A speeding ticket can raise your insurance rates by an average of 24.2% in Iowa. Shopping for new rates should be your first step after paying your fine.

Written by Kornelia Drianovski

Edited by R.E. Fulton

Reviewed by Jessica Barrett

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Jump to:

How to deal with a speeding ticket in Iowa
Calculate your Iowa speeding ticket penalties
Earn safe driving perks
A speeding ticket car increase your car insurance rates after renewal
The best car insurance companies after a speeding ticket in Iowa
FAQs

Load full table of contents

A speeding ticket in the state of

Iowa

is a simple misdemeanor and carries fines between $30 and $135. You can pay the fine—and take on a potential 24.2%

car insurance

increase—or fight it in court.

How to deal with a speeding ticket in Iowa

Step 1: Decide whether to pay or fight the ticket. By paying your ticket, you effectively plead guilty to speeding.

Step 2: Shop for car insurance before your next renewal. Your insurance company won’t find out about your speeding ticket until your policy is up for renewal—but your rates will go up by an average of 24.2% when your policy renews.

Keep in mind: Whatever method you choose, remember that you have 15 days to respond to your ticket or you could face a license suspension or have to pay additional fines.

Learn more:

Car insurance renewal—are you ready for your new rate?

How to pay your Iowa traffic ticket

Unless your ticket requires a court appearance, pleading guilty or no contest is the fastest way of dealing with your speeding ticket.

You can pay your ticket fine at any time before the listed due date, and some payment options available are:

Online payment: Most people simply pay their fine online using

Iowa’s online system

. You can use a credit card to pay on the Iowa Courts Online website. Have your citation number, issuance date, driver’s license number, name, and date of birth ready.

By mail or in person: To pay by mail or in person, you need to check your ticket for instructions or contact the relevant Iowa traffic court. Many county courts do offer these options, but you should confirm soon after being issued the ticket.

In person: If you prefer paying your traffic ticket in person, you can usually go to your local county clerk’s office.

By phone: If you don’t have internet access or you aren’t comfortable paying that way, you can call this phone number to get assistance with processing your payment: 1 (515) 348-4788.

How to get a speeding ticket dismissed

If you opt not to pay the fine, you can request either a mitigation hearing or a contested hearing. This must be entered before your court date.

The most effective arguments for getting a speeding ticket dismissed include:

Defective radar or police officer error: If you can prove that your ticket was issued due to malfunctioning traffic cameras or improper use of a radar by law enforcement, it could be dismissed.

Defective speedometer: If you didn’t know that you were speeding because your vehicle’s speedometer was broken, you may be able to get your ticket dismissed.

Medical emergencies: If you were speeding due to a medical emergency, the court may grant you a dismissal.

Keep in mind: Your speeding ticket is more likely to get dismissed if you’ve maintained a

clean driving record

with no previous traffic violations.

Not knowing Iowa’s traffic laws is not a good speeding ticket defense. Whether you’re an out of state driver or a new Iowa driver, don’t try to fight your ticket by claiming ignorance.

Learn more:

How to get a clean driving record (and save on insurance)

Calculate your Iowa speeding ticket penalties

Iowa fines between $30 and $135 for speeding violations, with an additional $5 for each mile per hour above 20 mph exceeded.1 If your speeding ticket is actually a reckless driving charge, you’ll face possible jail time in addition to much steeper fines.

Keep in mind: Iowa doesn’t use a point system when it comes to speeding.

Below is a breakdown of the fee schedule for speeding tickets in Iowa.

The Iowa speeding ticket fines schedule

This table outlines the various fines motorists could receive for different speeding tickets.

Ticket	Fine
1 - 5 mph over speed limit	$30
5 mph but less than 10 mph	$55
10 mph but less than 15 mph	$105
15 mph but less than 20 mph	$120
For each mile per hour in excess of 20 mph	$135 plus $5 for each mile per hour

Earn safe driving perks

Safe driving can earn you points in more ways than one.

If you’re trying to improve your record after a speeding ticket, use a telematics tool like Jerry’s DriveShield to track your driving habits, including speeding, harsh acceleration, and phone use.

Did you know? Drivers who track their driving in the Jerry app earn an average safe driving discount of 12% from their auto insurance provider.

A speeding ticket car increase your car insurance rates after renewal

Once you’ve paid (or fought) your ticket, it’s time to start preparing for the impact on your car insurance.

Step 1: Check your renewal date. A speeding ticket won’t raise your car insurance rates right away. The next time your policy is up for renewal, your insurer will review your

motor vehicle report (MVR)

for new traffic infractions and add a surcharge to your premium.

Step 2: Wait for your renewal notice. When your renewal date approaches, your current insurer will send you a renewal notice with your updated premium information. You can choose to pay that rate or look for a lower offer.

Step 3: Compare rates from other providers. If you’re not happy with your renewal rate, compare quotes from three or more insurers to find a better rate with your new speeding ticket.

In Iowa, car insurance rates go up by an average of 24.2% when you renew your policy after a speeding ticket. But not all insurance companies

calculate rates the same way

—so you may be eligible for a lower rate from a different company after your speeding ticket.

A simple way to quickly search for lower rates is to use the

Jerry

app.

You’ll be able to build a profile with your new driver information and see real quotes from a range of providers based on your current record.

Jerry also offers a helpful feature for any driver trying to clear points off their record: automatic reshopping. By turning on this function, you’ll get new quotes instantly whenever your policy is up for renewal, along with notifications any time a new insurer with lower potential rates is available in your area.

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

The best car insurance companies after a speeding ticket in Iowa

Here’s how major insurance companies tend to handle rate renewals after a speeding ticket:

Insurance company	Average rate increase after a speeding ticket
Allstate	15%
USAA	17%
American Family	22%
Nationwide	26%
State Farm	26%
Farmers	31%
Auto-Owners	36%
Travelers	37%
GEICO	38%
Progressive	43%

Remember: Every insurance company deals with traffic offenses differently. Depending on your existing record, the number of years you’ve been with your insurer, and whether or not you plead guilty to your speeding ticket, your insurance premium could go up by less—or more!—than this table shows.

Where'd we get these numbers?
Jerry’s editorial team researched the average rate increase after a speeding ticket for these 10 insurance companies using expert sources from Forbes, NerdWallet, ValuePenguin, WalletHub, Liberty Mutual, The Zebra, and CarInsurance.com. Our data shows the average of the data shared by these sources.

FAQs

What does a speeding ticket cost in Iowa?

Speeding ticket costs range anywhere from $30 to $135.

What to do if you get a speeding ticket in Iowa?

If you receive a speeding ticket in Iowa, you can choose to pay the fine or contest the ticket by contacting the court, presenting your case, and potentially hiring an attorney for legal assistance.

What if you can’t afford to pay your speeding ticket?

If you can’t afford to pay your fine, Iowa does not grant extensions. They can create payment plans for those who can afford to pay for their speeding ticket in small chunks over time.

Contact the clerk at the relevant court office (usually where the violation occurred) to discuss possible payment plans.

Will I lose my license if I don’t fight a speeding ticket?

It’s possible to lose your license for speeding in Iowa. It depends on the severity of the violation. For instance, driving infractions in construction or school zones could result in a driver losing their license even if they don’t fight the ticket.

Should I fight or pay my speeding ticket?

The safe bet is to just pay for your speeding ticket. However, if you have strong evidence or can afford a lawyer, you can consider fighting your ticket. Winning your case can prevent your premiums from increasing.

SOURCES

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/805.8A.pdf