If you’re looking for the best high-quality, affordable car insurance Arizona drivers want, you came to the right place. We conducted detailed research and ranked every major insurance company in the state. We used parameters like the quality of customer service, financial strength, discounts, optional coverages, and affordability.
Additionally, we’ve created a specialized guide for the most common driver categories, plus a separate list of the cheapest insurance companies in the biggest cities in Arizona. Whatever your needs are, rest assured that you will find the right auto insurance in Arizona here.
The Best Auto Insurance in Arizona
- Overall Winner: State Farm Insurance
- Runner Up: The Hartford Insurance
- Best for the Military: USAA Insurance
- Cheapest Insurance & the Best for High-Risk Drivers: Progressive Insurance
- Best for Discounts/Optional Coverages: Allstate
- Best for Online Tools: Geico Insurance
The Overall Winner: State Farm Insurance
While it’s more expensive than average, State Farm offers the best car insurance in Arizona. For starters, it provides excellent customer service. State Farm earns a perfect score in overall satisfaction category and ranks third overall in the Arizona region according to J.D. Power’s 2021 study. Furthermore, the company has an excellent NAIC ratio (0.44). The lower the ratio, the fewer complains the insurer gets.
Given that State Farm is the biggest auto insurance provider in the US, it comes as no surprise that it’s A. M. Best rating is A++, or “Superior,” indicating rock-solid financial stability. Additionally, the company has an excellent website and many optional coverages and discounts. It’s also one of the few insurers offering classic car insurance in Arizona.
Overall, we would recommend State Farm to anyone who isn’t looking for dirt-cheap coverage.
Choose State Farm for its solid overall performance.
Look elsewhere if you want budget prices.
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The Runner Up: The Hartford Insurance
The Hartford is the second best choice in Arizona. The company specializes in senior insurance, but contrary to popular belief, younger people can get coverage too. An AARP membership is required for online quotes, meaning we couldn’t verify the prices firsthand. Nonetheless, reputable sources confirm that the company offers quite affordable premiums.
Furthermore, in our review, the company scores respectably in all departments. What’s more, it tops the charts in customer service according to J.D. Power, with a full five stars. However, The Hartford’s NAIC ratio is subpar, at 1.14, indicating the company gets a higher number of complaints than average. Nonetheless, J.D. Power’s rating is specialized for auto insurance in Arizona, meaning we trust it more.
In financial strength, the company has the second-best rating possible, which is “A+,” or “Superior.” This means that an average customer shouldn’t worry about the Hartford’s ability to pay claims. Overall, we recommend all drivers in Arizona to give the Hartford a chance.
Choose the Hartford for excellent customer service and affordable prices.
Look elsewhere if you don’t want to get an AARP membership.
The Best for the Military: USAA Insurance
In every state guide on our site, we end up singing USAA’s praises, and it’s no different when it comes to Arizona automobile insurance. The company offers everything you could ask for, from their top-of-the-line customer service and reasonable prices to the excellent website and first-rate financial strength.
The sad news is that only former and current US army members and their close family can purchase USAA insurance. But if you qualify for their membership, you are in for a treat. USAA offers the best car insurance Arizona residents can buy. And the company isn’t limited only to insurance. USAA also provides banking services, car loans, and financial advice.
Choose USAA for its superior overall performance.
Look elsewhere if you are not a member of the US army or close family.
The Cheapest Insurance & the Best for High-Risk Drivers: Progressive Insurance
Progressive takes two awards in our Arizona car insurance guide—it’s the cheapest insurer in the state and the best option for young or riskier drivers.
As for other important insurance metrics, Progressive scores decent across the board, except in customer service. It gets two out of five stars in J.D. Power’s regional study, which is far from impressive. However, its NAIC ratio of 0.75 indicates that it received fewer complaints than an average company of its size. Progressive has solid financial strength—its A. M. Best rating is “A+,” or “Excellent.”
The thing we like the most is the company’s fast, easy-to-navigate website. It’s so slick, we used Progressive, together with State Farm and Geico, for our car insurance reference quotes in Arizona.
Choose Progressive for dirt-cheap prices and superb online tools.
Look elsewhere if you want the absolute best financial strength and first-rate customer service.
The Best for Optional Coverages/Discounts: Allstate
If you want a wide selection of optional coverages, Allstate should be at the top of your shortlist of Arizona car insurance companies. Whether you require rental car insurance, classic car insurance, or sports car insurance, Allstate has got your back.
Additionally, it is ranked fourth overall in J.D. Power’s regional study, which is pretty good going. The insurer also boasts of a better selection of discounts than most car insurance companies. You likely will be able tack on several discounts — great news if you are a budget buyer — regardless of your profile.
When it comes to financial strength, Allstate is undoubtedly the best Arizona auto insurance company. It has an “A++,” or “Superior,” A. M. Best rating, which is the highest rating awarded by the US-based rating agency.
In terms of prices, Allstate is in the middle of the pack. Companies like Progressive and GEICO are significantly cheaper, but they don’t offer the same range of optional coverages or discounts. If these are your priorities, Allstate is undoubtedly worth considering.
Choose Allstate for its unmatched selection of optional coverages and discounts.
Look elsewhere if you want budget prices or best customer service.
The Best for Online Tools: Geico Insurance
Geico is one of the biggest and most well-known insurers in the US. And it usually ranks near the top in our state guides. However, we cannot universally recommend it as the best choice for car insurance in Arizona, since its customer service is just par. Geico gets three out of five in J.D. Power’s regional rating.
Nonetheless, the company has many advantages. Its prices are below average in Arizona, and its financial strength is great. Geico holds an “A++” rating from A. M. Best. Furthermore, the company is a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, the third company on the 2021 Fortune 500 list. Finally, its website and mobile app are a real pleasure to use. They provide all the information you may need, and they enable you to handle your entire policy online. For tech-savvy customers, Geico is the top choice.
Choose Geico for its excellent online tools, affordable prices, and first-rate financial strength.
Look elsewhere if you want high-quality customer service.
Cheap Car Insurance in Arizona – City Guide
We requested insurance quotes for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record in the state’s five biggest cities. Here are our picks for the best and cheapest companies:
Phoenix
The city of Phoenix is the fifth most populous city in the US, with 1.6 million inhabitants as of 2017. It has more sunny days than any other metropolitan city in America. This beautiful weather attracts more than 16 million tourists annually, increasing Phoenix’s prosperity, but also the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, Interstate 10, the most dangerous road in Arizona, passes through Phoenix (and Tuscon), which increases the risk of car accidents even further.
Consequently, car insurance prices in Phoenix, Arizona, are the highest in the state, with the average price being $241. Geico and Progressive are the two most affordable options, especially for younger drivers. Older drivers should add Allstate, the Hartford, and CSAA to their shortlist. Middle-aged drivers are in luck; they can get reasonable prices from almost any insurance company in Phoenix.
Tucson
According to one study, Tucson is the sunniest city in the US, with 350 sunny days each year. The city has more Saguaro cacti in its surroundings than any other place on the globe. Nonetheless, Tucson itself has many grass fields, and it is one of the top destinations for golfers in the US.
Tough luck for those looking for cheap Arizona car insurance in Tucson—the city is the second most expensive place in Arizona. Nonetheless, there are still some reasonably priced companies. Geico and Progressive lead in affordability, while CSAA and Allstate are in second place. Even the most expensive, State Farm, is worth checking since it took first place in our Arizona study.
Mesa
Did you know that “mesa” means “table” in Spanish? The city got this name because it sits on a table hill. It is one of the hundred most populous cities in the US. Additionally, it’s home to the biggest relief airport in the Phoenix area, called the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Mesa also has high prices, with a relatively even spread among the car insurance companies in Arizona. As in all Arizona cities, Progressive and Geico are the cheapest. CSAA is also quite affordable, and it offers the best-rated customer service in Arizona. However, its financial strength is not the best. If that isn’t your cup of tea, give State Farm a chance.
Glendale
The city of Glendale was founded in 1887 by William John Murphy, a land developer. It is the home to the Xeriscape Botanical Garden, which you can visit for free to see more than 1,000 various kinds of desert plants. Glendale also hosts the University of Phoenix Stadium, the first playing field in the US with a mobile grass playing field and a retractable roof.
Glendale has some of the best auto insurance prices in Arizona. Progressive is the most affordable option, followed by Geico. Allstate is the third cheapest choice, while CSAA and State Farm are the more expensive options. Nonetheless, the difference in the prices is insignificant enough that we would recommend all five companies to the majority of customers.
Scottsdale
Like most cities in Arizona, Scottsdale has an arid desert climate, with 312 sunny days annually and only 7.59 inches of rain every year. Given this, it comes as no surprise that its officials decided to spice things up and declare chili the official city’s food in 1994.
Scottsdale is the right place for those looking for low-cost car insurance in Arizona. It has the lowest average prices out of any city we tested. Progressive and Geico are the two most affordable companies, for those on a budget. Nonetheless, an average customer should give a chance to CSAA and State Farm too, since they received excellent results in the customer service department.
The Average Price of Car Insurance in Arizona
Based on our research after getting car insurance quotes in Phoenix, Arizona, the average was $241. To get our average, we inquired on prices for 21-year-old, 40-year-old, and 70-year-old drivers. However, average car insurance prices are significantly different in Phoenix than the rest of Arizona. The value we got based on getting quotes for a 40-year old driver in the five biggest Arizona cities was much lower, at $190.
You can even get cheap full coverage car insurance in Arizona. A couple of companies, namely Geico, Progressive, and the Hartford, stick out as the cheapest options. Furthermore, they all received awards as the best insurance companies in Arizona. In our opinion, this is better than getting lower limits from a more expensive company.
Discounts on Arizona Car Insurance
The road to finding the most affordable auto insurance in Arizona is by qualifying for some of the numerous discounts available. Here’s a short list of those that almost all insurance companies offer:
Accident-Free Discount – If you haven’t had an accident or traffic violation in the last three to five years (depending on the insurer), you can get up to a 30% lower premium. The great news is that the reduction increases over time if you stay accident-free.
Safety Features – Common factory-installed safety mechanisms like anti-theft devices, airbags, and anti-lock brakes can get you a discount. Even driving a car that has a proven record of being safe and reliable can get you a premium reduction.
Good Student Discount – A young driver or a teen can get a discount on car insurance in Arizona by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher. Drivers under 21 can also complete certified training for an additional discount.
Bundle Discount – You can find this discount with most of the Arizona insurers. If you are covering multiple vehicles or buying homeowners, renters, and car insurance from the same company, you are bound to pay a lower price.
Arizona Auto Insurance Laws
Arizona’s Minimum Insurance Requirements
Driving without insurance is actually legal in Arizona. Nonetheless, you must demonstrate that you’re financially able to pay for damages. One way is to deposit $40,000 in bonds or cash with the State Treasurer.
Still, purchasing auto insurance looks like the natural choice for the vast majority of customers. In this case, the minimum insurance limits are the following:
- $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
- $10,000 for property damage liability
No other type of car insurance in Arizona, like comprehensive or collision, is mandatory. If you purchased a vehicle via a lender, they might require some additional insurance. In our opinion, the minimum coverage provides insufficient protection. A newer Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, or Tesla is worth $30,000 and upwards, meaning a minor collision can easily surpass the property limit. And with the high prices of medical care, it’s not hard to imagine finding yourself in a situation where you’ll have to use some savings.
SR22 Insurance in Arizona
SR22 insurance in Arizona, like in other states, is a form that the insurance company has to fill out and send to the government after a severe violation as proof that your car insurance is adequate. Various infringements demand an SR22 form, such as driving under the influence or inflicting bodily injuries in an at-fault accident. Once you enter the program, the government will check your driving record for several years, until you become fit to buy regular auto insurance.
Most of the companies in Arizona offer SR22 compatible plans, meaning they’re capable of providing coverage that satisfies Arizona’s SR22 requirements.
Driving in Arizona if You Aren’t a Full-Time Resident
You don’t need temporary car insurance in Arizona if you are not a full-time resident. It is sufficient to be fully insured in your home state. However, if you work a non-seasonal job in Arizona, or spend more than seven months annually in the state, you will have to register your car there and purchase at least the Arizona state minimum car insurance coverage.
Price Optimization and No-Fault Laws
Arizona, like Texas, is not among the no-fault states. This means that the party who is at fault pays the medical expenses of the injured party. We prefer this system because it usually leads to lower insurance premiums.
On the other hand, we aren’t fond of the fact that the practice of price optimization is legal in Arizona. Price optimization is the process of using various kinds of data to estimate the maximum price that a customer will pay. In reality, this means that someone may pay a lower price for car insurance just by shopping around and showing a willingness to leave a company if the opportunity comes.
Tips for Finding Cheap Auto Insurance in Arizona
Compare Multiple Quotes
Insurance quotes are completely individualized. Many different factors influence the final price. In certain instances, a small change in zip code can add hundreds of dollars per year. Moreover, factors like your credit score, driving record, age, and the type of car can all alter the final price. This is why we advise a customer to get a quote from at least five insurers to identify high-quality and cheap auto insurance in Arizona.
Read Reviews
There’s no need to undertake the time-consuming and challenging effort of exploring all the options when insurance experts did the work for you. Read our car insurance reviews to find detailed information on the quality of every major US insurance company. It’s the surest way to get the best car insurance in Arizona.
We also know that every customer is unique, with individual needs. That’s why we provided data on optional coverages and discounts, all of which will help you find coverage that’s tailored to your profile. Once you have discovered a couple of companies that seem fitting, make a shortlist and request quotes from all of them.
Check the Discounts
To get cheap Arizona car insurance, it’s paramount to explore which company has the highest discounts that you’re eligible for. Our reviews have all the information we were able to find online. However, in some cases, insurance companies didn’t show the exact reduction a discount provides on their website. In these instances, a phone call to the nearest representative is the only option. If you’re calling to request auto insurance quotes, ask how each discount works in Arizona, since there are many variances between different states.
Shop Around
Considering that price optimization is legal in Arizona, it’s crucial to examine the market at every renewal term. That way, you’re showing your insurance company that you’re willing to jump ship if a better offer comes along. Once they know this, they will present their best offer to stay competitive. Additionally, it is highly likely that you will find a cheaper option when you are shopping around. If you are looking for the best auto insurance in Arizona, contrasting various insurers is a must.
Conclusion
Despite the fierce competition for the place of best car insurance company in Arizona, State Farm emerged as the clear winner. The company may be on the somewhat expensive side, but it offers high-quality customer service, great online tools, and excellent financial strength.
In our analysis of Arizona car insurance quotes, Geico and Progressive emerged as the most affordable options. However, in most cases, the difference between the cheaper and more expensive option was not significant. This means that you should give these companies a chance too. Many parameters influence the final price, and you may get different results than we did.
People Also Ask
Progressive is the most affordable auto insurance provider in Arizona. You can expect to pay between $120 and $180, depending on where you live and your age. If you’re planning to request quotes only from the affordable companies in Arizona, consider adding Geico and CSAA to your shortlist.
We gathered quotes for three different age categories from the best companies, and our average was $241 in Phoenix. The overall average value we got was based on quotes for a 40-year old driver in the five biggest Arizona cities—it was much lower, at $190.
Driving without auto insurance in Arizona is legal. However, you’re obligated to demonstrate you will be able to pay expenses in case of an accident. One way is to deposit $40,000 in bonds or cash with the State Treasurer.
Nonetheless, we would advise customers to choose car insurance instead. It provides far more reliable and extensive protection.
Yes, based on our data, the average price for auto insurance in Arizona is less expensive on average. The primary reason for this is that the biggest cities in California, like Los Angeles and San Diego, all have notably high prices. However, in smaller towns, the average prices in the two states are similar.
State Farm is our top choice for the best car insurance Arizona residents can buy. The company is slightly more expensive than the average, but it offers excellent customer service, superb financial strength, and a polished website and mobile app.