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Ready to visit the Grand Canyon and beyond? Make sure you know the rules of the road in Arizona. Use our guide to find the best car for Arizona, learn more about Arizona car insurance laws and compare quotes to switch and save today.
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Arizona
AZ Car Insurance Laws
- You’ll find that Arizona averages 2 vehicles per household.
- Minimum insurance requirements are as follows:
- Bodily injury liability: Bodily injury liability coverage compensates anyone you physically injure in an accident. You must have $15,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person and $30,000 per accident.
- Property damage liability: Property damage liability coverage compensates anyone whose property you damage during a collision. You must have at least $10,000 in property damage liability coverage as a resident of Arizona.
- Drivers with a clean record can expect to pay between $927 and $1,171 annually for state-minimum coverage.
All drivers must have car insurance to legally operate a motor vehicle in Arizona.
Keep in mind that state minimum coverage offers you no protection as a driver. You may want to consider adding these optional coverages to your policy:
- Collision coverage: Collision coverage compensates you for damage to your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident.
- Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive coverage compensates you if your vehicle is damaged in some other way besides being involved in an accident. Some examples include damage from animals, burglaries and theft.
You can face some pretty steep penalties if you’re caught driving without insurance in Arizona. Your license and vehicle registration will be suspended if you can’t produce proof of insurance at a traffic stop.
You’ll also need to pay a fine and submit proof of insurance before you can drive again. Of course, this fine will pale in comparison to what you’ll need to pay if you’re sued for medical bills or damage after an accident. Don’t take the risk — it’s not worth losing your license.
How Much is Car Insurance in Arizona?
How much you'll pay for insurance in Arizona depends on more factors than just your location -- how is your driving record? What kind of coverage do you want?
Get a quote for coverage here.
AZ Cheap Car Insurance Rates per Vehicle
The type of vehicle you drive can affect your insurance rates. You’ll pay more for insurance if you drive a very expensive vehicle or a vehicle that’s more likely to be involved in an accident. This is because these factors increase the possibility that the insurance company will have to pay out a claim at some point in the future.
Car insurance companies also look at theft data when they set insurance rates. You’ll pay more for coverage if you drive a car that’s more likely to be stolen.
Think you’ll save on insurance because you don’t drive a luxury Italian import? Contrary to popular belief, some of the most commonly stolen vehicles in Arizona are also some of the most popular.
Chevy pickups, Honda Civics and Ford pickups are the 3 vehicles most commonly targeted for theft. Experts say that this is because thieves believe they’re less likely to get caught if they target a common vehicle make and model.
Cheap Car Insurance Rates by Credit Score
Concerned about how much you’re paying for insurance? The key to lower rates might be to raise your credit score. Drivers with low credit scores are more likely to need to file an insurance claim, file an inflated claim and even commit insurance fraud. A few select states have banned the use of credit data in expense calculation. For now, Arizona car insurance companies are allowed to run a credit check on you before they offer you coverage.
Let’s take a look at how your credit score might affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance.
| Credit Score | Cheapest Provider | Rate for State Minimum Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Poor 300–579 | GEICO | $2,259 |
| Fair 580–669 | GEICO | $1,972 |
| Good 670–739 | GEICO | $1,336 |
| Excellent 740+ | Ameriprise | $1,246 |
Insurance for Drivers with a Clean Record
Car insurance companies save the best rates for drivers with clean driving records. Insurance companies will assume that you’re unlikely to get into an accident in the future if you have a clean record. This lowers your rates and gives you access to the widest range of coverage choices.
We’ll look at how much these 3 different types of coverage may cost you in Arizona:
- State minimum insurance, which gives you only the minimum required protections to legally drive in Arizona.
- Standard coverage, which includes both state minimum insurance and collision coverage.
- Full coverage, which includes state minimum insurance, collision coverage and comprehensive coverage.
| Insurance Company | State Minimum Insurance | Standard Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $948 | $1,187 | $2,199 |
| Allstate | $1,039 | $1,347 | $1,804 |
| Ameriprise | $1,088 | $1,729 | $2,181 |
| Progressive | $927 | $1,532 | $2,371 |
| AAA | $1,171 | $1,732 | $2,071 |
Insurance Rates with Driving Infractions
Expect to pay more for your car insurance if you do have infractions on your driving record. Not every type of driving infraction is viewed the same by lenders.
We’ll take a look at how 3 common driving infractions might affect your car insurance premium:
- At-fault accident: An at-fault accident is one that you fully or partially cause.
- Speed violation: A speed violation involves driving too far above the posted speed limit. In some rare cases, a speed infraction can be issued if you’re driving so slowly that you’re causing a danger to other drivers.
