Drivers with a history of tickets face more expensive car insurance rates. Learn how to save and compare rates today.
If you've been deemed at-fault after a car crash, filed an insurance claim, or received a ticket for a serious moving violation, you could be a candidate for high-risk auto insurance. Car insurance for drivers with poor records is typically costly, but the degree of extra cost you receive depends on your insurance company, your driving record, and the state in which you reside.
If you are deemed accountable for causing an auto collision, you should expect your auto insurance rates to skyrocket. In Arizona, the average insurance premium following an at-fault crash is $1,936, versus the national average of $2,012. A major incident such as an at-fault crash will stay on your insurance record for as long as three years.
| Location | With At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | No At-Fault Accident — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
| Arizona | $1,936 | $1,247 | $689 |
| U.S. Average | $2,012 | $1,397 | $615 |
The best auto insurance company after an at-fault accident in Arizona is USAA, offering a typical premium increase after an accident of $421. This equates to a total rate 22 percent less expensive than the average of all major companies. If you’ve caused an accident in Arizona, steer clear of Allstate and American Family, which sit at the pricier end of the spectrum.
| Company | Annual Premium After an At-Fault Crash |
| USAA | $1,515 |
| GEICO | $1,734 |
| State Farm | $1,767 |
| Allstate | $2,355 |
| American Family | $2,350 |
One of the common violations earning drivers the "high-risk" tag is speeding. In Arizona, you can expect to see your rates rise by $440 per year after a speeding ticket, up to an average per-year rate of $1,688.
| Location | With a Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | No Speeding Ticket — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Arizona | $1,688 | $1,247 | $440 |
| National Average | $1,727 | $1,397 | $330 |
The best way to get affordable car insurance after a speeding citation is to shop around and compare your options. The most affordable auto insurance after a speeding ticket in Arizona is available via USAA. The company’s average premium after a citation is $380 less than the state average. If you have been caught speeding in Arizona, Progressive is worth avoiding.
| Insurer | Annual Rate With a Speeding Violation |
| USAA | $1,308 |
| American Family | $1,507 |
| GEICO | $1,511 |
| State Farm | $1,600 |
| Progressive | $1,865 |
If you are issued a distracted driving citation, your car insurance won't be cheap. In Arizona, car insurance prices typically increase by $309 each year. That amounts to a 25% increase from the average yearly rate in Arizona and 79% more than the national average cost of auto insurance after a distracted driving offense.
| Location | With Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | No Distracted Driving — Annual Rate | Annual Rate Increase |
| Arizona | $1,556 | $1,247 | $309 |
| National Average | $1,570 | $1,397 | $173 |
The best way to get cheap auto insurance after a distracted driving ticket is to compare different carriers. The cheapest auto insurance company following being ticketed for distracted driving in Arizona is GEICO, with a typical rate of just $905 per year, 42% lower than the average distracted driving insurance premium from all insurers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate After Distracted Driving |
| GEICO | $905 |
| USAA | $1,220 |
| State Farm | $1,338 |
| USAA | $1,396 |
| American Family | $1,507 |
Racing is considered an exceptionally serious offense. Auto insurance carriers typically penalize racing convictions severely — in fact, Arizona car insurance rates increase by $1,827 per year following a citation for racing. That's a 147% increase versus the typical annual car insurance rate in Arizona.
| Location | With a Racing Citation — Annual Rate | No Racing Citation — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
| Arizona | $3,074 | $1,247 | $1,827 |
| National Average | $2,397 | $1,397 | $1,000 |
If you've been ticketed for racing, do your due diligence and find the cheapest rates. In Arizona, start with Allstate, offering rates 14 percent cheaper than the state average for drivers found guilty of racing.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Racing |
| Allstate | $2,639 |
| American Family | $2,319 |
| Farmers | $2,361 |
| GEICO | $6,069 |
| Progressive | $2,103 |
As one of the most serious driving violations, reckless driving is a certain way to end up paying more for auto insurance. Auto insurance companies raise prices by an average of $928 each year after reckless driving. That's 74% more than than the average auto insurance rate in Arizona, and 4% less than the national average price increase for a reckless driving ticket.
| Location | With Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | No Reckless Driving — Annual Rate | Yearly Rate Increase |
| Arizona | $2,175 | $1,247 | $928 |
| National Average | $2,395 | $1,397 | $998 |
If you're looking for car insurance after a reckless driving ticket, compare insurance companies to get the most affordable rate. In Arizona, the most affordable carrier after reckless driving is USAA.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate With Reckless Driving |
| USAA | $1,528 |
| Progressive | $2,103 |
| State Farm | $2,103 |
| American Family | $2,319 |
| Farmers | $2,361 |
If you're looking for car insurance as a high-risk driver, the best thing to do is to shop around and find an affordable policy.
