Generally, a right turn at a red light is legal in Iowa—but you need to check first that right turns on red aren’t prohibited in the particular intersection. When making a right turn at a red light, make sure you do so legally by coming to a complete stop first and yielding the right-of-way to other cars and pedestrians in the intersection.

While right turns at red lights are legal in most of the United States, they aren’t legal everywhere. It’s important to educate yourself on red light rules. Red-light violations are incredibly dangerous and they can result in tickets and hefty fines!

While we consider ourselves experts on finding affordable

car insurance

, the team at

Jerry

is also here to support you with any car or driving-related questions you might have. So we threw together the basics of turning on red in Iowa: when it’s legal, when it’s not, and the penalties for doing it illegally. Of course, we also included some info on what we do best: lowering your

Iowa car insurance costs

Can you turn right on red in Iowa?

In general, yes—but there are a few important caveats.

Section 321.257

of Iowa Statutes states that drivers can turn right at a red light only if there are no signs prohibiting right turns on red at the particular intersection.

Since municipalities and counties can decide to prohibit right turns at certain red lights, make sure to check thoroughly for signs before turning right at a red light.

If you are at an intersection where a right turn on red is legal, make sure you follow all the relevant traffic laws when making the turn, including the following:

Check thoroughly for signs prohibiting right turns

Come to a complete stop before turning

Enter the intersection cautiously and check for approaching cars and pedestrians

Yield the right-of-way to other cars and pedestrians in the intersection

Remember that a light violation will result in points on your driving record. In Iowa, three or more moving violations in one year or six or more moving violations in two years will result in a

suspended license

. The total number of points on your record will determine the length of your license suspension.

MORE:

What is a moving violation in Iowa?

What about left turns on red?

In Iowa, you may turn left at a red light only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street. When making the turn, you must continue to yield to pedestrians and other vehicles legally using the road.

Key Takeaway Right turns on red are legal in Iowa as long as there are no signs prohibiting it at the particular intersection.

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Penalties for an illegal right turn on red in Iowa

Iowa is strict when it comes to light violations. If you fail to respond to a steady red light signal in Iowa, expect a minimum fine of $135 plus a 15% surcharge of $20.25. This means you will be looking at a total of at least $210.25.

Along with this hefty minimum cost, a traffic violation in Iowa may result in higher car insurance rates. Insurance providers don’t like to see traffic violations on your record since it suggests that you are an unsafe and

at-risk driver

MORE:

Does running a red light increase your car insurance rates?

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How to find affordable car insurance in Iowa

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