Getting a driver’s license marks a life milestone for many teenagers. But having a license and car also means needing car insurance to protect new drivers on the road and follow the law. But auto insurance for young drivers is expensive. Before you buy a policy, you should know what kind of insurance to get, what it covers, what factors impact your premium and how to find cheap car insurance quotes for teens. Here’s what you need to know about buying car insurance for teens in Tucson, Arizona.
Why Is Arizona Car Insurance Important for Teenage Drivers?
New drivers, including teenagers, are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents on the road. It takes time to get used to handling a vehicle properly, even after practicing with a learner’s permit and passing a driving test. Their newfound freedom behind the wheel may lead to reckless or distracted driving, which can cause collisions and put the driver, passengers, and others on the road at risk.
Teenage drivers are more likely to get in accidents than drivers aged 20 or older. Car insurance protects you and your teen in the event of a crash. It helps you avoid paying out of pocket if your teen is at fault for an accident. It also covers damage to your teen’s vehicle – or the family’s vehicle – if something happens to it.
Car insurance in Arizona gives your teenage driver financial protection if they need to pay for medical expenses, repairs, legal fees, and more after an accident. A collision may sometimes put them out of work for a while due to injury. Plus, their costs may jump even higher if they have an injured passenger. Often, the expenses related to damage from collisions are too high for most teenagers to pay out of pocket.
Along with the personal benefits of insuring your teen’s vehicle, Arizona law requires teens to have auto insurance. Going without it is a civil offense, and as a parent, you have joint liability for any accidents caused by your teen. Therefore, getting a good insurance policy protects you, too.
How Much is Auto Insurance for Teens in Tucson?
Because teen drivers fall into what is known as a high-risk driver category, their monthly average car insurance rate in Tucson is $227 in 2022 for just the required liability insurance and $638 in 2022 for full coverage insurance. Here are some average monthly comparisons based on age for Tucson car insurance:
| Age | Full Coverage Insurance | Liability Only Insurance |
| 18 | $638 | $227 |
| 23 | $220 | $76 |
| 30 | $163 | $54 |
| 40 | $160 | $54 |
Our “average” rates are based in the 85701 zip code. We searched for male drivers in a fairly average car, such as a Toyota Corolla or Honda. Your rates will differ based on a variety of factors, such as location and type of car. However, you can clearly see that as a young driver ages, their insurance rates go down – that is if they keep a clean driving record throughout.
What Car Insurance Coverage is Needed for Teen Drivers in Tucson, Arizona?
At a minimum, the state-required liability insurance. In Arizona, this means a policy with coverage limits of at least:
- $25,000 for bodily injury/death for one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury/death for two or more people
- $15,000 for property damage to others’ property
Liability insurance isn’t the only kind of insurance your teen can get, but it’s up to the policyholder what they want to cover and how much they want to pay in premiums. If your teen driver buys a vehicle and finances it, their coverage will most likely be full coverage car insurance. This is the required liability, plus comprehensive insurance and collision coverage.
Other insurance options include:
- Collision: This type of coverage protects your vehicle after an accident with another car, so neither you nor your teenage driver have to pay for the damage completely out of pocket, no matter who is at fault.
- Comprehensive: This insurance covers damage outside of accidents, such as destruction due to natural disasters. For example, if a tree falls on your car during a storm, comprehensive insurance helps pay for the damage.
- Rental reimbursement: Rental reimbursement pays you back for transportation expenses while your car is in the repair shop after an accident.
- Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance helps pay for several important issues, especially if you have a teen driver, such as running out of gas or getting a flat tire on the side of highway.
- Gap insurance: If your insurance policy doesn’t fully cover what you still owe on a financed car that has been stolen or totaled, gap insurance pays the difference, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket.
Because car insurance for teens can get expensive quickly, you may not want to add on every type of insurance right away. Start with liability insurance, especially because premiums will go up if your teen has to file a claim on their vehicle.
How Do You Get Car Insurance for Teenagers in Tucson?
Teenage drivers can get car insurance in Tucson in one of two ways: buy a policy or have their parents add them to their policy. Being added to a family policy usually works better and is cheaper than buying an individual policy for a new driver.
To add a teenage driver to your policy:
- Talk to your insurance company about the process.
- Start by getting a quote for how much it would be to add your teen to your current policy with the same coverage.
- If you’re a parent, involve your teen in the process, so they can understand how to get car insurance in Arizona and their responsibility as a new driver.
If you’re a parent helping your teen get their insurance policy, you can start by reaching out to your insurance company or researching others to find the best car insurance rates for teenage drivers.
If you’re a teen looking to buy your own insurance, look into different companies that offer coverage in your area and see how they compare before you make your decision. Each company will be different, so it’s important to shop around first. When you find a company you like, call them or get a quote online to see how much premiums cost, and ask questions to see if it’s the right policy for your needs.
How Do Teenage Drivers Affect Policy Premiums in Tucson?
If you’re a parent planning to put your teen driver on your car insurance policy, it will boost your premiums significantly. Teenage drivers present a greater risk to insurers. You may need to adjust your coverage or liability limits, as some families see their premiums skyrocket more than 100% when they add a teen to their policy. However, the actual cost varies between insurers and policies, so make sure you shop around.
Your teen’s gender can also affect your insurance costs. Adding a teenage male to your policy is often more expensive than adding a teenage female. Arizona car insurance costs already rank above the national average, so it’s important to choose your policy wisely. Premiums typically reduce when a driver reaches age 25, as ages 16-24 are considered young drivers.
What if Your Tucson Teenager Gets Into an Accident?
If your teen gets into an accident in Arizona, they will need to take all the steps to report the collision and provide proper information. Make sure that before your teen starts driving, you talk with them to help them understand how to take the right steps in the event of an accident.
First, they should stop the vehicle and check for any injuries. Then, call the police to report the accident. When it comes to the insurance side of things, exchanging information with the other driver, including their name, address, driver’s license number, and registration number, is vital to filing a claim.
Once they have this information, they should call their insurance company, provide this information to the insurer, and tell them what happened. If your teen gets into an accident, their premiums will go up, so be prepared if they’re on your policy.
How Can You Lower Teenage Car Insurance Rates in Arizona?
While your policy costs will unavoidably go up with a teen driver, there are steps you can take to get lower insurance premiums. Not all Arizona car insurance companies offer the same perks, but knowing about potential discounts and other ways to reduce your rates can help you ask the right questions.
To start, consider bundling your home insurance and car insurance with one company to get a discount on both. If you can afford to pay a higher deductible out of pocket if you or your teen gets in an accident, you can get lower premiums. Check to see if your insurance company offers discounts for teens who get good grades or take a driver’s education course. Lastly, some insurers offer discounts if you sign up for automatic bill pay.
Each discount may not seem like much on its own, but when you put them together, they can make a difference to your monthly and annual payments. Aside from these quick ways to lower premiums, teenage drivers can reduce their insurance costs over time by obeying the rules of the road and maintaining a clean driving record. As they gain driving experience, that will show the insurance company that they carry less risk.
Get Cheap Car Insurance for Teenagers in Tucson, Arizona
When you need to find cheap car insurance for young drivers, the professionals at Oasis Insurance can help. We take the time to understand your policy needs and recommend the right one for you and your new driver.
Contact us at 800-330-5190 or get a fast car insurance quote online today. You can also visit one of our offices to talk with our insurance experts in person.