Traffic laws in Arizona are meant to prevent dangerous situations that result from unsafe driving. Arizona traffic laws stipulate when you are speeding, driving recklessly or distracted, racing, or at-fault for an accident. Fines and penalties vary depending on the offense and its severity in an attempt to incentivize against breaking traffic laws in Arizona.
Arizona requires drivers to maintain “reasonable and prudent” speeds for the conditions in which they’re driving. This stipulation applies to both minimum and maximum speed limits.
You are speeding in Arizona if your speed exceeds:
Local authorities may alter the speed limit within their jurisdictions, so it’s important to pay attention to and follow any posted speed limit signs.
Excessive speeding in Arizona is a class three misdemeanor and happens if you exceed:
The exact fine incurred for speeding in Arizona varies on the county in which you’re stopped and the rate of speed you are driving. In general, a speeding ticket will cost around $250.
Excessive speeding is a criminal offense and can result in a fine of $500 and up to 30 days in jail.
Speeding in Arizona will result in the accumulation of three points onto your license. Receiving eight points within a year will subject you to a license suspension of up to one year.
In lieu of paying a fine and receiving points against your license, you may be able to attend traffic school at your own cost.
Reckless driving in Arizona is not strictly defined. Drivers may be considered to be driving recklessly if they are driving with little concern for the safety of others.
Aggressive driving in Arizona is a more severe offense. Aggressive driving occurs when a driver commits two or more of the following violations:
Reckless driving in Arizona is a class two misdemeanor and results in:
A second reckless driving charge within 24 months is a class one misdemeanor and results in:
Violators who are sentenced to jail but attend school or work may be released from jail to attend school or work for up to 12 hours a day and not more than five days per week, serving the remaining time in jail.
Aggressive driving in Arizona is a class one misdemeanor. A first offense leads to:
A second aggressive driving charge within 24 months is also a class one misdemeanor and results in stricter penalties and fines. Additionally, your driver’s license may be revoked for one year.
Both reckless and aggressive driving charges result in the addition of eight points to your driver’s license.
There is no statewide distracted driving law in Arizona. Instead, legislation has been left to individual municipalities — at least for the time being. When traveling through Arizona, pay attention to the distracted driving laws of the areas through which you will be driving.
In contrast, however, Arizona does not permit teenage drivers to use a wireless device, except in an emergency. Drivers with a class G graduated license may not use wireless devices while driving for a period of six months of receiving their license, except for GPS or emergency use.
Read here for more on texting and driving statistics.
Racing in Arizona is defined as the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain or outdistance another vehicle or prevent another vehicle from passing.
Drag racing in Arizona is defined as two or more vehicles starting from a point side-by-side and accelerating in a competitive attempt at outdistancing one another. It may also mean comparing the relative speeds or acceleration of vehicles over a selected course within a certain distance or time limit.
While racing is illegal in Arizona, organized and properly-controlled races may be authorized with prior notice and approval.
A first-time conviction for racing in Arizona is a class one misdemeanor and subjects offenders to:
A second or subsequent offense for racing in Arizona within 24 months of a previous conviction is a class six felony. Violators will not be eligible for probation, pardon, a suspended sentence, or release until serving at least 10 days in jail and up to one year in jail or two years in prison.
In addition to jail time, a second or subsequent offense will result in:
Arizona is a fault-based state, so the responsibility for an accident may be assigned to a specific driver. You may be responsible for an at-fault accident in Arizona if you:
In some cases, fault is assigned to multiple parties based on the degree to which they were liable for causing an accident.
Additionally, Arizona is also considered a state of comparative negligence. If your own actions were negligent and contributed to your own injuries or damage sustained to your property, any compensation you receive may be reduced by the percentage of your own fault.
Arizona requires drivers of all motor vehicles, including golf carts, motorcycles, and mopeds, to be covered by liability insurance. The minimum level of liability insurance in Arizona is:
Drivers are not required to report at-fault accidents in Arizona. Instead, this duty falls to law enforcement. Reports will be filed when an accident results in:
Driving without insurance and being found at-fault for an accident in Arizona results in:
A second offense results in:
A third offense leads to:
In all cases, you will also be required to have an SR-22 certification for two years.
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