Affordable Tucson Auto Insurance Rates

How many times have you told yourself to find more affordable car insurance rates in Tucson, AZ? Finding more affordable car insurance is always challenging for drivers who are beginners to comparing prices online. You have so many choices that it can easily turn into a real challenge to find a cheaper company.

Inconceivable but true, the vast majority of car insurance customers kept their policy with the same company for more than four years, and approximately 38% of consumers have never compared rates from other carriers. With the average car insurance premium being $1,578, Arizona drivers could save roughly $733 each year, but they assume it’s a waste of time to find affordable rates by getting comparison quotes.

It’s a good habit to do rate comparisons every six months because car insurance prices change regularly. Even if you think you had the best deal on car insurance six months ago there may be better deals available now. Block out anything you think you know about car insurance because I’m going to let you in on the secrets to one of the quickest ways to buy cheaper car insurance.

If you have a policy now, you will be able to save money using the ideas you’re about to read. The intent of this article is to help you learn how insurance works and also save some money in the process But Arizona consumers do need to learn how companies calculate your policy premium because rates fluctuate considerably.

Companies offering affordable rate quotes in Tucson, AZ

The companies shown below can provide free quotes in Arizona. To find cheaper auto insurance in Tucson, we suggest you visit as many as you can in order to find the cheapest rates.

Data variables include married female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Rates do not factor in specific zip code location which can increase or decrease insurance rates greatly.

Six discounts to earn lower Tucson insurance rates

Auto insurance companies don’t always list all possible discounts very clearly, so the list below gives a summary of some of the more common as well as some of the hidden discounts that you may qualify for.

• Use Seat Belts – Buckling up and requiring all passengers to buckle their seat belts could cut 10% or more on the premium charged for medical payments and/or PIP.
• Theft Prevention Discount – Cars and trucks with anti-theft systems are less likely to be stolen and earn discounts up to 10% off your Tucson car insurance quote.
• Good Student – A discount for being a good student can be rewarded with saving of up to 25%. This discount can apply well after school through age 25.
• Sign Online – Some of the larger companies give back up to $50 for buying a policy and signing up on the internet.
• New Vehicle Savings – Buying a new car instead of a used car can save up to 30% compared to insuring an older model.
• ABS Brakes – Cars, trucks, and SUVs equipped with ABS or steering control have fewer accidents so companies give up to a 10% discount.

While discounts sound great, it’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire policy premium. Most only cut individual premiums such as comp or med pay. So when it seems like it’s possible to get free car insurance, insurance companies wouldn’t stay in business.

To find insurers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Arizona, click here.

How much car insurance do I need?

When quoting and choosing adequate coverage for your vehicles, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique.

These are some specific questions can aid in determining if your insurance needs would benefit from an agent’s advice.

• Does my policy cover me if I wreck while driving under the influence?
• Am I covered when using my vehicle for business?
• Does my vehicle need full coverage?
• Is borrowed equipment or tools covered if stolen or damaged?
• How high should deductibles be on a vehicle?
• Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
• Is my business laptop covered if it gets stolen from my vehicle?
• What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
• Should I have combined single limit or split liability limits?
• What is the minimum liability in Arizona?

If you can’t answer these questions but you know they apply to you then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. To find an agent in your area, take a second and complete this form.

Don’t I need to have guidance from an insurance agency?

Many drivers would rather sit down and talk to an agent and often times that is recommended A good thing about price shopping on the web is the fact that you can find lower rates and still have a local agent.

After completing this form (opens in new window), your information is submitted to agents in your area that can give you free Tucson car insurance quotes for your coverage. You never need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered to you. You can find the lowest rates and an insurance agent to talk to. In the event you want to get a price quote for a specific company, you just need to navigate to their website and complete a quote there.

Selecting an insurance company needs to be determined by more than just the premium amount. Ask your prospective agent these questions:

• Is there a local claims center in Tucson?
• Will one accident increase rates?
• Is the agent properly licensed in Arizona?
• Do they write coverage based solely on cost?
• Can you get a list of referrals?
• What are their preferred companies if they are an independent agency?
• What kind of financial rating does the company have?

Choose an insurance agent wisely

If you prefer to buy insurance from a local agent, you should know the different types of agencies that differ in how they can insure your vehicles. Insurance agents in Tucson are either exclusive or independent.

Exclusive Insurance Agents

These type of agents can only provide one company’s prices and examples are AAA, State Farm, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate. They generally cannot compare other company’s rates so it’s a take it or leave it situation. Exclusive agents are trained well on what they offer which helps them compete with independent agents. Consumers often purchase coverage from exclusives primarily because of the brand name and the convenience of having all coverages with one company.

Below is a short list of exclusive agents in Tucson who can help you get price quote information.

• Farmers Insurance: John Brown
  9155 E Tanque Verde Rd #117 – Tucson, AZ 85749 – (520) 323-2500 – View Map
• GEICO Insurance Agent
  3255 E Speedway Blvd – Tucson, AZ 85716 – (520) 747-4223 – View Map
• Annie Frits – State Farm Insurance Agent
  3320 N Country Club Rd #210 – Tucson, AZ 85716 – (520) 777-7499 – View Map

View more Tucson agents

Independent Insurance Agencies

These agents do not have single company limitations and that is an advantage because they can write policies through many companies and help determine which has the cheapest rates. To move your coverage to a new company, they simply move the coverage in-house and you don’t have to do anything. When comparison shopping, it’s recommended you contact a few independent agents for maximum quote selection. Many can place coverage with small mutual carriers which could offer lower prices.

