Car Insurance for Tucson in 2024

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Drivers in Tucson pay an average of $2,245 per year for car insurance, but you might find cheaper coverage if you shop around.

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Written by Drew Gula
Lead Writer
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Edited by Lacie Glover
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Car insurance in Tucson, Arizona costs an average of $2,245 per year for full coverage. But you may find cheaper options if you shop around, which is why it's important to compare rates from different companies.

To find the cheapest car insurance companies in the Old Pueblo, NerdWallet looked at average full coverage rates calculated from public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed rates for male and female drivers for all ZIP codes in Tucson driving a 2021 Toyota Camry LE.

Why you can trust NerdWallet

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in the country where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing. Read our methodology.

To jumpstart your auto insurance shopping journey, here's a list of the cheapest companies in Tucson.

CategoryCheapest CompanyMedian annual rate
Clean driving historyRoot$1,336
After a DUIRoot$1,452
After an accidentRoot$1,787
After a speeding ticketRoot$1,514
Having poor creditRoot$1,699

🤓Nerdy Tip

Did your rates go up? Auto insurance prices are on the rise in Tucson. Be sure to get car insurance quotes from three or more companies to find the lowest rate possible.

Read on to find out how auto insurance companies in Tucson stack up. You can also check out our analysis of cheap car insurance in Arizona.

Looking for the best insurer? Read NerdWallet’s roundup of the best car insurance in Arizona.

Jump to . . .

Cheapest car insurance companies in Tucson

The biggest variable in your insurance cost will be the company you choose, so you’ll want to shop around to be confident you’re getting the best rate.

In Tucson, these are the cheapest car insurance companies based on average rates for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis. It's important to remember that rates are determined individually, so these may not be the cheapest companies for you.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,336
QBE$1,355
Farm Bureau Financial Services$1,536
Travelers$1,550
Progressive$1,595
Auto-Owners$1,626
Geico$1,671
The Hartford$2,001
Nationwide$2,013
USAA*$1,363

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Average car insurance cost in Tucson and Arizona

Rates across Arizona differ from those in Tucson for lots of reasons. The number of accidents, the type of roads and even the weather can affect the rates drivers are charged. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, the average rate in Arizona is $2,085, while in Tucson it's $2,245.

Median city rateMedian state rate
$2,245$2,085

Average cost of car insurance in Tucson’s largest ZIP codes

The cost of auto insurance varies based on where you live, even from one neighborhood to the next. Some parts of a city may have higher rates of accidents or thefts, which can lead to an increase in the price you pay. According to NerdWallet’s analysis, here are the most populated ZIP codes in Tucson and the average annual cost of car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.

ZIPMedian rate
85710$2,292
85705$2,355
85706$2,407
85713$2,284
85719$2,245
85746$2,430
85711$2,394
85730$2,312
85745$2,398
85756$2,314

Cheap car insurance in Tucson by age

Along with where you live, your age is another major factor in the price you pay for car insurance. For example, younger drivers usually pay more than older drivers with similar driving histories and credit scores due to having less experience on the road.

You could easily find that the cheapest company for you changes as you age. Here's a breakdown of prices in Tucson for similar drivers at various ages, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

Average car insurance rates in Tucson by age

Below are the median full coverage rates for drivers of different ages with a good driving record and credit history.

AgeMedian annual rate
20$4,651
30$2,332
35$2,245
40$2,131
50$1,993
60$1,814
70$2,110

Cheapest for 20-year-olds

While teen drivers are the most likely to be in an accident, 20-year-old drivers are still relatively new to the road. A higher rate of accidents among younger drivers means they also pay more for car insurance. According to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis, here's what 20-year-olds in Tucson might pay, on average.

CompanyMedian annual rate
QBE$2,063
Root$2,070
Travelers$2,615
Farm Bureau Financial Services$2,627
Geico$2,930
Progressive$3,317
Auto-Owners$3,323
Country Financial$3,556
American Family$4,695
USAA*$3,633

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Cheapest for 35-year-olds

By 35, your car insurance rates should plateau. This is a great age to compare rates, as the cheapest insurer you found in your 20s may no longer be the best deal.

Here’s what 35-year-old drivers might pay, on average, in Tucson, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,336
QBE$1,355
Farm Bureau Financial Services$1,536
Travelers$1,550
Progressive$1,595
Auto-Owners$1,626
Geico$1,671
The Hartford$2,001
Nationwide$2,013
USAA*$1,363

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Cheapest for 60-year-olds

At age 60, your car insurance rates are about as low as they're going to get if your history is clean. Most drivers in this age group have lots of experience on the road and established driving records, so insurers know what they're getting into and charge less accordingly. That doesn't mean you won't be able to save money by bundling or tapping into other discounts, so keep shopping around. Below are the cheapest companies, on average, in Tucson, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Geico$1,187
Progressive$1,254
Travelers$1,295
Root$1,330
QBE$1,331
Farm Bureau Financial Services$1,376
The Hartford$1,440
Auto-Owners$1,499
Nationwide$1,720
USAA*$1,115

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Tucson’s cheapest companies and rates by driving record

Your driving history also plays a large role in your auto insurance rate. Drivers who have clean records will usually pay less than those with accidents, speeding tickets or other violations. Again, comparing insurance companies is your best bet to getting the lowest rate.

