Those two "ifs" are pretty important. You must have a clean driving record, and you must be financially responsible. Most people can't really qualify under these two conditions.

And if your vehicle is being financed then your lender is not going to be so understanding ? you'll be forced to buy insurance if you have a loan on your car.

So how do you get affordable car insurance in Iowa? Actually there are several things you can do that will help to keep the cost of your monthly premium affordable ? and once you've taken all the steps you can to keep rates low, then you're going to compare prices head-to-head online and find the best possible rate.

Let's start by looking at your driving record. This is where many people have the most trouble with their insurance rates. If you want good car insurance rates then you must drive legally and responsibly. You can't get tickets for speeding or any other moving violation. A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) conviction and you can kiss the best car insurance rates good-bye for years. Multiple DUI or DWI convictions and you'll be forced to purchase insurance from a high-risk pool at rates that will make you lightheaded.

If you are under 25 and have the choice you should stay in school and keep your grade point average at least 3.0 ? and then collect a 5% Good Student Discount each and every month on your car insurance!

Drivers who are 55 or older can also get a break on their premium if they take ? and pass ? a special driver's refresher course. Talk to your agent as not all insurance companies make this discount available.

Older cars that no longer have any Kelly Blue Book value should not be insured for collision or comprehensive coverage since your insurance company will only pay you Blue Book value if your car is in an accident.

Do you drive only a few miles each week, perhaps to the grocery store and back with an occasional visit to a friend or a trip to the doctor? If so you may qualify for a low-mileage discount. Talk to your agent.

How much of a deductible can you really afford? Remember, your deductible represents cash that you have to come up with yourself if you have a claim, so be realistic about how much you can afford ? but the more you can afford for your deductible the less you will pay each month in premium payments.

All right, now it's time to find those comparison websites that are all over the net and start comparing policies and prices. Just keep in mind that you need to take the extra time to make your comparisons on at least 3 different websites so that you can be certain of comparing all of the different insurance companies operating in Iowa.

It takes a little extra effort to make comparisons at multiple sites, but you'll be laughing all the way to the bank each month if you do with all the cash you'll be saving.