Cheapest car insurance in Arizona for 2024

Arizonans pay an annual average of $878 for minimum coverage and $2,766 for full coverage. Drivers in the Grand Canyon State may be pleased to know that these are less than the national annual averages, which come in at $678 for minimum and $2,458 for full coverage. Finding the cheapest auto insurance in Arizona may be easier with Bankrate's help. We've done the research to take the guesswork out of your choice and found the companies that are writing the cheapest policies, no matter what your circumstances.

Key takeaways

• Cheapest company for minimum coverage: Geico
• Cheapest company for full coverage: Geico
• Cheapest company for drivers with prior incidents: Geico and Travelers
• Cheapest company for young drivers: Geico and Travelers

Arizonans pay an annual average of $878 for minimum coverage. While this coverage level satisfies state requirements, you may be required to carry higher limits and additional coverage types if you loan or lease your vehicle. Additionally, it’s worth noting that minimum coverage will not cover repairs to your own vehicle if you cause an accident or experience non-accident damage, like vandalism. The average cost of a full coverage policy — $2,766 per year — is far lower than the cost to replace your vehicle out of pocket in the event of severe damage.

Minimum coverage requirements for Arizona drivers

Car insurance is a legal requirement in Arizona in order to get behind the wheel. The minimum amount of coverage required for all drivers includes:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Although minimum coverage insurance is often the cheapest option, it may not financially protect you against a costly loss in the same way that a full coverage policy could. Full coverage insurance, which includes both comprehensive and collision coverage, offers financial protection for physical damage to your vehicle, whether you are at fault or not for the incident. If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender or loan company will likely require you to carry full coverage insurance.

While collision and comprehensive generally provide greater financial protection, the right coverage for you depends on your individual needs. It may help to talk with a licensed insurance agent about what limits make sense for you.

Although full coverage is generally more expensive than minimum, it offers you more robust coverage and may pay off in the long run. If you are involved in a serious accident with extensive property damage or injuries, your minimum coverage may run out before all the bills are paid. This is why many insurance experts recommend that you purchase full coverage insurance if you can afford it. The best company for cheap car insurance in Arizona at the full coverage level is Geico, which has the lowest average rates.

In most cases, drivers with a clean driving record and demonstrated ability to drive safely will earn the lowest premium rates. If you have an incident on your record, your insurer may consider you a higher risk to insure because of the increased likelihood that you'll have future infractions that result in claims. Because of this, it's likely that you will pay more for your insurance.

• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a ticket: Geico
• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Travelers
• Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers: Travelers

Cheapest insurance companies for drivers in Arizona with a speeding ticket: Geico

A speeding ticket conviction in Arizona is likely to increase your rates. Speeding can increase the risk and severity of accidents, which is why insurers generally increase rates; drivers with speeding tickets present a higher risk of filing claims. Geico generally has low average rates for minimum coverage with a speeding ticket conviction. 

Cheapest car insurance for drivers in Arizona with an at-fault accident: Travelers

It’s fairly common knowledge that, generally, car insurance rates go up after an at-fault accident. However, it is still possible to find cheap car insurance in Arizona if you have a claim on your record. On average, minimum coverage in Arizona costs $1,319 per year and full coverage costs $4,000 per year after an accident. Most of the cheapest companies in Arizona after an accident have lower-than-average rates, including Travelers, which had the lowest average rate for minimum coverage.

Cheapest rates in Arizona for high-risk drivers: Travelers

You may be deemed a high-risk driver for any number of reasons, including having multiple tickets or accidents, or a combination of the two, on your record. However, even a single DUI conviction is likely to cause insurers to see you as high risk due to the severe risk associated with drunk driving. You’ll likely pay more for car insurance after a DUI, but shopping around may help you find a lower rate. Just keep in mind that not all insurance companies will insure drivers with DUIs on their records, so if you’re interested in a quote, contact the company directly to discuss eligibility. Our research showed Travelers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage for high-risk drivers.

Car insurance rates tend to be high for young drivers, and especially for those still in their teens. Why? Statistics show that young drivers, who may not have a lot of experience behind the wheel, are involved in more accidents than any other age group. A high level of accidents means increased claims filed with insurers, and so to mitigate the higher risk, they charge more. It is possible, however, as Bankrate's research shows, to find cheap auto insurance in Arizona for young drivers.

• Cheapest car insurance for insuring a teen driver: Geico
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with a ticket: Travelers
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: Travelers
• Cheapest car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Travelers and Travelers

Cheapest Arizona car insurance for insuring a teen driver: Geico

Adding a teen driver to your policy generally adds quite a bit of cost, due to the fact that teen drivers have less experience on the road and are generally more likely to cause accidents. When shopping for cheap insurance, Arizona drivers with teens on their policies may want to shop around and compare car insurance rates from several companies. It can also pay off to look for student discounts or other discounts geared toward young drivers. Our research revealed that these insurers tend to have low rates when a 16-year-old drivers is added to policy, with Geico topping the list:

Cheapest Arizona car insurance for teens with a ticket: Travelers

For a teen with a ticket on their driving record, finding cheap car insurance in Arizona can be a challenge. The table below may offer a good place to start your search however: these companies all offer average rates that are on the lower side for teens with a ticket. Travelers had the lowest price for minimum coverage, while Travelers topped the list for full coverage.

Cheapest Arizona car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: Travelers

A teen with an at-fault accident on their record may want to consider taking a defensive driving class to hone their skills and possibly save on their car insurance. Companies such as Travelers may give them a favorable rate for their car insurance in the meantime.

Cheapest Arizona car insurance for young drivers with a DUI:  Travelers 

Earning a DUI conviction is a serious matter for drivers of any age in Arizona. You may face multiple penalties, including license suspension, fines and even jail time. In addition to that, you are likely to see a higher rate for insurance.  Travelers gave us the cheapest average rate for young drivers with a DUI, based on a 21-year-old driver on their own policy.

Taking advantage of car insurance discounts can be a relatively easy way to lower your premium. Some of the most common discounts in Arizona are:

• Young driver discounts: Car insurers often offer several discounts tailored to teens and young adults. These include good student discounts, away at school discounts and discounts for taking a driver training program.
• Safe driver discounts: If you have no accidents or tickets on your record, you may qualify for a safe-driver or claims-free discount. Additionally, you might decide to sign up for a telematics program, which tracks your driving habits and assigns you a personalized discount.
• Claims free discounts: Many insurance providers offer a discount if you go a certain period of time, usually three to five years, without filing a claim with any insurance company.
• Vehicle-based discounts: You might enjoy a discount if your vehicle comes equipped with safety features like anti-lock brakes, airbags, seatbelts, adaptive cruise control and more.
• Other discounts: Other common savings opportunities include bundling discounts, savings for signing up for paperless statements or automatic billing, insuring more than one vehicle, and being a member of a certain profession or organization.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.