Below are independent agents in Tucson that are able to give comparison quotes.

• Mooney Insurance
  10501 E Seven Generations Way #103 – Tucson, AZ 85747 – (520) 751-0502 – View Map
• The Insurance House
  2725 E Broadway Blvd – Tucson, AZ 85716 – (520) 795-7737 – View Map
• RightSure Insurance Group
  5151 E Broadway Blvd #120 – Tucson, AZ 85711 – (520) 901-7010 – View Map

View more Tucson agents

Best car insurance in Arizona

Insuring your vehicle with the best auto insurance provider is difficult considering how many different insurance companies sell coverage in Arizona. The ranking data below may help you decide which providers to look at when shopping around.

Top 10 Tucson Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Service

1. State Farm
2. GEICO
3. The Hartford
4. Mercury Insurance
5. Progressive
6. The General
7. Allstate
8. AAA Insurance
9. American Family
10. Nationwide

Top 10 Tucson Car Insurance Companies Ranked by Customer Satisfaction

1. Titan Insurance – 95%
2. USAA – 94%
3. AAA Insurance – 91%
4. State Farm – 90%
5. Nationwide – 90%
6. The Hartford – 89%
7. GEICO – 89%
8. The General – 88%
9. 21st Century – 88%
10. Liberty Mutual – 88%

What insurance coverages do you need?

Knowing the specifics of a insurance policy can be of help when determining the best coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be difficult to understand and nobody wants to actually read their policy.

Collision protection

Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.

Collision insurance covers claims like sustaining damage from a pot hole, crashing into a building, driving through your garage door, backing into a parked car and hitting a mailbox. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from vehicles that are 8 years or older. Another option is to increase the deductible in order to get cheaper collision rates.

Comprehensive auto coverage

This coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims like hail damage, theft, falling objects, hitting a deer and vandalism. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle’s value is low it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) coverage

This protects you and your vehicle from other motorists when they do not carry enough liability coverage. It can pay for hospital bills for your injuries as well as damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (which is 15/30/10), it doesn’t take a major accident to exceed their coverage limits. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.

Auto liability insurance

Liability insurance will cover injuries or damage you cause to other’s property or people by causing an accident. It protects YOU against other people’s claims. Liability doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Coverage consists of three different limits, per person bodily injury, per accident bodily injury, and a property damage limit. You commonly see liability limits of 15/30/10 that means you have $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a total of $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and a total limit of $10,000 for damage to vehicles and property.

Liability insurance covers things like attorney fees, court costs, legal defense fees, medical expenses and pain and suffering. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is a decision to put some thought into, but you should buy as large an amount as possible. Arizona requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/10 but you should think about purchasing more liability than the minimum.

The next chart shows why minimum state limits may not be enough.

Medical payments and PIP coverage

Coverage for medical payments and/or PIP provide coverage for short-term medical expenses like rehabilitation expenses, surgery, hospital visits, funeral costs and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if there is no health insurance coverage. It covers both the driver and occupants as well as being hit by a car walking across the street. PIP is not universally available and gives slightly broader coverage than med pay

More quotes mean more insurance savings

People switch companies for a number of reasons such as poor customer service, high prices, delays in paying claims or even questionable increases in premium. It doesn’t matter what your reason, finding the right insurance provider is not as hard as you think.

There are still a few companies who may not offer rate quotes online and these small insurance companies only sell coverage through independent insurance agencies. Budget-friendly insurance in Tucson is attainable from both online companies and from local agencies, and you should be comparing both so you have a total pricing picture.

In this article, we covered a lot of tips how to lower your insurance car insurance rates in Tucson. The key thing to remember is the more companies you get premium rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even find the biggest savings come from a small local company.

How to buy low-cost auto insurance in Tucson

If saving money is your primary concern, then the best way to get cheaper car insurance rates in Tucson is to start doing an annual price comparison from insurers in Arizona. Prices can be compared by following these steps.

• First, gain an understanding of individual coverages and the things you can change to prevent rate increases. Many risk factors that drive up the price like multiple speeding tickets and an imperfect credit score can be rectified by paying attention to minor details.
• Second, obtain price quotes from direct, independent, and exclusive agents. Exclusive agents and direct companies can only provide price estimates from one company like Progressive or State Farm, while agents who are independent can provide prices for many different companies.
• Third, compare the new rates to the price on your current policy to determine if you can save on insurance in Tucson. If you find a lower rate quote and change companies, make sure there is no lapse between the expiration of your current policy and the new one.

The most important part of shopping around is to use the same liability limits and deductibles on every quote and and to look at as many different insurance providers as possible. Doing this helps ensure a level playing field and a complete rate analysis.

Even more information is available in these articles:

• What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy? (Insurance Information Institute)
• How Much are Car Insurance Rates for Drivers Over Age 60 in Tucson? (FAQ)
• Who Has the Cheapest Tucson Car Insurance for Felons? (FAQ)
• Warning systems don’t curb driver distraction (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Anti-Lock Brake FAQ (iihs.org)
• Child Safety Seats (Insurance Information Institute)
• If I File a Claim will My Insurance Go Up? (Insurance Information Institute)