The words “affordable” and “insurance” really don’t belong together, especially when looking for the lowest insurance prices for first-time drivers. Because it’s so expensive, let’s get started by showing you some of the things that influence auto insurance prices, and see if we can help you cut the cost of the next policy you buy.
The make and model of vehicle requiring insurance is one of the largest considerations when looking for economical car insurance for first-time drivers. Vehicles with lower performance, a great safety record, or a low likelihood of liability claims will cost much less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The next table outlines coverage premiums for a number of the most economical automobiles to insure.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $4,273 |
| Honda CR-V EX 4WD | $4,317 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $4,327 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $4,586 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,627 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $4,801 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $5,025 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $5,030 |
| Ford Edge SEL AWD | $5,025 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $5,069 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $5,079 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $5,069 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab Laramie 2WD | $5,111 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 4WD | $5,119 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $5,297 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4WD 4-Dr | $5,338 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $5,340 |
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Price data assumes single female driver age 17, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Rates do not factor in specific zip code location which can change premiums significantly.
By looking at the data, we can assume that models like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape will be a few of the more affordable vehicles to insure for new drivers. Auto insurance rates will be more expensive because there is more liability exposure for first-time drivers, but generally speaking those particular models will have the cheapest rates possible.
For new drivers, one of the big considerations that help determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where you normally keep your vehicle. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims likely pay more, whereas areas that tend to be more rural benefit from lower coverage costs.
The information below sorts the most expensive cities in Arizona for first-time drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Tucson is ranked at #12 with an annual cost of $1,105 for car insurance, which is about $92 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $1,231 |
| 2 | Glendale | $1,190 |
| 3 | Avondale | $1,186 |
| 4 | San Tan Valley | $1,185 |
| 5 | Scottsdale | $1,163 |
| 6 | Tempe | $1,152 |
| 7 | Mesa | $1,147 |
| 8 | Gilbert | $1,142 |
| 9 | Peoria | $1,126 |
| 10 | Chandler | $1,115 |
| 11 | Buckeye | $1,110 |
| 12 | Tucson | $1,105 |
| 13 | Goodyear | $1,087 |
| 14 | Maricopa | $1,074 |
| 15 | Catalina Foothills | $1,072 |
| 16 | Casas Adobes | $1,072 |
| 17 | Surprise | $1,058 |
| 18 | Casa Grande | $1,047 |
| 19 | Oro Valley | $1,020 |
| 20 | Flagstaff | $960 |
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Prices are approximated as the specific garaging location can impact rates significantly.
Comparing rates for low-priced insurance is not most people’s favorite thing to do, and figuring out which company offers the lowest-priced insurance rates for first-time drivers calls for even more diligence. Every insurance provider has their own guidelines to set their prices, so first we will examine the insurance companies with the overall best prices in Arizona.
Best Insurance Companies for Inexperienced Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hartford | $820 |
| 2 | Auto-Owners | $888 |
| 3 | Safeco | $932 |
| 4 | Travelers | $1,075 |
| 5 | USAA | $1,080 |
| 6 | GEICO | $1,131 |
| 7 | Progressive | $1,152 |
| 8 | Ameriprise Group | $1,208 |
| 9 | CSAA | $1,213 |
| 10 | Allied | $1,233 |
| 11 | Farm Bureau Mutual | $1,285 |
| 12 | Safe Auto | $1,297 |
| 13 | State Farm | $1,337 |
| 14 | Farmers | $1,350 |
| 15 | Unitrin | $1,357 |
| 16 | Titan | $1,433 |
| 17 | American Family | $1,478 |
| 18 | Amica | $1,487 |
| 19 | California Casualty | $1,506 |
| 20 | MetLife | $1,567 |
| Quote Your Rates Go | ||
The Hartford quotes some of the best car insurance rates in Tucson at around $820 each year. Auto-Owners, Safeco, Travelers, and USAA would also make the list of some of the best Tucson, AZ auto insurance companies.
As depicted above, if you are currently insured with Travelers and switched to Auto-Owners, you may realize savings of approximately $187. Arizona drivers with USAA may save as much as $192 a year, and GEICO policyholders might lower prices by up to $243 a year.
If you want to see how much you could save, click here to start your custom quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Be aware that those premiums are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and are not factoring in a specific vehicle garaging location for first-time drivers. So the car insurance company that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the list above. That point stresses why you need to compare as many prices as possible using your own individual information.
Illustration showing the impact of accidents and violations
The common sense way to get affordable insurance premiums in Tucson for new drivers is to drive safe and avoid accidents and violations. The illustration below demonstrates how citations and accident claims can influence insurance rates for each age group. Data assumes a married female driver, full coverage, $500 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
In the previous example, the average cost of auto insurance in Tucson per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $1,475. Receive one speeding ticket and the average cost rises to $1,719, an increase of $245 each year. Then add two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the 12-month cost of insurance for first-time drivers goes up to an average of $3,906. That’s an increase of $2,431, or $203 per month, just for being a little careless behind the wheel!
Types of discounts on Tucson auto insurance rates
Auto insurance companies that offer cheap quotes for first-time drivers could also offer premium discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 30% if you qualify for them. Popular insurance companies and some of the discounts are:
- Farmers Insurance offers premium reductions for multi-car, mature driver, pay in full, bundle discounts, homeowner, switch companies, and youthful driver.
- State Farm may have discounts that include driver’s education, Steer Clear safe driver discount, passive restraint, multiple policy, and safe vehicle.
- Liberty Mutual may include discounts for hybrid vehicle, newly married, new graduate, new vehicle discount, exclusive group savings, and new move discount.
- MetLife has savings for defensive driver, good student, multi-policy, claim-free, and good driver.
- Progressive includes discounts for multi-vehicle, online signing, homeowner, multi-policy, and continuous coverage.
The illustration below illustrates the comparison of car insurance costs with and without discounts applied. The data assumes a male driver, a clean driving record, no claims, Arizona state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second shows the rates with good student, vehicle safety, passive restraint, paperless filing, continuous coverage, and paid-in-full discounts applied. When drivers take advantage of discounts, theaverage yearly reduction on insurance for first-time drivers is 28% or $452.
The illustration below shows how choosing a deductible can change insurance prices when trying to find cheap insurance for first-time drivers. The prices are based on a married male driver, full coverage, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
A 30-year-old driver could cut expenses by $232 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $352 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Younger drivers, like the 20-year-old example, could drop their prices $694 or even more by choosing a larger deductible amount. If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it will be important to have plenty of discretionary funds to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which is the one shortcoming of high deductibles.
How to find more affordable car insurance for first-time drivers
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some thrifty suggestions that can help drivers get lower-cost coverage.
- Choose a safer vehicle and pay lower rates
- Drivers with good credit ratings often pay less
- Do not insure for full coverage
- Buy your homeowners policy from the same company as your auto insurance
- Increase your policy deductibles
- Try paying for small claims out-of-pocket
- Keep rates low by shopping around frequently
The final tip is extremely critical, as we noted in this write-up. Prices charged by companies adjust often, so don’t hesitate to buy from a new company if a better deal can be had. Many drivers have brand loyalty and that’s fine, but it’s not recommended if that dedication is costing major coinage every year. It only takes a couple minutes to shop around to find cheaper car insurance for first-time drivers in Tucson.