- Driving under the influence (DUI): A DUI involves drugs or alcohol and is one of the most serious driving infractions and a criminal offense.
| Insurance Company | At-Fault Accident | Speed Violation | DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $2,955 | $1,579 | $5,875 |
| American Family | $3,170 | $1,377 | $5,793 |
| Farmers | $3,258 | $1,664 | $5,579 |
| Nationwide | $2,131 | $1,594 | $6,793 |
| Progressive | $3,000 | $1,651 | $4,948 |
Best Car Insurance Providers in AZ
Let’s take a look at some of the best insurance providers in Arizona. Benzinga used comprehensive analysis and research to evaluate the best companies on the market.
1. Best Overall: State Farm
State Farm should be one of your first stops if you’re looking for an affordable and comprehensive car insurance policy.
- Rideshare drivers
State Farm consistently ranks higher than competitors in customer satisfaction and premium expenses, according to J.D. Power’s annual Auto Insurance Satisfaction Survey.
One of the largest insurance providers in the country, State Farm offers a number of policy choices that range from homeowners insurance to car insurance to long-term disability insurance.
You’ll find lots of discounts you can use to save more and you can also save when you bundle policies together.
2. Cheapest Car Insurance in AZ: Freedom National
Look no further than Freedom National if you’re looking for affordable car insurance in Arizona.
Freedom National offers some of the most affordable policies in large metropolitan areas — Phoenix, Glendale, Avondale or Mesa.
The company also offers a wide range of discounts that you can use to lower your expenses even further.
- Pay-per-mile insurance from an established company
3. Best Coverage for Multiple Cars: Allstate
You’ll want to look for coverage options if you have more than 1 vehicle you need to cover, which will give you the best discounts possible and the widest range of coverage choices. Allstate is one of the best cheap car insurance providers for customizing your policy.
Allstate offers every type of coverage, from barebones state minimum coverage to full comprehensive policies.
They also have one of the most generous discount programs around, with savings for everything from getting good grades to insuring more than 1 car.
4. Best for Military Personnel: USAA
USAA is a unique car insurance provider that offers policies only to members of the armed forces, veterans and their family members.
- Active military members
Though not everyone qualifies for a policy, those who do can get some exceptionally low rates.
USAA also offers homeowners insurance, and you can bundle both of these policies together to get a lower rate. USAA also consistently scores highly in customer service surveys, holding 5 out of 5 stars in all categories on the annual J.D. Power Auto Satisfaction Survey.
Car Insurance by City
Looking for city-specific car insurance in AZ? Here's our picks for the best companies by city in Arizona.
Best Car Insurance in Tucson
- State Farm: Best Overall in Tucson
- USAA: Best for Military Personnel
Best Car Insurance in Mesa
- The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford: Best for Seniors
- State Farm: Cheapest
- USAA: Best for Military Families
Drive Off with Great Coverage
Thinking about how to lower your car insurance? Consider getting a few quotes from car insurance companies in your area.
For every year that you go without an accident, raise your credit score or gain another year of experience on the road, you become a more appealing insurance candidate.
Collect a few auto insurance quotes from competing companies — you may qualify for a lower rate and not realize it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major types of car insurance?
Liability: The most basic type of auto insurance you can purchase and is required by (nearly) all states. Liability insurance is what covers the damage caused to other people or property other than your own. To learn more about liability insurance read our full article.
Comprehensive: An optional coverage option that keeps your vehicle protected in case of theft, fire, vandalism, weather, animals, or acts of nature.
Collision: This type of coverage pays for damage to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or property. If you are leasing or financing your vehicle, you are typically required to pay for collision insurance.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Covers you and your passengers if you are involved in an accident with someone who does not have coverage or your injuries or property is damaged beyond the other drivers’ insurance limits. The uninsured motorist also covers your vehicle and passengers if you are involved in a hit and run accident. Each state has different mandates on whether you are required to carry this type of policy. For more policy information continue reading our best car insurance policies article.
How do I bundle my car insurance with another policy, and should I?
An agent can help you bundle your car insurance with another policy. You can get a discount on your premium by bundling your home and auto together, for example. Check out the top providers here.
How much is my car insured for?
With a standard auto insurance policy, your vehicle is insured using actual cash value, which means that a deduction may be taken for depreciation based on age or usage. As your vehicle ages, it’s worth less money which reduces the insurable value. If you own a collectible or classic car, you’ll want to consider a specialized classic car insurance policy that insures your vehicle to its full value without a deduction for depreciation.
*Quotes were obtained using the following profile: base 2015 Toyota Camry, male, 40-years-old. Policies reflect state minimum coverage options. We make every effort to provide the most accurate quotes based on the profile above. Due to the many combined variables involved in insurance quotes, the only way to get an accurate quote is to enter your own information through our partners' secure websites.
About Sarah Horvath
Sarah is an expert in the insurance, investing for retirement and cryptocurrency space.