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Arizona is an at-fault car insurance state, not a no-fault state. Under Arizona’s at-fault system, the insurance of the driver responsible for a crash must pay for the other driver’s injuries and property damage.[1]
Arizona doesn’t require personal injury protection (PIP). But all Arizona drivers legally must carry a minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Drivers can also choose to add optional medical payments (MedPay) coverage, which helps pay for you and your passengers’ medical expenses after a crash, no matter who’s at fault.[2]
Unlike many no-fault states, Arizona doesn’t have an injury threshold that stops you from filing a lawsuit. In Arizona, if more than one driver is at fault, each person pays only for their share of the blame, not the whole amount.
Liability policies average $91/mo.
At-fault and no-fault systems differ in how they determine fault after a crash and who pays for damages. In at-fault states like Arizona, the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident pays for the other party’s injuries and damage. The injured driver can usually also sue the at-fault driver for additional compensation.
In no-fault states, the opposite is true. Drivers must carry PIP insurance, and each driver’s own insurance covers injuries, regardless of fault. States generally allow lawsuits only if the injuries are serious enough to meet a standard set by the state.
Question | Arizona: At-Fault State | No-Fault State |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays first for injuries? | The at-fault driver’s insurer | Your own insurer |
| Is PIP required? | Yes | No |
| Can you sue the other driver? | Yes, and there’s no injury threshold | Only if injuries meet the state’s threshold |
| Do you still need liability insurance? | Yes, 25/50/15 minimum liability in Arizona | Yes |
Twelve states have no-fault insurance systems: Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
After an accident in Arizona, the at-fault driver is responsible for injuries and property damage. This means each driver files a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If you’re the at-fault driver, your liability insurance pays for the other driver’s medical expenses and vehicle repairs.
For example, in a rear-end collision at a red light in Phoenix, the driver who hit the vehicle from behind is at fault. Their insurance pays for the other driver’s medical bills and car repairs, up to the policy limits.
Crash-related injury claims pay for things like medical bills and lost wages, while property damage claims pay for vehicle repairs. But if you’re at fault, your liability insurance doesn’t cover injuries to you or your passengers or damage to your vehicle. Optional MedPay insurance can help pay for your medical expenses. And you’ll need full coverage to protect your vehicle or pay for repairs out of pocket.
If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance or is uninsured, optional uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can help cover the costs.
Arizona’s car insurance laws follow comparative negligence, which allows more than one driver to share responsibility for an accident.
In a personal injury lawsuit, both drivers can sue each other for damages. But the percentage of fault reduces compensation.[3] For example, let’s say you run a stop sign, and another driver is texting and doesn’t brake in time. You’re both partly responsible. If you’re found to be 30% at fault, your $10,000 settlement would be $7,000.
And if you’re determined to be at fault after an accident in Arizona, your car insurance rates are likely to go up — even if you share fault with the other driver.
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Arizona drivers must meet the state’s minimum insurance requirements to legally drive. Drivers need to carry 25/50/15 in liability coverage. Liability insurance covers injuries and damage you cause to others, but it doesn’t pay for your own injuries or vehicle.
Arizona doesn’t require drivers to carry PIP, MedPay, or UM/UIM coverage. But it’s important to know that all Arizona insurers legally must offer drivers UM/UIM coverage. To opt out, you’ll need to let your insurer know in writing.
Coverage Type | Arizona Minimum Requirement | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability per person | $25,000 | Injuries you cause to others |
| Bodily injury liability per accident | $50,000 | Total injury payout per accident if multiple people sustain an injury |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 | Property damage you cause |
Taking the right steps immediately after a crash helps protect your safety, legal rights, and insurance claim.
Check for injuries, and call 911 if anyone has suffered an injury or is in immediate danger.
Remain at the scene. Arizona law requires drivers to stop after a collision.[4]
Exchange your name, address, driver’s license, and vehicle registration with the other driver or drivers.
Take photos of vehicle damage, license plates, and road conditions to document the scene.
Get a police report when injuries or damage exceed $2,000. You may report minor crashes online with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.[5]
Notify your insurer to begin the claim process, regardless of who’s at fault.
Arizona is an at-fault state, and car insurance rules differ from those of no-fault states about who pays after an accident and legal action for damages. Check out these answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Arizona car insurance.
No. Arizona is an at-fault state, not a no-fault state. This means the insurance of the driver who caused the crash pays for injuries and damages.
No. Arizona doesn’t require personal injury protection insurance. To drive legally, Arizona drivers only need to carry 25/50/15 in bodily injury and property damage liability. But drivers can choose to add MedPay coverage for added protection.
After a car accident in Arizona, insurance companies determine fault or, if the case goes to court, a jury determines fault. Even if you’re mostly at fault, a court can still award you compensation in a personal injury suit, but your percentage of fault for the crash reduces your damages.
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:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
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