State of Iowa Insurance Requirements
Like most states, Iowa requires a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage on all vehicles. The standards below indicate the minimum coverage required. Naturally, higher coverage can be acquired for policyholders concerned about liability.
| $20,000 | This is the maximum amount per person paid for bodily injury (“BI”) injuries. |
| $40,000 | This the total amount paid by the policy for all bodily injury to all persons. Therefore if several people are injured, those who file first would receive payment as defined above, and once the total payment was reached, the remaining parties must pursue the policyholder for any sums over these amounts. |
| $15,000 | This is the total amount paid for property damage (“PD”). |
SR-22: When do you need it?
SR-22 (the “SR” stands for “safety responsibility”) is a document that verifies that someone has automobile insurance. The SR-22 is prepared by an insurance company and then filed (by the insurance company) with the department of motor vehicles (DMV). The SR-22 is not an insurance policy. It is evidence that you have a policy.
Typically, an SR-22 is required when a driver seeks to reinstate a driver’s license after being convicted of a DUI, reckless driving, driving without insurance, or some other driving violation that’s resulted in a suspension. The SR-22 may be required whether you own a vehicle (owner SR-22) or not (non-owner SR-22). The SR-22 is usually required for a number of years – for example, five years following a DUI conviction. If the policy holder fails to pay the premiums, the SR-22 is cancelled and an SR-26 is filed with the DMV. When the DMV receives the SR-26, the policy holder’s license is suspended until a new SR-22 is filed.
