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Car insurance in Tucson costs $1,879 per year for full coverage – $157 monthly. Geico offers the cheapest car insurance policy at $107 per month.

The Tucson metro area is home to just over 1 million people. It is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas in the West. If you are moving to Tucson — or already live there — it is important to find the right car insurance policy. Fortunately, there are ways to get cheap car insurance in Tucson that will provide the coverage you need. 

Learn more about what a typical policy costs in Tucson and what you need to know if you are new to the city. 

Key Takeaways

  • Full-coverage car insurance in Tucson costs an average of $1,879 per year, slightly less than the nationwide average of $1,895.
  • The cheapest car insurance company for a full-coverage policy in Tucson is Geico, at $107 monthly.
  • Car insurance rates in Tucson are reasonable compared to those of other large cities across the U.S.

How to find the best car insurance in Tucson 

With the right tools and a little work, you can find the best car insurance policy in Tucson that marries the coverage you need with a cost you can afford. 

Before shopping for car insurance, determine the type of policy you need, including the amount of coverage necessary to protect yourself. Get quotes from at least three companies comparing similar coverage limits and options and ask about any discounts you qualify for. It’s always best to buy as much coverage as you can afford.

Cheapest car insurance company in Tucson 

Geico provides the cheapest car insurance in Tucson, according to recent data. It costs an average of $1,279 annually to purchase a full-coverage policy from the insurer. The next cheapest car insurance companies are USAA and Travelers.

See other cheap car insurance rates in Tucson in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Tucson 

CompanyAverage annual rates for state minimum Average annual rates for 50/100/50 liability onlyAverage annual rates for full coverage
Geico$388$559$1,279
USAA$254$482$1,472
Travelers$497$671$1,533
Auto-Owners$395$560$1,597
Nationwide$678$831$1,696
Progressive$651$870$1,899
Allstate$587$954$2,219
Farmers$725$1,294$2,578
State Farm$774$1,068$2,638

How much is car insurance in Tucson per month?

Your car insurance policy is divided into several different types of coverage, such as liability, collision, comprehensive and more. 

“Each type of coverage has its own premium,” says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “Add them up, and you’ve got the price of your auto insurance policy.”

Tucson residents can expect to pay an average of $157 per month in full coverage car insurance costs, or $46 per month for the state minimum coverage.

Of course, some drivers pay less than this average, while others pay more. Factors determining how much you pay for car insurance include the insurance company you choose and the coverage you need.  Other factors — including your age and gender, car type, and history of accidents and violations — also influence car insurance costs.  

Monthly rates for car insurance in Tucson, Arizona

CompanyAverage monthly rates for state minimum Average monthly rates for 50/100/50 liability onlyAverage monthly rates for full coverage
Geico$32$47$107
USAA$21$40$123
Travelers$41$56$128
Auto-Owners$33$47$133
Nationwide$56$69$141
Progressive$54$73$158
Allstate$49$80$185
Farmers$60$108$215
State Farm$65$89$220

How do rates in Tucson compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

The cost of coverage in Tucson is cheaper than in other major cities. In Arizona, the statewide rate is $1,812 annually, compared with Tucson’s $1,879.

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Monthly full-coverage car insurance costs in major U.S. metropolitan areas

City Average monthly premiums
Albuquerque$186
Atlanta$206
Austin$161
Bakersfield$206
Chicago$161
Colorado Springs$196
Dallas$190
Fresno$199
Houston$193
Kansas City$180
Long Beach$223
Los Angeles$262
Mesa$165
Miami$279
Milwaukee$168
Minneapolis$182
New York$217
Oakland$234
Omaha$162
Philadelphia$232
Phoenix$188
Raleigh$142
Sacramento$222
San Antonio$182
San Diego$194
San Jose$200
Tampa$261
Tucson$157
Tulsa$195
Virginia Beach$121
Wichita$166

Here’s what you need to know when driving in Tucson, AZ

Tucson’s traffic woes are relatively minor compared to many other places in the country.  

In 2022, drivers in Tucson lost an average of 23 hours in traffic, according to INRIX, which looks at traffic patterns. That makes Tucson the 51st most-congested city in the U.S.

If you are driving in the Tucson area during rush hour, you can expect to spend an extra 15.6 minutes in traffic, according to the website CoPilot. That places Tucson at No. 37 among all cities in the nation when it comes to losing time due to rush hour. 

