Tucson drivers pay an average of $148 per month for a full-coverage policy, which is lower than Arizona state average of $160 per month. The city's relatively low number of traffic fatalities may be a factor in its lower car insurance rates. Just 1.5% of Tucson's 4,648 traffic accidents in 2023 were fatal, according to data from the Tucson Police Department.
Mile Auto, Auto-Owners, and State Farm have the cheapest average quotes in Tucson. Your exact insurance costs will vary depending on your driving history, age, vehicle type, insurer, and more. Here’s what you need to know about finding cheap insurance in Tucson.
Best car insurance companies in Tucson
The best car insurance company for you will vary depending on your specific driving circumstances and insurance needs. If you’re looking for affordable auto insurance in Tucson, start with the three cheapest car insurance companies in the city below.
Best insurer for cheap rates: Auto-Owners
Best insurer for low-mileage drivers: Mile Auto
Best insurer for teen drivers: State Farm
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Tucson
Here are four strategies Tucson drivers can use to save money on auto insurance:
Choose a higher deductible. A deductible is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before your collision or comprehensive insurance coverage kicks in. Setting a higher deductible can result in lower premiums because a higher deductible means less risk for the insurance company.
Bundle your policies. Most insurance companies will offer you a discount when you purchase two or more insurance products. So one easy way to save money on insurance is by bundling your auto insurance with your renters or homeowners insurance.
Take advantage of discounts. Most insurance companies offer a variety of discounts to customers. You can also save by maintaining a good driving record, choosing a safe vehicle, or being a long-term customer.
Compare quotes. You can find the best prices by comparing auto insurance quotes from at least three different insurers. You can contact these companies directly, speak to a local insurance agent, or use an insurance-comparison tool to receive a free quote from multiple companies.9
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Tucson: Mile Auto
Drivers who need to reduce their insurance costs often opt to buy liability-only coverage. Liability insurance covers the cost of bodily injury and property damage you cause the other driver and their passengers in an accident. It won’t pay for your medical bills or vehicle damage.3
The following table includes the cheapest liability-only quotes in Tucson.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Tucson: Mile Auto
Full-coverage auto insurance provides you the most vehicle protection. This policy type includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance to cover damages to your vehicle. You may want this coverage if you have a new or valuable vehicle. If you lease or finance your car, your lender may even require it.
You can find the cheapest full-coverage quotes from Tucson insurers below.
Car insurance requirements in Arizona
Drivers in Arizona must carry a minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability to legally drive in the state. This liability insurance covers the costs of the other driver’s medical expenses and vehicle damage if you cause an accident.
Arizona law requires all drivers to meet the following minimum insurance requirements:4
You may want to purchase additional coverages to provide more protection for you and your vehicle. Common optional coverages include the following:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Your driving record is one of the biggest factors affecting your car insurance rates. Anytime you need to file a claim for an incident, you can expect your insurance premiums to go up.
The presence of a driving incident on your record — like speeding tickets, driving under the influence (DUI) charges, at-fault accidents, and other traffic violations — can lead your insurer to consider you a high-risk driver and re-evaluate your premiums. But drivers with imperfect records can still find ways to save on insurance.
“This includes taking advantage of discount programs, such as bundling auto insurance with a home or renters insurance policy, a multi-vehicle discount, paying your premium in full or signing up for paperless billing,” says Mark Friedlander, director of communications at the Insurance Information Institute.
In Tucson, drivers with motor vehicle violations pay an average of $173 per month for full coverage, and $105 for liability-only car insurance, Insurify data shows.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
A history of speeding tickets can demonstrate risky behavior to your insurer, so receiving a speeding ticket typically causes your insurance premiums to go up. However, your insurance company will consider the violation details. For example, you can expect your premiums to increase more for exceeding the speed limit by 15 miles per hour than by 5 miles per hour.
If you’re looking for ways to lower your insurance premiums after a ticket, you might consider enrolling in a defensive driving program. State Farm, USAA, GEICO, and other insurers offer discounts for completing a defensive driving class.
In Tucson, drivers with speeding tickets see average full-coverage rates of $181 per month. Find the cheapest car insurance companies for Tucson drivers with a speeding ticket below.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Mile Auto
An at-fault accident will typically cause your insurance premium to increase — especially because your insurer may have to pay out on the claim. The severity of the accident and how much damage it caused may influence how much your insurance premium increases.
Tucson drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving records, typically see average monthly rates of $189 for full coverage, and $115 for liability. You can find the cheapest liability-only rates for Tucson drivers with an at-fault accident below.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Mile Auto
Driving under the influence is a serious offense that can result in fines, license suspension, and jail time. In Arizona, a first DUI offense can result in 10 days of consecutive jail time and a $1,250 fine.8 Some insurance companies may choose not to renew your insurance policy after you have a DUI. If your insurer does let you keep your policy, you’ll likely face a significant premium increase.
The best way to save money after a DUI is by shopping around for the lowest premiums. Tucson drivers with DUIs on the records face average car insurance rates of $197 per month for full coverage and $120 for liability-only policies. Here are the cheapest average liability quotes for Tucson drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Your age can affect your car insurance rates. Despite being some of the safest drivers, seniors older than 70 tend to pay more for car insurance than drivers a bit younger than them. Unfortunately, senior drivers have a higher likelihood of facing injury or death in an auto accident due to potential frailty and age-related physical vulnerabilities.
However, it’s possible for seniors to obtain discounts on car insurance. Most insurance companies will give senior drivers a discount for completing a defensive driving course. You can also save by joining an organization that caters to seniors, like AARP, which offers special rates through The Hartford.
The average cost of car insurance for senior drivers in Tucson is $76 for a liability-only policy, and $124 for full coverage. Here are the cheapest insurers for senior drivers in Tucson.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Mile Auto
Teenage drivers tend to pay the most for auto insurance due to their lack of experience behind the wheel and high accident rate. Fortunately, first-time drivers can still save money on car insurance by taking a few steps.
Regardless of your insurer, teens can find cheaper car insurance by staying on their parents’ plans, buying a safe car, and getting a good student discount. And, teens who are younger than 18 won't be able to buy their own policy without the written consent of a parent or guardian.
Teen drivers in Tucson pay a monthly average of $312 for full coverage, and $190 for liability. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for teen drivers in Tucson.
Tucson car insurance quotes by credit tier
Like most states, Arizona allows insurance companies to consider credit history when evaluating your insurance premiums. Research has shown drivers with good credit tend to file fewer claims than those with bad credit.10
Here are the average quotes you can expect to receive with an excellent or good credit score versus a poor credit score in Tucson.
Is car insurance more expensive in Tucson?
Tucson is a relatively affordable city for car insurance. Drivers in the city pay a total average of $119 per month for auto coverage. The statewide average for auto coverage is $127 per month, and the national average is $144 per month. So Tucson drivers benefit from lower-than-average insurance prices.
Average insurance premiums vary by the city and ZIP code you live in due to factors like population density, traffic congestion, vehicle theft rates, accident rates, and more. Based on Arizona crime statistics, Tucson had fewer cases of motor vehicle theft in 2022 than a couple of other large cities, including Phoenix and Mesa.11
More cities in Arizona
Tucson drivers pay less than the state average and also pay less than many other cities in Arizona. For example, Glendale residents pay 47% more on average than Tucson drivers for full coverage.
Here’s how the average car insurance quotes for Tucson drivers compares to other Arizona cities.