By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
Seventy-two hours is all the time Iowa allows for a driver's own crash report: if police do not investigate a crash involving death, injury or $1,500 or more in total property damage, you must file an Iowa Accident Report with the Iowa DOT within 72 hours, insurance section included. Missing it can lead to suspension of your driving privileges.
The lawsuit deadlines are more generous. Injury and wrongful death claims generally have 2 years, and vehicle damage claims 5 years. Suits against a city, county or other municipality generally must be started within 2 years, while claims against the State require a written claim to the Department of Management within 2 years. Iowa uses a modified comparative fault rule that bars recovery if you are more than 50% at fault. Liability minimums are 20/40/15. Copies of an officer's report cost $4 by mail from the Iowa DOT. In 2024, 356 people died on Iowa roads.
Key rules at a glance
| Personal injury filing deadline | Generally 2 years from the date of the accident Source: Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
|---|---|
| Property damage deadline | Generally 5 years for damage to your vehicle or other property Source: Iowa Code § 614.1(4) |
| Wrongful death deadline | Generally 2 years from the date of death Source: Iowa Code § 614.1(2) |
| Claims against a government entity | A lawsuit against a city, county or other municipality generally must be started within 2 years after the injury. For claims against the State of Iowa, you generally must file a written claim with the director of the Department of Management within 2 years after the claim accrues, and the same 2-year period applies to filing suit, with limited extensions while the claim is being processed. Source: Iowa Code §§ 670.5, 669.13 |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (51% bar): Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your fault is greater than the combined fault of the defendants (more than 50%). Source: Iowa Code § 668.3(1)(a) |
| Insurance system | At-fault (tort) |
| Minimum liability insurance | $20,000 per person / $40,000 per accident bodily injury; $15,000 property damage Source: Iowa Code §§ 321A.1(11), 321.20B |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Not required (usually offered; you may reject it in writing) |
| Damage caps | No general cap on compensatory damages in most car accident cases. Separate rules may apply to claims against government bodies and to crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, so check the statute or ask a licensed attorney. |
| Reporting a crash | If a crash causes death, injury or total property damage of $1,500 or more, contact the nearest law enforcement agency. If police do not investigate, you must file an Iowa Accident Report form with the Iowa DOT within 72 hours, including the insurance section, or your driving privileges may be suspended. |
Getting your crash report in Iowa
People involved in the crash, their attorneys and insurers can request the investigating officer's report from the Iowa DOT by mailing a signed request form and a $4 fee to the Bureau of Enforcement, Audits, & Records, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204. The fee is not refunded if no report is found. Official request page
Checking a Iowa lawyer
Before you sign anything, confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the official state search, and ask for the fee agreement in writing. Our guide on choosing and verifying a lawyer lists what to ask.
- License search: Iowa Supreme Court – Lawyer search (Office of Professional Regulation)
- Lawyer referral: Iowa State Bar Association – Iowa Find-A-Lawyer
356 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Iowa in 2024, according to NHTSA FARS (2024).
Frequently asked questions
›Do I really have only 72 hours to report a crash in Iowa?
Yes, if police did not investigate. For crashes causing death, injury or total property damage of $1,500 or more, you must file an Iowa Accident Report form with the Iowa DOT within 72 hours, including the insurance section. Failing to file can lead to suspension of your driving privileges.
›How long do I have to sue after an Iowa crash?
Generally 2 years from the date of the accident for injuries and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death (Iowa Code § 614.1). Damage to your vehicle or other property generally has 5 years under the same section.
›Can I recover if I was partly to blame?
Yes, unless your fault is greater than the combined fault of the defendants. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and at more than 50% you recover nothing (Iowa Code § 668.3(1)(a)).
›What is the process for a claim against the State of Iowa?
You generally must file a written claim with the director of the Department of Management within 2 years after the claim accrues (Iowa Code § 669.13). The same 2-year period applies to filing suit, with limited extensions while the claim is being processed. Suits against cities and counties generally must be started within 2 years (§ 670.5).
›How do I get the officer's crash report from the Iowa DOT?
People involved, their attorneys and insurers can mail a signed request form and a $4 fee to the Bureau of Enforcement, Audits, & Records, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, IA 50306-9204. The fee is not refunded if no report is found.
Sources
- Iowa Code § 668.3 (Iowa Legislature, 2016 code PDF)
- Iowa Code § 670.5 (Iowa Legislature, 2025)
- Iowa Code § 669.13 (Iowa Legislature, 2025)
- Iowa DOT – Request driving records and accident reports
- Iowa Code § 614.1 (Iowa Legislature, 2023 code PDF)
- Iowa Code § 321A.1 (Justia, 2025)
- People's Law Iowa – Finding a lawyer