According to NerdWallet’s analysis, these are the average rates in Tucson by company for good drivers and those with violations on their record.

Good drivers

Drivers without any marks on their records are almost always going to pay the lowest prices for auto insurance when compared to drivers with an accident or driving violation. Insurers set rates based on the potential risk of you filing a claim, and good drivers are considered among the least risky. Here are the average rates for good drivers in Tucson according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,336
QBE$1,355
Farm Bureau Financial Services$1,536
Travelers$1,550
Progressive$1,595
Auto-Owners$1,626
Geico$1,671
The Hartford$2,001
Nationwide$2,013
USAA*$1,363

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Drivers with a DUI

Drivers with a DUI can struggle to find affordable insurance and may need to turn to a high-risk car insurance company. A DUI on your record means you should expect to pay substantially more than a driver without one.

Here are the average rates for drivers with a DUI in Tucson according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,452
Progressive$1,883
Travelers$2,198
QBE$2,874
Auto-Owners$2,897
The Hartford$3,019
State Farm$3,241
Farm Bureau Financial Services$3,293
Mercury$3,332
USAA*$3,228

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Drivers with an at-fault accident

If you've got an at-fault accident on your record, you'll pay more than a driver with a clean record, but likely less than someone with a DUI. Your insurance company may ask for details about the accident to determine your rate — a fender bender will likely be treated differently from an accident caused by running a red light. Here are the cheapest average rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record in Tucson, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,787
QBE$2,026
Travelers$2,026
Auto-Owners$2,250
Farm Bureau Financial Services$2,577
Progressive$2,662
State Farm$2,786
Geico$2,873
The Hartford$3,035
USAA*$2,064

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Drivers with a speeding ticket

The cost of being convicted of speeding usually doesn’t stop at the ticket you have to pay. Many car insurance companies increase rates for drivers with recent speeding tickets on record. This is especially true if you’ve had two or more offenses. But how much a single speeding ticket will increase insurance costs — if at all — will depend on your insurance company, driving record and more.

Here are the cheapest average rates for drivers with a single speeding ticket on record in Tucson, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,514
Geico$1,758
Farm Bureau Financial Services$1,853
Travelers$1,958
QBE$2,026
Progressive$2,136
Nationwide$2,439
State Farm$2,541
The Hartford$2,634
Auto-Owners$2,897
USAA*$1,757

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

Cheap car insurance in Tucson for drivers with poor credit

Arizona insurers use a credit-based insurance score to determine the likelihood you’ll file a claim. Your own credit score is likely a good indicator of your credit-based insurance score.

While rates on this page so far have been based on drivers with good credit, below you’ll find the cheapest average rates for drivers with poor credit in Tucson, according to NerdWallet’s most recent analysis.

CompanyMedian annual rate
Root$1,699
Geico$2,119
QBE$2,218
Travelers$2,380
Progressive$2,623
Farm Bureau Financial Services$2,634
Nationwide$2,937
Mercury$3,368
Country Financial$3,731
American Family$3,753
USAA*$2,550

*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families.

How to get cheap car insurance in Tucson

If you’re looking to save money by getting the cheapest possible car insurance, here are six things you can try:

  • Compare quotes from multiple insurers. Use NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool to easily shop for cheap auto insurance online. You may find that you already have the best car insurance deal, but prices can change, so check roughly once a year.

  • Ask for discounts. You could save money from car insurance discounts you’re not taking advantage of. For example, maybe you work from home and don’t drive much. Mention that and you might get a low-mileage discount. Other common discounts are given for bundling car insurance with homeowners insurance, insuring multiple cars on the same policy and being a student.

  • Cash in on major life changes. Certain life events could translate to cheaper car insurance, so shop for quotes whenever something major changes in your life. For instance, many companies offer a lower rate for married couples or domestic partners. Or perhaps you moved to a suburb with lower accident and crime rates. Even if you moved to a more expensive area for car insurance, shopping around can help you get cheaper coverage.

  • Raise your deductible. The higher your car insurance deductible, the more you pay out of pocket before insurance pays for a covered claim. The upside is that by raising your deductible, you’ll usually be able to lower your premium. Just make sure you have enough money set aside to cover the higher deductible if you ever get in an accident.

  • Revisit quotes after your driving record improves. Shop for cheap auto insurance quotes online three to five years after any accidents, tickets or moving violations. They may have dropped off your driving record.

  • Reconsider the car you drive. The type of car you drive affects how much you pay for auto insurance. For example, new and expensive cars tend to cost more to insure than older or less expensive cars, among other factors. Check out NerdWallet’s analysis of the cheapest cars to insure to see if your vehicle made the list.

Tucson car insurance requirements

Tucson drivers need to meet Arizona's auto insurance coverage requirements.

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

The minimum liability limits you must select to drive legally in Arizona are:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $15,000 property damage liability per accident.

Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.

Keep in mind, a severe accident could easily leave you owing more than, say, $15,000 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.

Methodology

NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.

In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” and “poor” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.

These are average rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.

Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.

  • $50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.

  • Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

  • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.

  • We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit. In states where credit isn’t taken into account, we used only rates for “good credit.”

  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.

  • For drivers with a speeding ticket, we added a single speeding ticket from within the last six months. 

  • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation.

We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.