Best car insurance in Arizona for 2024

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Most states require you to purchase a minimum amount of insurance coverage before you can register your vehicle, and Arizona car insurance laws are no different. You must carry at least the state’s required minimum coverage levels to drive legally. According to the Arizona Department of Insurance, you must carry at least the minimum required amounts of bodily injury liability per person, bodily injury liability per accident and property damage liability.

Although buying only minimum liability may keep your premiums low, you could face financial stress if you cause an accident. If the damages in that accident exceed your insurance limits, you will be responsible for the excess out of pocket. Most insurance experts recommend that you purchase higher liability limits if you are able to.

Minimum coverage does not provide any physical damage coverage for your vehicle. If you want personal insurance coverage for damage to your car, you will need full coverage, which includes optional comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your financial institution likely requires you to have full coverage. You might also want to purchase gap insurance, which is designed to pay the difference between the cash value of your new vehicle and your loan or lease amount if the vehicle is totaled or stolen.

To find the best car insurance for your needs, you may want to identify which coverage options, add-ons and discounts are most appealing to you. Each auto insurer offers different coverage types and discounts, so knowing what factors matter most to you might help you find a company that fits your needs. If you are considered a high-risk driver, for example, you may need to look for companies that offer high-risk auto insurance. Or if you have a teen driver on your policy, you might want to seek out a company that offers competitive discounts with car insurance for teen drivers. If you have multiple policies, like a homeowners policy and car insurance, you might shop for a provider who offers a good bundling discount.

Don’t forget that your insurance needs usually change over time and factors that affect your car insurance cost also change. It might be helpful to regularly shop for car insurance or available discounts so you’re not paying for coverage you no longer need.

No single car insurance company always offers the cheapest rates to every driver, all the time. Having said that, there are a number of companies known for writing affordable policies in the Grand Canyon State. According to Bankrate's research and analysis, some companies that have been writing cheap policies in Arizona include Geico, Travelers and Nationwide. Keep in mind that your own rate is based on a range of personal factors, including your age, credit rating and driving record, as well as your car's age, make and model, so your rate may be above or below the averages. Asking for quotes from several likely companies can be one way to find the insurer that is able to offer you the most reasonable premium.

Yes, you must submit proof of insurance before registering a vehicle in Arizona. Additionally, your insurance must meet at least the minimum insurance requirements of Arizona, which are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $15,000 in property damage liability. In addition to proof of insurance, you are also required to submit proof of vehicle ownership and may need to complete an emissions test and odometer disclosure.

Although Arizona does not require drivers to have uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance, state law requires this coverage to be offered to all policyholders who may turn it down in writing if they wish. According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 12 percent of Arizona drivers are on the road illegally without insurance. That may make this optional coverage worth considering, despite the extra cost. If you are in an accident with someone who has no insurance or insufficient coverage, you may face out-of-pocket costs unless you have this endorsement on your policy.

There are a number of car insurance rating factors that insurance companies can use when calculating your premium. In addition to factors like the car you drive, your driving history and annual mileage, Arizona auto insurance companies can also factor in your age, gender and location within the state. This is especially important because some areas may be more densely populated with drivers, report more instances of car thefts and vandalism, and have a more expensive cost of living compared to others. Traffic volumes also matter. As a state, Arizona’s highway conditions were ranked in the middle of the pack in the Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report.

Like trying to find the cheapest car insurance, finding the best coverage options in Arizona will depend on several personal variables. Different drivers have varied needs, as do their vehicles. For instance, people who only drive a few miles or less a day may benefit from an insurance company that offers mileage-based car insurance. However, someone who regularly drives long distances may prioritize coverage options like roadside assistance or rental reimbursement coverage.