120+ more){kind=small}
15 years at the Boston Globe
5+ years covering insurance industry
Doug joined Insurify as a senior content writer in 2025. He was previously a regular contributor to InsuranceNewsNet.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
Updated
A car insurance deposit is the first payment you make before your coverage begins. And while you may have heard of the concept of no-deposit car insurance, no legitimate insurer offers true no-deposit or no-down-payment car insurance. Instead, you should expect to pay some money up front.
In most cases, you’ll pay just the first month’s premium, not a separate deposit. Your first bill may also include an installment fee.
Below you can see average quotes for Arizona liability coverage from several of the state’s top insurers. Remember that actual costs and payment plans may differ and that comparing multiple quotes is the best way to find cheap car insurance in Arizona with no extra deposit beyond your first month.
Insurance Company | Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $49 | $49 | Value and coverage options |
| Mile Auto | $60 | $60 | Low-mileage drivers |
| Progressive | $64 | $64 | High-risk drivers |
| State Farm | $60 | $60 | Safe-driver programs |
| Sun Coast | $63 | $63 | Budget-focused shoppers |
| User Reviews | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $60/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $103/mo |
State Farm's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.1 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 3.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.7 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
State Farm is the best overall option based on Insurify user reviews. It earned about 4.0–4.2 out of 5 for claims handling, coverage options, customer service, discounts, policy flexibility, transparency, and value, based on 9,382 customer reviews. Its Arizona discount page also lists bundling and telematics savings.
Strong customer ratings
Drive Safe & Save rewards safe driving
Multiple-line savings for bundling auto with a qualifying home, renters, condo, or life policy
Drive Safe & Save savings hinge on driving behavior
You generally must work through a State Farm agent
The cheapest quote isn’t guaranteed for every driving record or ZIP code
Insurify Car is a simple minimum-coverage policy that meets Arizona’s coverage requirements. You can pay your premium in seven-day increments, with an initial down payment that’s up to 69% lower than traditional auto insurance down payments.
In Arizona, your first payment is usually just the quoted monthly premium, not a state-mandated deposit. Full-coverage insurance averages $162 per month. This is less than the national average of $187 but more than the average in New Mexico, $133, and less than in Nevada, $260.
If you’re a young driver or have bad credit, a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident, or need an SR-22, expect to pay more than drivers with clean records.
The table below shows average rates and first payments for different driver profiles.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $91 | $91 |
| One speeding ticket | $118 | $118 |
| One at-fault accident | $125 | $125 |
| One DUI | $128 | $128 |
| Teen driver | $191 | $191 |
| Senior driver | $75 | $75 |
| Driver with an SR-22 | $120 | $120 |
Follow these tips to save money on car insurance in Arizona.
Focus on the initial payment, not just the advertised monthly rate. Get quotes from national insurers and local Arizona companies to see who offers the lowest up-front cost.
Consider state minimum liability coverage. This coverage is more affordable because it only covers the damages suffered by others in an accident you cause. It doesn’t provide protection for your vehicle or yourself. Keep in mind, if your car is financed or leased, you’ll likely need comprehensive and collision coverage. A higher deductible can also lower your premium, but it will increase your out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim.[1]
Ask insurers about available Arizona discounts. Some companies offer savings if you complete a voluntary defensive driving course, but check your eligibility before signing up. You can also inquire about telematics, low-mileage, safe driver, and bundling discounts to maximize your savings.
Avoid a lapse in coverage. If you let your insurance expire, the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) can suspend your vehicle registration or driver’s license, leading to extra reinstatement fees and possible SR-22 requirements.[2]
Check quotes from 120+ top insurance companies
Arizona follows an at-fault system, meaning the driver who causes a crash is financially responsible for injuries and property damage. The state only requires liability coverage, not personal injury protection. Minimum liability requirements are 25/50/15.
These limits won’t cover repairs to your own car. You’ll need collision coverage for that, as well as comprehensive coverage to protect against risks like theft, hail, or fire. Choosing higher limits can better protect your assets.[1]
Coverage Type | Arizona Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability (per accident) | $15,000 |
The Arizona MVD says insurers report cancellations and non-renewals. A lapse can trigger registration or license suspension, a $50 registration reinstatement fee, and possibly an SR-22 requirement.[2]
Arizona doesn’t set a standard deposit amount. Your first payment depends on your policy premium and the billing plan your insurer offers.
The following factors explain why one driver may secure low rates while another pays more, even if they live at the same address.
ZIP code. Insurers consider location when setting rates, so drivers in Phoenix, Tucson, and rural Arizona can pay different premiums.[3]
Accident risk. Arizona recorded 118,052 crashes and 1,156 traffic deaths in 2025; speeding and alcohol impairment remained major factors.[4]
Credit history. The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) says insurers may use credit history for eligibility and pricing, so a credit-based insurance score can raise rates for drivers with bad credit.
Driving history. Insurers consider your driving record and claims history when setting rates, so at-fault accidents, speeding violations, and serious offenses such as a DUI can affect what you pay.
Coverage. Liability-only coverage usually costs less up front than full coverage with comprehensive and collision, though choosing a larger deductible can reduce premiums.
Billing. Paying a six- or 12-month term in full may earn a discount, while monthly payments save cash in the short term but may include installment fees.
Below are quick answers to some common questions about lowering your up-front car insurance costs in Arizona.
Possibly. Arizona doesn’t require insurers to charge a separate down payment, but you’ll generally need to pay at least the premium required to start your policy. Arizona requires insurers to offer monthly payment plans and limits how much they can require up front.
A “low-down-payment” or “zero-down” policy generally refers to minimizing the initial premium payment rather than getting coverage without paying one.
Yes. Arizona allows insurers to use credit history when determining eligibility and rates, so poor credit can result in higher premiums. But comparing quotes using identical coverage limits, and asking insurers about available discounts, including telematics, safe-driver, and bundling discounts, can help you reduce your insurance premiums.
Just Pay-Per-Mile, Auto-Owners, and Mile Auto are among the cheapest insurers for liability coverage in Arizona, according to Insurify data. But remember that the cheapest insurer for you may differ based on your driver profile, the insurer’s premium and payment plan, and more.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
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15 years at the Boston Globe
5+ years covering insurance industry
Doug joined Insurify as a senior content writer in 2025. He was previously a regular contributor to InsuranceNewsNet.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
