 Douglas Avenue, , IA 50322 -
Jeff Shaw - American Family Insurance
7020 Douglas Ave, Ste F, Urbandale, IA 50322 -
Andrew Peschong - State Farm
4685 Merle Hay Road, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50322 -
Elizabeth Raygoza-Aguayo - Farmers Insurance
8527 University Blvd, Clive, IA 50325 -
State Farm Helps Insurance Agency
8814 Swanson Boulevard, Clive, IA 50325 -
Kelli Kerton - State Farm
8818 Swanson Blvd, Clive, IA 50325 -
Jared Frank - American Family Insurance
8450 Hickman Rd, Ste 14D, Clive, IA 50325 -
Middendorf Insurance
8400 Hickman Road, , IA 50325 -
Liajdub Vang - American Family Insurance
8521 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in Des Moines
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $905 | −26% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $925 | −24% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,265 | +4% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $910 | −25% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,350 | +11% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,265 | +4% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $940 | −23% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $1,010 | −17% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $910 | −25% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,140 | −7% |
Car insurance in nearby Iowa cities
- West Des Moines $1,175/yr · 9 mi
- Ankeny $1,235/yr · 11 mi
- Ames $1,165/yr · 31 mi
- Cedar Rapids $1,190/yr · 103 mi
- Iowa City $1,205/yr · 108 mi
- Davenport $1,185/yr · 155 mi
- Sioux City $1,170/yr · 156 mi
All Iowa cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Des Moines
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Des Moines, IA?
We estimate full coverage in Des Moines at about $1,220 a year ($102 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $345 for Iowa's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Des Moines more expensive than the Iowa average?
Our Des Moines estimate is 12% higher than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 2,417 people per square mile (the typical Iowa resident lives at about 316) and an average commute of 19.5 minutes versus 19.8 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in Des Moines?
Drivers in Des Moines follow Iowa law: at least 20/40/15 liability coverage.
Which ZIP code in Des Moines has the cheapest car insurance?
Among Des Moines's 10 ZIP codes, 50321 has the lowest estimate (about $1,155 a year for full coverage) and 50315 the highest (about $1,270), mainly because of differences in density and commute times.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Des Moines?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $3,355 a year in Des Moines by our estimate ($950 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Des Moines?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Polk County for hail (relatively high) and tornado (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in Des Moines?
We list 32 insurance offices in and around Des Moines, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- Iowa Insurance Division: Auto Insurance
- Iowa Code 516A.1 (uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and rejection)
- Iowa DOT: Proof of Insurance After a Suspension (SR-22)
- Iowa Insurance Division: Filing Complaints
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Des Moines and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places