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In Arizona, 88% of all motorists are insured. This means that the vast majority of drivers have at least the state minimum insurance. So, if someone else is at fault, the insurance alone should be enough to cover for repairs and damages.
Speaking of coverage, you’ll surely want to know which is the best and most affordable Phoenix auto insurance provider. This is where we can help. The following sections feature everything you need to know about getting the best quote in Phoenix.
Phoenix, Arizona: Car Insurance by the Numbers
- Number of vehicles per household: 1.71
- Minimum state insurance requirements
- Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability (PDL) $10,000
- Average rate with a clean driving record - $1297 for the state minimum insurance
Car Insurance Rates Per Vehicle
Larger vehicles and some SUVs are more expensive to insure because of the damage they might cause in a collision.
Those who have their eyes set on a luxury import can expect the insurance premium to go up accordingly. On the bright side, most insurance companies offer some discounts for eligible vehicles. This usually applies to cars that feature today’s safety standards.
Besides the type of vehicles, insurance providers consider the make, model, and production year. With this in mind, most of the newer 4-door sedans shouldn’t be too expensive to insure. But which models are the most popular in Phoenix?
On a whole for a state where vast expanses of desert land are to be found, the Ford F150 truck wins by a landslide. Other pickups like the Nissan Titan are not far behind. Obviously, Phoenix drivers rank utility over any potential insurance cost increase for pickup trucks.
However, those who opt for an electric vehicle can get some incentives. You pay less on vehicle license tax and there’s a $75 Home Charging rebate. Plus, you get to access the carpool lane even if you are driving solo.
Car Insurance Rates by Credit Score
It’s not a secret that car insurance providers factor your credit score to determine the insurance rates. And Arizona is one of the 47 states where they are legally allowed to do so. What does this mean to you?
As a rule, the better your credit score, the less you need to pay for car insurance. The additional expenses for those with a poor score might be well above $1,000. At this point, you are probably wondering why.
From data collected over the years, insurance companies have come to the conclusion that people who don’t take care of their credit also don’t take as much care when driving and are more likely to file claims for damages.
If you have good credit, you no longer have to subsidize those with poor credit. If you have poor credit, there are ways to work on your credit score. Some easy tips are simply paying down debts and paying your monthly bills on time.
The table below features the most affordable quotes for different levels of credit score.
| Credit Score | Cheapest Provider | Rate for State Minimum Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Poor 300-579 | USAA | $2,091 |
| Fair 580-669 | State Farm | $1,944 |
| Good 670-739 | State Farm | $1,221 |
| Excellent 740+ | The Hartford | 1,000 |
Car Insurance Rates for Clean Driving Records
Aside from credit score, your driving record also influences the insurance rate. Having a clean driving record means not getting involved in at-fault accidents or not getting caught for any traffic violations, misdemeanors, or felonies.
That said, you can get away with parking and other non-moving violations. But your insurance company isn’t going to like serious offenses like DUI, excessive speeding, reckless driving, and such.
Here’s a snapshot.
| Insurance Agency | State Minimum Insurance | Standard Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $1,050 | $1,200 | $1,470 |
| State Farm | $1,115 | $1,375 | $1,600 |
| Progressive | $1,090 | $1,399 | $1,589 |
| American Family | $1,345 | $1,400 | $1,629 |
| USAA | $747 | $820 | $1,230 |
Car Insurance Rates with Driving Infractions
Accidents do happen and some drivers may be of the opinion that traffic regulations are meant to be broken.
Besides more benign infractions like failing to signal, sudden lane changes, and running the red light, Arizona residents seem prone to aggressive driving. This may include speeding and tailgating and so on. One can assume that aggressive driving contributes to the more than 120,000 crashes in Arizona in 2017.
Alarming statistics aside, you can always get auto insurance with or traffic infractions. That is unless your license gets suspended.
The following table shows the most affordable providers and the rates in Phoenix for different classes of violations.
| Insurance Agency | At-Fault Accident | Speed Violation | DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $2,373 | $1,757 | $3,173 |
| USAA | $3,214 | $2,640 | $4,240 |
| Travelers | $3,216 | $3,077 | $3,578 |
| American Family | $4,577 | $3,417 | $5,677 |
| Nationwide | $3,110 | $3,310 | $4,606 |
Best Auto Insurance Providers in Phoenix
Judging by the rates presented in this article, it’s not hard to see that GEICO, State Farm, and Progressive stand out. While you can’t go wrong with any of them, which one is the best overall?
- Rideshare drivers
Best Overall: State Farm
When it comes to the variety of coverage options and potential bonuses, State Farm is hard to rival. While the company may not be the most affordable in every aspect, it comes out on top overall.
For a start, take a look at the rates for those with fair and good credit. You might find that they are close to the average rate in Arizona. In addition, the company’s state minimum coverage of $1,009 is among the most affordable.
For those who prefer to configure their coverage, State Farm allows you to cover all the loose ends. Besides liability, you can get comprehensive coverage that covers collision and non-collision accidents, emergency roadside service, etc. There are eligible discounts for different classes of drivers.
Looking at State Farm’s offer for sports and antique vehicles, it’s easy to understand they offer the best premium options. In fact, you may even get a very good quote on a sports car if you meet some requirements.
That’s if the sports car isn’t your everyday car and you can reduce the annual mileage to way below the 12,000 average. Most of all, you’d better have an anti-theft device and a clean driving record. Similar rules apply to insuring classic and antique cars, but they vary depending on the model.
- Active military members
Best For Military and Military Families: USAA
One of the best insurance companies in the country is USAA. Providing above average service, policy offerings, and a large suite of products, USAA makes the list.
Typically USAA customers pay significantly less for auto insurance but you must qualify by having served in the military or have a direct family member serve in the armed forces. With USAA you can bundle home, auto, life, and health in one money-saving policy.
Read Benzinga's full USAA Auto Insurance Review
- Infrequent drivers
Best for Safe Drivers: Root
Root is a unique new car insurance provider that offers policies based on your driving habits. You’ll install an app on your phone that monitors your speed, how often you make sudden turns and stops and mileage.
Then, the app creates a custom quote for you based on how well you drive.
Root doesn’t offer policies to everyone — the company avoids reckless drivers and those who have a long history of driving infractions so the company can keep premiums low. You may be able to save more when you switch to Root.
Find the Right Car Insurance in Phoenix
Those who are new to car insurance might want to learn more about car insurance to get a better understanding of all the options. Hopefully, this article provides you with enough information to find your ideal car insurance provider in Arizona.
When all is said and done, drive safely and with a little bit of research, you’ll get to save money on car insurance.
Want to learn more about finding the best insurance coverage? Check out Benzinga’s guides to the best homeowners insurance, best classic car insurance, and the best commercial car insurance companies.
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