Arizona Car Insurance Quotes
If you’re trying to save money every month, then your car insurance is a great place to start. Finding quotes on different policies is easier than ever before with the help of the comparison tool above.
With this tool, you can enter all of your personal information once and then let the quotes come to you. However, you should know exactly what you’re looking for before you start speaking with agents.
When shopping around for quotes, you must know what the laws are, what kind of coverage you need and if you’re interested in any little extras. Be sure to always compare auto insurance rates using the FREE tool located at the top of this page! Simply enter your ZIP code to get started.
All Motorized Vehicles Must be Insured
The state requires that all motor vehicles that will go out on roadways have proper insurance. This extends beyond cars, trucks and semis to include golf carts, mopeds and motorcycles. Drivers must have the following minimums:
- $15,000 bodily injury liability for an individual in an accident
- $30,000 bodily injury for one accident involving two or more people
- $10,000 property damage liability
These are only minimum requirements in order to avoid being ticketed or having your registration revoked.
Individuals can choose to invest in higher limits, and they’re strongly encouraged to in order to protect their assets if they should be sued after an accident.
State Licenses are Required
Not all state insurance plans will cross state lines. While there are some national names that are licensed throughout the contiguous United States, there are many excellent companies that only have licenses in a handful of states.
When moving to Arizona, you’re required to have insurance with a company that’s licensed in the state. Insurance is mandatory and must be in place before you start driving your car.
Failure to comply with this law can result in the loss of your registration. You can ask your insurance company if they’re licensed. This information should be listed on their website and other printed advertisements. You may also want to confirm that they have an active license with the state.
Choosing a licensed agent is also an excellent way to protect yourself from scams. The state will have information on file about licensed companies. When searching for a license, be sure to enter the exact company name as scammers will use a name that’s very similar to a legitimate company.
Check the Complaints
A good way to avoid shady insurance companies is to review the complaints filed against them. Try to work with a company that has a membership with the Better Business Bureau.
This agency keeps tracks of complaints and will also provide you with information regarding resolutions. The Department of Insurance also has information on complaints or problems.
You can also look at reviews online to see what kind of customer service they provide. It may take a little time to follow through with these steps, but it will help you find the right company for your needs.
Know the Credit Score
Insurance companies have the right to use information in your credit report to help gauge our risk level and financial worthiness. They don’t need your permission to look at your credit information, and they’re looking for things like bankruptcy, collections, a history of late payments, credit inquiries and debt ratios.
They are not allowed to look at medical collections, bankruptcies that are more than seven years old, your total line of available credit, or information regarding income, gender, address, religion, ethnic group or marital status.
In general, people with high credit scores will enjoy lower insurance premiums than those with serious credit problems.
Just as insurance companies have the right to review your credit, you also have the right to review theirs.
Visit agencies like A.M. Best and the Department of Insurance to see how financially stable a company is. This can give you peace of mind knowing that they’re stable and are more likely to be there when you need to file a claim.
Avoiding Scams
Just checking for the state licensed and reviewing their financial ratings will help you avoid a scam, but there are other things you can look for.
The Arizona Department of Insurance encourages people to look for physical address, a list of company officers, valid phone numbers and additional contact information. Documents should never look photocopied.
When making the policy payments, you’re reminded to pay with credit cards or check as you’ll have more recourse in the event of problems later. Cash is harder to track, so you should avoid using this method for payment. Warning signs that a company isn’t legitimate include the following:
- Quotes that are substantially lower and sound too good to be true
- Unsolicited offers and ads that contain unbelievably low rates
- Company names that sound similar to more well-known agencies
- Pressure for an immediate answer because the offers are for a limited time
- Disclaimers indicating that the insurance is not regulated by the state
Finding Lower Rates
There are ways to find better rates, and it all starts with shopping around. Rates vary from one company to the next because they depend on that company’s losses and experiences.
Once you settle on a company, there are even more ways to bring your premium in line and make it more affordable. Here are some of the best ways to save every month:
- Go with a higher deductible. Put the savings in an account every month until you’ve saved up enough to cover your deductible.
- Ask about discounts for things like safe driver, off-street parking, alarm systems and safer cars.
- Put multiple policies with one company to save on home and auto insurance.
- Insure all your cars with the same company and ask for a multi-car rate.
- Drop the collision and comprehensive coverage on very old cars that are paid in full. Put the savings in an account to help pay for your replacement car if you do have an accident.
Mistakes to Avoid
People may try to save by going with lower liability coverage, but this is risky gamble that rarely pays off. Your insurance company is only obligated to make payments according to your coverage levels.
If you cause $20,000 in damage to a brand new car and your policy is for $10,000 in liability, the insurance company will only pay $10,000 to the other party. You will be responsible for the balance. Arizona is a tort state, so you can be held responsible for damages above and beyond your insurance coverage.
Considering the rising cost of health care and the value of new cars, it’s clear that the minimum state levels will not always be enough. You should protect yourself from lawsuits and personal losses by increasing your liability coverages. There are other was to save without increasing your personal liability.
It’s also wise to invest in underinsured/ uninsured motorist coverage. Even if you decide to invest in a higher level of insurance, there will be other people on the road who are driving without coverage or only with state minimums.
If someone else causes the accident, your insurance will not pay for the damages to you or your car without this rider. The cost with most companies is low, so it’s a worthy investment to make.
When shopping for insurance, start by making a list of the coverages and levels you need. Comprehensive and collision insurance protect your own cars in the event of accidents, vandals and storms.
Uninsured motorist ensures that your car will be fixed even if the other person has no insurance or assets. You can protect your own estate from suits by going with higher coverage levels. Finally, save on your insurance by asking about discounts.
Before you sign on the dotted line with any company, check with the state to verify that they have a valid license. You can then save on your insurance and feel great about choosing the right Arizona company for your needs.
Enter your ZIP code into the FREE comparison tool above to start your search!