A minimum auto insurance policy in Tucson costs an average of $1,318 per year. The average cost of a full-coverage policy is $2,825, or about $235 per month. The best way to save money is by comparing rates through multiple insurers. Your driver profile, accident history and credit score will also influence these quotes.

Cheapest for minimum liability

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Best for customer service

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Cheapest car insurance in Tucson: CSAA

The insurer with the cheapest minimum-liability policy is CSAA, which had an average annual cost of $659. Two alternatives worth researching are Progressive and Geico.

Current and former military members should get a quote from USAA, which has the cheapest minimum policy overall.

The cheapest insurance policy is one that meets the minimum requirements set by the state. If you purchase the minimum-liability insurance coverage, it only covers the cost of damage you cause to others. It won't cover you in instances where your own car is stolen or damaged in an accident.

Some drivers may benefit from purchasing a full-coverage policy — one with comprehensive and collision insurance — but your premium will be more expensive. If you own a car that is old or has little value, it's probably not worth paying extra for more coverage.

Most affordable full-coverage policy: Geico

Geico's full-coverage policy is the most affordable, with an average rate of $1,766 per year. If you don't mind spending extra, the next-cheapest options are CSAA and Progressive, which offer average premiums of $2,041 and $2,073, respectively.

Military members and veterans should get a quote from USAA, which has the cheapest full-coverage policy out of the nine insurers we reviewed.

A full-coverage policy costs much more than a minimum policy because it offers additional protection. Geico's full-coverage policy is almost twice as expensive as its minimum-liability policy.

Minimum liability coverage is meant to protect other drivers, while full coverage protects both yourself and others involved in an accident. A full-coverage policy includes comprehensive and collision coverage.

Collision coverage protects you when you hit another vehicle, run into a fixed object or drive over a severely damaged road. Comprehensive coverage protects you against "acts of God," which are events out of your control. Some examples include theft, natural disasters and falling objects.

We recommend you invest in additional coverage if you own a car worth more than $3,000 or a vehicle that's less than 10 years old.

Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance for young drivers: CSAA

The cheapest insurance providers for young drivers is CSAA, which costs $3,363 per year on average. Hartford and Geico policies are also under the $4,000 price range for our sample 18-year-old driver.

Insurance can be expensive, especially for young drivers. Age is one of the primary factors insurers consider when calculating your insurance quote. Drivers under the age of 20 can pay significantly more than drivers in their 30s or 40s, even if their insurer is the same.

Young people might find that prices are still too expensive after comparing rates. But there are other ways to save money on car insurance.

Cheapest car insurance in with a prior accident: State Farm

When you have an accident history, insurers will see you as high risk and will likely increase your premium. The amount of the increase will vary depending on your insurer.

Farmers, for instance, increased its customers' full-coverage policy premiums by an average of $2,639 after an accident — the most out of our sample insurers. On the other hand, State Farm had the lowest rate increase. Customers paid an additional $544 on average after an accident.

The insurance companies that increased their rates the least after an accident are:

Aside from comparing quotes from insurance companies, you should also ask insurers about discounts they offer. You may already qualify for some. Many insurers have discounts for installing safety devices and attending defensive driving classes.

Best insurance company customer service in Tucson: USAA

Some drivers see price as their No. 1 priority when shopping for auto insurance, but customer service should also factor into your decision. A higher-priced insurer with excellent service may be a better value if you're willing to pay extra.

Our survey of current customers showed that USAA has the best service in Arizona. USAA has received positive feedback from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), J.D. Power and A.M. Best Company. However, USAA has strict eligibility requirements — only military members, veterans, and their families qualify. For the average driver, American Family and State Farm are good options to look into.

Everybody wants to save money, but cheap prices don't always compensate for poor service. When filing a claim, you don't want to deal with rude service representatives, a confusing claims process and a long wait time — on top of coping with the stress of an accident.

Average insurance rates by Tucson neighborhood

Certain areas of the city have more people, more accidents or higher crime rates — which can all drive up the cost of car insurance. The cheapest area of Tucson, Diamond Bell Ranch, costs $193 less per year on average than Midtown, one of the most expensive areas but bustling areas of the city.

Minimum auto insurance requirements in Arizona

On July 1, 2020, the Arizona Department of Insurance increased the state's minimum insurance requirements. If you purchase car insurance after this date, your policy must follow new standards.

Drivers who purchase a minimum policy before July 1 will see their limits raised to reflect the new requirement once their policy renews. This will increase the cost of your minimum policy premium. Before this change, Arizona had one of the lowest insurance requirements in the country.

While the minimum limit has increased, the types of coverage you are required to get are still the same. Minimum coverage will not cover damage to your own car, so you'll need to pay out of pocket following an accident. We encourage drivers with a new or expensive car to look into buying more coverage.

Methodology

ValuePenguin analyzed auto insurance data from nine insurance companies located in Arizona. Our default driver was a 30-year-old man who owned a 2015 Honda Civic EX and had a below-average credit score. We compared quotes for minimum liability insurance.

For full-coverage policies in our analysis, the following limits were in place:

ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.