Arizona Car Insurance

With over 6.3 million residents living in Arizona, it is vital for drivers to be as careful as possible. This includes following defensive driving techniques as well as choosing the proper amount of car insurance for their specific driving habits.

Drivers in Arizona share the road with over 3.5 million registered non-commercial and 446,669 commercial vehicles each day. Of course, these numbers do not include the thousands of non-residents driving in Arizona each day. These numbers also signify an overwhelming amount of daily risk drivers encounter everyday on the road. To ensure optimal protection, take the time to compare and research a variety of quotes from a variety of insurance providers. Don't risk your financial future by choosing to carry only the minimum amount of coverage. Choose your insurance policy wisely and protect your vehicle, yourself, and your family.

Arizona is located in the southwestern United States and is home to the Grand Canyon National Park. This historic landmark receives thousands of visitors each year that in turn contribute millions of dollars to the state's economy. Residents in Arizona also enjoy a variety of professional sports franchises including the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Cardinals.

Minimum requirements

To legally own and operate a vehicle in Arizona, drivers must possess a minimum amount of insurance. State law requires a minimum of $15,000 for an individual injured in an accident, $30,000 for the collective total of people injured in an accident, and $10,000 worth of property damage protection. You may see these minimums represented in the form of 15/30/10. This minimum requirement is within the national average for minimum insurance requirements and does not require drivers to possess either comprehensive or underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance.

Although the state determines the minimum amount of insurance, it does not mean that these figures fully protect drivers in the event of an accident. For example, one of the most common areas that Arizona drivers choose to increase is the limit on property damage. For example, most new cars cost over $10,000 to buy. If driver is responsible for a severe collision resulting in the total destruction of a vehicle, the responsible party pays the difference. It is also wise to consider increasing the liability limits. This is because if a driver or passenger is injured, medical bills can quickly skyrocket to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Take the time to discuss with an insurance professional the risks involved with each aspect of your insurance policy.

Statistics

According to the latest produced report from the Arizona Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Division, there were 140,197 motor vehicle crashes in 2006. Of these, 1,121 were fatal and 7,693 involved alcohol. There were also 68,574 people injured because of motor vehicle accidents in 2006. This report also determined that rear end accidents were the most common cause of collision with speeding being the most common driver infraction.

Not surprisingly, most accidents occur on Friday during the rush hour of 4 p.m.- 5 p.m. Most fatal accidents occur Saturday night between 7 p.m.- 8 p.m. Financially, Arizona suffered $3.67 billion dollars worth of damage because of motor vehicle accidents.

Optional coverage

The best drivers are those who prepare themselves for the greatest amount of variables. This includes being prepared on and off the road. For example, drivers who use their vehicles in metropolitan areas should consider adding comprehensive insurance to their policy. Comprehensive insurance protects drivers from vandalism, fire, storm damage, and theft. This is especially useful if you park your car on a city street or in an unsecured parking garage.

Drivers may also want to choose to carry underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage. This form of insurance protects drivers in the event of an accident caused by a driver who does not possess enough insurance. Sadly, most estimates consider 50% of motorists to carry insufficient vehicle insurance. This form of insurance is especially beneficial in collisions. Consider a driver without insurance who hits and damages your vehicle. Of course, you can take the driver to court to recover costs, however, if a driver can't afford basic car insurance the likelihood of collecting thousands of dollars from them becomes highly unlikely.

Finally, Arizona drivers may want to consider collision insurance. This form of insurance pays for damages resulting from collisions and regardless of fault. Collision insurance, like every other form of car insurance has set financial limits, which the insurance company pays after the driver has fulfilled their deductible obligation.

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