What does uninsured motorist insurance cover in Iowa? This question is about Uninsured Motorist Coverage Guide

What does uninsured motorist insurance cover in Iowa?

Answer Question Report Abuse

This question is about Uninsured Motorist Coverage Guide

Delaney Simchuk, Car Insurance Writer

@delaney_simchuk • 06/30/22 This answer was first published on 06/30/22. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

Permalink Report Abuse

Uninsured motorist insurance in Iowa covers your medical expenses after an accident caused by a driver who does not have car insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage is only applicable if you are not at fault and will only pay up to your policy’s limits.

Iowa does not require uninsured motorist coverage (UM), but it can still be a useful type of coverage to have. If you do not have personal injury protection or MedPay to cover your own medical costs, uninsured motorist coverage can help keep your finances safe if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.

What Uninsured Motorist Insurance Covers in Iowa

Medical expenses for you and your passengers
Loss of income
Funeral expenses
Hit-and-runs

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to uninsured motorist coverage.

Answer Question

How much car insurance do I need in Iowa?

Drivers in Iowa need $20,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per person (up to $40,000 per accident) and $15,000 of property damage liability insurance. Collision, comprehensive and gap insurance may also be required by a lender or lessor if your vehicle is financed.

In addition, an optional but recommended type of coverage in Iowa is ... read full answer uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. It replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should’ve had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits.

Here’s How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in Iowa:

Coverage Type	Minimum Coverage Limit
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage (per person)	$20,000
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage (per accident)	$40,000
Property Damage Liability	$15,000

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under Iowa law. Lenders or lessors usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. Lenders may also require gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan or lease and what the vehicle is worth if it has been stolen or totaled.

Even if you’re not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in Iowa to make sure you’re paying for the coverage you need.

show less

What is the cost of uninsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage costs around $50-$75 annually for bodily injury and property damage coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) protects the policyholder by paying for injuries or damage resulting from a car accident caused by a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance.

Like any type of car insurance, uninsured motorist premiums vary based on the policyholder’s risk factors. How much coverage you purchase will also affect the cost of UM. Similarly, uninsured motorist premiums are higher in states with more uninsured drivers because of the additional risk.... read full answer

Even if uninsured motorist coverage is not required in your state, it is an inexpensive coverage option that might be worth it depending on your circumstances.

show less

Do I need uninsured motorist property damage in Iowa?

No, you do not need uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) insurance in Iowa. In fact, drivers in Iowa do not even have the option to purchase UMPD coverage.

Instead of UMPD, you can purchase collision insurance, which is an optional type of coverage that pays to repair or replace your vehicle after any accident, regardless of fault.... read full answer

show less

WalletHub Answers is a free service that helps consumers access financial information. Information on WalletHub Answers is provided “as is” and should not be considered financial, legal or investment advice. WalletHub is not a financial advisor, law firm, “lawyer referral service,” or a substitute for a financial advisor, attorney, or law firm. You may want to hire a professional before making any decision. WalletHub does not endorse any particular contributors and cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of any information posted. The helpfulness of a financial advisor's answer is not indicative of future advisor performance.

WalletHub members have a wealth of knowledge to share, and we encourage everyone to do so while respecting our content guidelines. This question was posted by WalletHub. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.

Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.

Ask a Question

140

Ask Question

Ask Your Question

WalletHub Transparency

We are committed to being fully transparent with our readers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s and/or WalletHub editors'. WalletHub editorial content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. In addition, it is not any company’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.