Auto insurance in Arizona: what’s required, and what isn’t
Arizona raised its minimum liability limits on 1 July 2020, from 15/30/10 to the current 25/50/15. Policies issued before that date were not automatically brought up, so a long-tenured Arizona driver who has not re-shopped may still be sitting on the old floor. Arizona also has one of the higher uninsured-driver rates in the country and a summer storm season that lands squarely on comprehensive coverage — two things that make the optional half of an Arizona policy matter more than the required half.
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What Arizona requires you to carry
| Bodily injury, per person | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury, per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage, per accident | $15,000 |
These are floors, not recommendations. Arizona sets the minimum a driver may legally carry. It does not assess whether that amount would cover a claim you caused. Anything above your limits is your personal exposure.
How Arizona enforces it
Arizona requires liability coverage on every motor vehicle operated on state roads, through a carrier authorised to do business in Arizona. The requirement is unusually broad in what it covers: golf carts, motorcycles and mopeds are all included.
How rates are set in Arizona
Arizona is an at-fault state. The driver responsible for a crash is responsible for the resulting injury and property damage, and their liability limits cap what the insurer pays.
The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions regulates carriers and reviews rate filings. Arizona is a competitive-rating state, so carriers apply their own filed models rather than a single approved price. DIFI also publishes an annual auto premium report, which is a rare example of a regulator putting comparative pricing data in public.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is optional in Arizona, but if you elect it, 25/50 is the lowest limit you may carry. There is no sub-minimum version.
Credit-based insurance scores in Arizona
Arizona permits credit-based insurance scores as a rating factor. Arizona’s market has a large share of recent arrivals from other states, and a driver who has just moved often finds their quote reflects a shorter in-state history than they expect regardless of how long they have been driving.
What actually moves your premium here
The minimums went up in 2020, and older policies did not follow
Every new Arizona auto policy issued on or after 1 July 2020 must carry at least 25/50/15, up from the previous 15/30/10. Policies written before that date were not automatically upgraded. If you have been with the same carrier for a long time without re-shopping, it is worth confirming which limits you are actually on.
Heat is a real vehicle risk here
Sustained extreme heat degrades batteries, tyres and cooling systems faster than in most climates. That drives roadside and mechanical exposure rather than liability claims, which is why roadside assistance is a more useful add-on in Arizona than in a temperate state.
Monsoon season concentrates comprehensive claims
Summer monsoon storms produce flash flooding, dust storms and hail in short, intense bursts. All three are comprehensive claims. A liability-only policy covers none of them, which matters more in Phoenix and Tucson than the annual rainfall figure suggests.
Uninsured motorist rates run high
Arizona has persistently ranked among the states with the highest share of uninsured drivers. In an at-fault state that is a direct argument for carrying uninsured motorist coverage: if the driver who hits you has nothing, your own policy is the only thing that responds.
See what you’d be matched with in Arizona
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Comparing carriers in Arizona
If you have held the same Arizona policy since before July 2020, check your declarations page before anything else. Being on 15/30/10 in a state that now requires 25/50/15 is a gap most drivers do not know they have.
Price comprehensive as a real decision rather than an afterthought. Between monsoon hail, flash flooding and dust, Arizona’s comprehensive exposure is higher than its reputation as a dry state implies, and liability-only policies leave all of it uncovered.
One habit matters more than any single carrier choice: re-check every year or two, and again after anything that changes your risk profile — a move across town, a new vehicle, a driver added or removed, or a violation ageing off your record. Carriers re-weight their rating factors continuously, so the one that priced you best three years ago is often not the one that prices you best today.
If you need an SR-22 in Arizona
Arizona requires an SR-22 filing after certain suspensions and revocations, including driving without insurance and DUI convictions. The certificate is filed by your insurer with the Motor Vehicle Division. Confirm the filing period for your specific case with Arizona MVD, since it runs from your reinstatement date rather than the offence date.
Arizona auto insurance FAQ
- What is the minimum car insurance required in Arizona?
- Liability coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage — written as 25/50/15. This has applied to all new policies issued on or after 1 July 2020.
- Did Arizona change its insurance minimums?
- Yes. The minimums rose from 15/30/10 to 25/50/15 for policies issued on or after 1 July 2020. Policies written before that date were not automatically upgraded, so it is worth checking your declarations page if you have not re-shopped since.
- Do motorcycles and golf carts need insurance in Arizona?
- Yes. Arizona requires liability coverage on every motor vehicle operated on state roads, and the requirement explicitly includes golf carts, motorcycles and mopeds.
- Is uninsured motorist coverage worth it in Arizona?
- It is optional, but Arizona has one of the higher uninsured-driver rates in the country, and in an at-fault state your own uninsured motorist coverage is the only thing that responds when the other driver has nothing. If you do elect it, 25/50 is the minimum limit available.
- Does my Arizona policy cover monsoon flood or hail damage?
- Only if you carry comprehensive coverage. Flash flooding, hail and dust damage are all comprehensive claims. A liability-only policy does not cover damage to your own vehicle from any of them.
Sources
Requirements on this page were verified against Arizona’s own regulator and motor vehicle agency on the date shown at the top. Rules change — if you are making a decision that turns on an exact figure, confirm it at the source.
- Arizona DIFI — Automobile insurance
- Arizona DOI — Consumer alert on increasing auto limits (July 2020)
- Arizona DOT — Insurance information and requirements
Consumer help in Arizona: Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, (602) 364-2499.