Other things to remember when driving around Tucson:

  • Speed limits in Arizona are typically 25 mph on residential streets and 65 on urban freeways. Signs should mark when speed limits vary from these standards. 
  • There are no toll roads anywhere in Arizona. That means you will not have to pay to drive any roads in Tucson.
  • Traffic violations can result in points on your driver’s license. If you accumulate eight points during a 12-month period, your license will be suspended for up to three months. If you accumulate 12 points during a 12-month period, you might have to attend traffic survival school or your license could be suspended for a year.

How much car insurance do I need in Tucson?

Arizona requires you to carry liability coverage that at minimum includes the following amounts:

  • $25,000 for one person sustaining bodily injury to or death in an accident
  • $50,000 for two or more persons sustaining bodily injury to or death in an accident
  • $15,000 for damage to others’ property

This is often referred to as “25/50/15 coverage.”

However, these minimum levels of coverage will not be adequate for most drivers. 

Many drivers will prefer to carry much higher levels of liability coverage so they are better protected financially. In addition, liability insurance does not cover you or your car. That means drivers also might be interested in going beyond the minimum and protecting their own vehicles by purchasing insurance beyond the minimum, such as comprehensive and collision coverage. 

If you are unsure of how much coverage you need, consult with an insurance agent who can help. 

Average cost of car insurance in Tucson 

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Tucson is $1,879 annually. That compares to a statewide average of $1,812 and a nationwide average of $1,895. 

Annual average rates in Tucson for state minimum coverage and full coverage

State minimum coverage in Tucson Annual full coverage rates in Tucson 
$550$1,879

How much does car insurance in Tucson cost with violations?

Moving violations on your driving record will likely increase your car insurance rates. Violations like speeding tickets often cause a significant but manageable rise in rates. Other types of violations can make rates climb much higher. This is particularly true if you are convicted of a DUI. 

See rate increases in Tucson in the table below by violation.

Violation typeRate increase percentage
At-fault accident50%
Bad credit135%
DUI56%
Speeding41%

Cheapest car insurance in Tucson by age

Your age will impact how much you pay for car insurance. The youngest drivers tend to pay the highest rates. The oldest drivers also are likely to pay more. See how much you can expect to pay by age in the table below.

Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Tucson, by age

AgeState minimum coverageFull coverage
18$2,105$7,027
25$651$2,200
40$550$1,879
65$544$1,784

Compare auto insurance rates in Tucson by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in how much you pay for car insurance. Here are the Tucson area ZIP codes with the cheapest and most expensive car insurance rates. See the tables below for Tucson’s cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance. 

Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Tucson, by ZIP code 

ZIP codeAverage annual rate
85742$1,776
85748$1,802
85747$1,809
85715$1,815
85710$1,816
85730$1,831
85708$1,838
85712$1,843
85719$1,855
85736$1,857

Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Tucson, by ZIP code 

ZIP codeAverage annual rate
85701$1,986
85714$1,960
85721$1,949
85709$1,948
85706$1,927
85713$1,920
85746$1,919
85735$1,918
85705$1,916

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Tucson 

If low prices are your top focus when shopping for car insurance, Geico might be your best choice. It has the lowest average rates in our survey. 

However, it’s often a mistake to shop by price alone. It is crucial to make sure you have exactly the coverage you need, even if you have to pay a little more for it. Shopping around and gathering quotes from several insurance companies is the best way to get the coverage you need at the best price. 

A full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 is the best option for most drivers. Consider increasing your liability limits as you accumulate wealth and your net worth increases. Purchasing as much car insurance as you can afford will give you peace of mind as you navigate the roads of Tucson.

expert

What our expert says

Q:How is the cost of your insurance policy determined?

expert-image
Carole WalkerExecutive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association
"Each type of coverage has its own premium. Add them up, and you've got the price of your auto insurance policy."

Resources & Methodology

Sources:

Arizona Department of Transportation. “Points assessment.” Accessed February 2024.

Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. “Minimum Coverage Required for Arizona Drivers.” Accessed February 2024.

CoPilot. “Cities That Lose the Most Time in Rush Hour Traffic.” Accessed February 2024.

Hertz. “Arizona driving guide.” Accessed February 2024.

INRIX. “Inrix 2022 Global Traffic Scorecard.” Accessed February 2024.

INRIX. “Tucson AZ.” Accessed February 2024.

Making Action Possible for Southern Arizona. “Workforce & Demographics.” Accessed February 2024.

Methodology

In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.

author image
Chris Kissell
Contributing Researcher

 
  

Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.