Best Cheap Car Insurance in Arizona for 2018

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance quotes in Arizona, shopping around is key. Rates fluctuate from one company to the next, based in part on personal factors such as age, ZIP code and credit history.

It’s a lot to keep track of, but NerdWallet has done the hard part for you. We looked at rates from the eight largest insurers in the state and found the cheapest options for these categories:

Good drivers
Young drivers
Drivers with one at-fault crash
Drivers with poor credit
Retired drivers
Drivers with military connections

Also in this article:

Minimum car insurance requirements for Arizona
Alternative car insurance in Arizona

» FIND YOUR MATCH: Who’s the cheapest carrier for you?

Cheapest for good drivers

For drivers with no at-fault accidents, DUIs or moving violations.

The average for good drivers with good credit among the three cheapest companies was $1,250 a year. Geico was the least expensive option in our analysis, at $1,089 per year, with American Family and State Farm rounding out the top three.

Drivers with no tickets, moving violations or at-fault accidents should look into companies offering discounts that reward them for safe driving habits.

Cheapest for young drivers

For drivers in their early 20s.

Young drivers can often get by with less coverage than many others on the road, since those in their early 20s usually don’t have fancy cars, pricey assets or large families to protect. For that reason, we looked at quotes for young drivers with the minimum required insurance levels in Arizona.

Geico delivered the cheapest rate at $578, which is a whopping $511 per year cheaper than its rate for drivers in their 30s with full coverage insurance.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

Causing a car accident generally leads to higher insurance prices, either when you renew with your current company or find a new one. State Farm was the cheapest in this group, coming in at $1,718, which is about $143 per month.

American Family and Allstate came in second- and third-cheapest, respectively. Estimates in our analysis exceeded $3,000, showing it’s always best to shop around to know you’re getting the best rate possible.

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

For drivers placed in the “poor credit” tier

Insurers see your credit as a useful indicator of future claims and may charge more from those with poor credit in Arizona. The cheapest company in this category, Geico, charged $595 a year more than it did for good drivers with no credit issues.

Rates exceeded $5,600 in our analysis for drivers with poor credit, showing it’s always smart to shop around for the best rate.

Cheapest for retired drivers

For drivers in their mid- to late 60s who no longer use their car for commuting.

Retired drivers can bank savings thanks to their reduced time behind the wheel compared to younger folks who commute. We looked at rates for drivers in their 60s who drive half as much as those who commute.  

Geico was the cheapest for drivers in this group, coming in at about $69 per month. American Family and State Farm rounded out the cheapest three, at $87 and $95 per month, respectively.

Cheapest for drivers with a military connection

If you’re an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are good you’ll get a cheaper-than-average rate with USAA, an option that isn’t available to the general public. USAA offered the cheapest sample quote for every driver type listed above — often by a significant amount.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Arizona

Arizona drivers must carry liability insurance, which kicks in if you’re at fault in a crash to help cover others’ property damage and injury treatment.

The minimum limits you must select are:

• $15,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability per accident

Keep in mind, a severe accident could easily leave you owing more than, say, $10,000 in repairs to another driver’s car. In that case, the remaining amount would have to come out of your hard-earned savings. For that reason, experts recommend getting more than the bare minimum, as well as common optional features such as collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist coverage.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to state car insurance requirements for help understanding and improving your Arizona policy.

Alternative car insurance in Arizona

Arizona is one of several states that form the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans (WAAIP). High-risk drivers who are denied coverage through the open market can seek car insurance through WAAIP’s network of insurers.

Try our handy comparison tool to view rates from top companies side by side and possibly save hundreds on your premium.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance, by category: