You have seen the catchy commercials from car insurance companies like Farmers, Allstate, and State Farm that say if you switch you’ll get dirt cheap rates. So drivers should just pick the company with the catchiest ad, right?
It’s not that easy, however, as there are a ton of unknown aspects like if your driving record shows any at-fault accidents, your financial stability, your gender, and if you need full coverage or just liability. We will attempt to cover the best ways to find cheap auto insurance and hopefully give you enough understanding to have a good start to your coverage search.
Shopping around for affordable insurance is not easy, and finding out which companies quote the cheapest auto insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record requires more quotes for comparison. Policy prices could be quite a bit higher than the average rate in Arizona, with the higher price attributed to the additional risk that goes along with selling insurance for bad drivers, but affordable coverage should be obtainable if you compare enough companies. Every car insurance company has a unique formula to set premium rates, so first we will examine the most competitive auto insurance companies in Arizona.
Find Cheaper Car Insurance for Imperfect Drivers
Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | The Hartford | $820 |
2 | Auto-Owners | $897 |
3 | Safeco | $932 |
4 | Travelers | $1,075 |
5 | USAA | $1,091 |
6 | Progressive | $1,130 |
7 | GEICO | $1,166 |
8 | Ameriprise Group | $1,208 |
9 | CSAA | $1,225 |
10 | Allied | $1,233 |
11 | Farm Bureau Mutual | $1,285 |
12 | Safe Auto | $1,323 |
13 | Farmers | $1,350 |
14 | Unitrin | $1,357 |
15 | State Farm | $1,377 |
16 | American Family | $1,420 |
17 | Titan | $1,433 |
18 | Amica | $1,487 |
19 | MetLife | $1,505 |
20 | California Casualty | $1,568 |
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The Hartford normally has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Arizona at around $820 annually. Auto-Owners, Safeco, Travelers, and USAA also rank well as some of the cheapest Arizona auto insurance companies.
As shown above, if you currently have coverage with USAA and switched to Auto-Owners, you might achieve an annual premium reduction of in the neighborhood of $194. Insureds with Progressive may save as much as $233 a year, and GEICO policyholders might realize rate reductions of up to $269 a year.
To find out how much you can save, click here to begin a quote or visit any of the companies below.
It’s important to note that these estimates are averages across all drivers and vehicles in Arizona and and are not calculated with a rate surcharge for drivers with a bad driving record. So the insurer that can offer the best rates for your situation may not even be shown in the list of companies above. That underscores the importance of why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own personal information and vehicle type.
The type of vehicle needing coverage is a large consideration that determines the availablility of cheap auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Arizona. Vehicles with limited speed and performance, good crash test ratings, or a low likelihood of liability claims will cost much less to insure than fast, unsafe models.
The lists below showcases insurance costs for some of the most economical automobiles to buy coverage for.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $3,216 | $1,608 | $268 |
Ford Focus SE 2-Dr Coupe | $3,640 | $1,820 | $303 |
Ford Fusion SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $3,428 | $1,714 | $286 |
Honda Accord LX-S 2-Dr Coupe | $3,640 | $1,820 | $303 |
Honda Civic EX 2-Dr Coupe | $4,044 | $2,022 | $337 |
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $3,468 | $1,734 | $289 |
Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $3,216 | $1,608 | $268 |
Volkswagen Jetta S 2.5 Station Wagon | $2,926 | $1,463 | $244 |
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Data assumes married female driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in your specific Arizona location which can change prices significantly.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Acura RDX 2WD | $2,926 | $1,463 | $244 |
BMW X5 3.0I AWD | $3,468 | $1,734 | $289 |
Buick Enclave XL 2WD | $3,428 | $1,714 | $286 |
Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2WD | $4,312 | $2,156 | $359 |
Chevrolet Traverse LT AWD | $2,966 | $1,483 | $247 |
Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $2,926 | $1,463 | $244 |
Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $3,256 | $1,628 | $271 |
GMC Acadia SLE AWD | $3,216 | $1,608 | $268 |
Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $2,712 | $1,356 | $226 |
Honda Pilot Touring 4WD | $3,256 | $1,628 | $271 |
Hyundai Tucson GLS 2WD | $3,002 | $1,501 | $250 |
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 2WD | $3,216 | $1,608 | $268 |
Toyota Highlander Sport 2WD | $3,256 | $1,628 | $271 |
Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $3,216 | $1,608 | $268 |
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Table data assumes married female driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Rate quotes do not factor in Arizona location which can influence auto insurance rates noticeably.
Make, Model, and Trim Level | Annual Cost | Semi-Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ Crew Cab Diesel 2WD | $3,678 | $1,839 | $307 |
Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Extended Cab 4WD | $3,428 | $1,714 | $286 |
Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab SLT 4WD | $4,824 | $2,412 | $402 |
Dodge Ram Quad Cab SLT 4WD | $3,508 | $1,754 | $292 |
Ford F-150 XL Super Cab 4WD | $3,044 | $1,522 | $254 |
Ford F-250 XL 4WD | $3,742 | $1,871 | $312 |
GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 4WD | $3,428 | $1,714 | $286 |
GMC Sierra Denali Crew Cab 4WD | $3,638 | $1,819 | $303 |
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $3,256 | $1,628 | $271 |
Toyota Tundra SR/5 Crew Max 4WD | $3,720 | $1,860 | $310 |
Get a Custom Quote for Your Truck Go |
Data assumes married female driver age 30, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, homeowner, and multi-policy. Estimates do not factor in vehicle location which can influence premium rates significantly.
When shopping for cheaper car insurance for bad drivers, one of the many components that aid in calculating the annual cost of car insurance is where your residence is. Cities with larger populations like Phoenix, Glendale, and Buckeye tend to pay more, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The next table lists the most expensive places in Arizona for drivers with a bad driving record to buy auto insurance in.
Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Phoenix | $1,255 |
2 | Avondale | $1,186 |
3 | Glendale | $1,178 |
4 | San Tan Valley | $1,150 |
5 | Buckeye | $1,144 |
6 | Scottsdale | $1,129 |
7 | Chandler | $1,126 |
8 | Mesa | $1,125 |
9 | Gilbert | $1,120 |
10 | Goodyear | $1,120 |
11 | Tempe | $1,118 |
12 | Tucson | $1,105 |
13 | Peoria | $1,104 |
14 | Catalina Foothills | $1,082 |
15 | Maricopa | $1,074 |
16 | Casas Adobes | $1,072 |
17 | Surprise | $1,058 |
18 | Casa Grande | $1,057 |
19 | Oro Valley | $1,020 |
20 | Yuma | $992 |
21 | Flagstaff | $969 |
22 | Prescott | $952 |
23 | Lake Havasu City | $870 |
24 | Bullhead City | $869 |
25 | Sierra Vista | $863 |
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Rate information is estimated as the garaging address in Arizona can alter premium rates greatly.
Finding cheap auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Arizona is important to the majority of drivers, and one of the best ways to find cheaper insurance is to not buy full coverage. The information below illustrates the difference between insurance costs with liability coverage only compared to full coverage. The premium estimates are based on no tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
google.charts.setOnLoadCallback(drawFclqcibChart);function drawFclqcibChart() {var data = google.visualization.arrayToDataTable([[‘Age of Insured’, ‘Full Coverage with $500 Deductibles’, ‘Liability Only’],[‘Age 20’, 3235,1203],[‘Age 30’, 1675,661],[‘Age 40’, 1651,613],[‘Age 50’, 1505,573],[‘Age 60’, 1461,565],[‘Age 70’, 1805,753]]);var options = {title: ‘Comparison of Full Coverage and Liability Only’,titleTextStyle: {color: ‘#333’,fontSize: 17,bold: true},width: ‘100%’,height: 500,’chartArea’: {left:100,top:50,’width’: ‘100%’, ‘height’: ‘70%’},legend: {position: ‘bottom’},colors: [‘#6791b9′,’#98bee2’],hAxis: {title: ‘Annual Auto Insurance Cost for Average Vehicle in Arizona’,minValue: 0,format: ‘$###,###’},vAxis: {title: ‘Age of Insured’}};var formatter = new google.visualization.NumberFormat({fractionDigits: 0,prefix: ‘$’});formatter.format(data,1);formatter.format(data,2);var chart = new google.visualization.BarChart(document.getElementById(‘qcibfcl’));chart.draw(data, options);}
If we average all the age groups together, physical damage coverage on your policy costs an additional $1,889 per year more than just buying liability insurance. That touches on the question when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no exact rule for phasing out physical damage insurance, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the replacement cost of your vehicle minus the policy deductible, then it’s probably a good time to buy liability coverage only.
Insurance companies that offer coverage for drivers with a bad driving record could also offer discounts that can reduce rates by 30% or more if you are eligible. Large auto insurance companies and some of their more popular discounts include:
The information below illustrates the difference between auto insurance costs with and without discounts. The premiums assume a female driver, two accidents and one citation, Arizona state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $250 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows the price with no discounts. The second shows the rates with marriage, multiple policy, paid-in-full, multiple vehicle, homeowner, and anti-theft discounts applied. When discounts are applied, the the average yearly reduction on auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record is 28% or $1,054.
google.charts.setOnLoadCallback(drawDiscqcibChart);function drawDiscqcibChart() {var data = google.visualization.arrayToDataTable([[‘Age of Insured’, ‘Female Driver No Discounts’, ‘Female Driver with Discounts’],[‘Age 20’, 4481,3201],[‘Age 30’, 3739,2681],[‘Age 40’, 3617,2591],[‘Age 50’, 3421,2449],[‘Age 60’, 3377,2413],[‘Age 70’, 3589,2565]]);var options = {title: ‘Comparison of Insurance Rates for Drivers with a Bad Driving Record’,titleTextStyle: {color: ‘#333’,fontSize: 17,bold: true},width: ‘100%’,height: 500,’chartArea’:{left:100,top:50,’width’: ‘100%’, ‘height’: ‘70%’},legend: {position: ‘bottom’},colors: [‘#c096ca’, ‘#e1b7ec’],hAxis: {title: ‘Annual Auto Insurance Cost for Average Vehicle in Arizona’,minValue: 0,format: ‘$###,###’},vAxis: {title: ‘Age of Insured’}};var formatter = new google.visualization.NumberFormat({fractionDigits: 0,prefix: ‘$’});formatter.format(data,1);formatter.format(data,2);var chart = new google.visualization.BarChart(document.getElementById(‘qcibdisc’));chart.draw(data, options);}
Below you’ll find some penny-pinching ideas that can help Arizona drivers get lower-cost coverage.
The last idea is extraordinarily important, as was emphasized in the prior article. Insurance rates in Arizona change constantly, so don’t be tentative to buy from a different company if you can save money.
Having brand loyalty is commendable, but it’s not a good idea if that faithfulness ends up costing you hundreds every year. In just a few minutes you could compare prices and find cheaper insurance for drivers with a bad driving record.
There are a variety of different ways to find lower-cost auto insurance in Arizona, but the most preferred methods are using an independent agent, a captive (or exclusive) agent such as Liberty Mutual or Allstate, or from a direct company like Progressive or Geico. Each way is similar, but they differ slightly in how they work.
Independent insurance agencies can place your business with multiple companies and can get policy pricing from all of them. They are appointed with more than one company and can compare multiple rates, which can help you get the best chance of finding a lower price. If your premiums go up, you can get a different policy and that require little work on your part.
Exclusive agents are only able to quote rates with one insurance company, for example Farmers Insurance or State Farm agents. These agents usually cannot compare other company’s rates, so if finding the cheapest coverage is your goal, you will need to shop around.
Direct auto insurance buyers do not use a local insurance agent and instead buy from a direct company like Geico. This auto insurance option can be a good choice for drivers who do not need high levels of coverage and have a decent understanding of the limitations of auto insurance.
So out of those three methods, which one works best for finding cheap auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Arizona? The majority of auto insurance shoppers assume that buying from a direct car insurance company results in the best prices since there is no middleman, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple. A valid argument could also be made that an independent agency results in the cheapest rates since they have access to many companies, but that is not necessarily true either. In a lot of cases, exclusive agents have really good rates that other auto insurance companies cannot touch.
Because it’s impossible to say who has the best auto insurance rates, the best method to buy the cheapest policy is to compare rate quotes from as many companies as possible. The ideal approach is to get rate quotes from independent agents, exclusive agents, and direct companies to have the best rate selection. To see some of the cheapest online companies available, click here to view.