Save Money on Auto Insurance in Tempe

Finding cheap quotes on the web is problematic for drivers who are beginners to quoting and comparison shopping on the internet. With so many agents and insurers to choose from, how can drivers have a chance to compare them all to find the cheapest available price?

Unthinkable but true, the vast majority of car insurance customers kept their coverage with the same car insurance company for over three years, and nearly 40% of drivers have never taken the time to shop around. Consumers in Tempe could save nearly 50% a year just by comparing rates, but most undervalue the amount of savings they would get if they changed companies.

You should take the time to check car insurance prices once or twice a year due to the fact that insurance prices change frequently. Just because you found the best rates on car insurance last year you will most likely find a better rate quote today. You can find a lot of misleading information regarding car insurance on the web, but in this article, you’re going to get some of the best ways to find cheap car insurance in Tempe.

The are a couple different ways to get quotes from lots of Arizona insurance companies. The easiest way by far to find the cheapest insurance rates is to use the internet to compare rates.

When comparing insurance rates, know that comparing more rates from different companies helps improve the odds of finding more affordable rates.

The auto insurance companies shown below provide comparison quotes in Tempe, AZ. If multiple companies are listed, we recommend you visit as many as you can to get the best price comparison.


Insurance Rate Estimates for Popular Vehicles in Tempe
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Policy Premium 6-month Policy Premium Monthly Premium
Chevrolet Silverado LS Crew Cab 4WD $764 $382 $64
Dodge Ram Quad Cab SLT 2WD $1,144 $572 $95
Ford Escape XLT 4WD $922 $461 $77
Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 4WD $1,234 $617 $103
Ford Focus SE 4-Dr Sedan $882 $441 $74
GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab 2WD $1,080 $540 $90
Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan $1,204 $602 $100
Honda CR-V EX 2WD $656 $328 $55
Honda Civic EX-L 4-Dr Sedan $1,006 $503 $84
Hyundai Elantra SE 4-Dr Sedan $1,100 $550 $92
Hyundai Sonata Limited 4-Dr Sedan $1,008 $504 $84
Kia Optima LX $1,100 $550 $92
Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4-Dr Sedan $1,246 $623 $104
Toyota Camry Hybrid $1,030 $515 $86
Toyota Corolla LE $1,246 $623 $104
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD $1,196 $598 $100
Get Your Own Custom Quote Go

Cost estimates assume single female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $250 deductibles, and Arizona minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Price estimates do not factor in specific location which can increase or decrease prices considerably.

Difference between liability only and full coverage rates

The chart below examines Nissan Sentra insurance costs with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Arizona. The premiums are based on no accidents or driving violations, $500 deductibles, single male driver, and no additional discounts are factored in.

Nissan Sentra rates are for example purposes only. To get rates for your specific vehicle, click here.

Should you buy full coverage or liability only?

There is no exact rule of when to drop comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than around 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

For example, let’s say your Nissan Sentra book value is $6,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is severely damaged, the most your company would pay you is $5,000 after you pay the deductible. If you are paying in excess of $500 annually for physical damage coverage, then you might want to consider buying only liability coverage.

There are some conditions where dropping full coverage is not financially feasible. If you haven’t satisfied your loan, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you don’t have enough money to buy a different vehicle in the even your car is totaled, you should maintain full coverage.

Discounts mean cheaper rates

Some companies do not advertise every policy discount very well, so the list below gives a summary of both well-publicized and also the more inconspicuous car insurance savings.Cheaper car insurance with discounts

Drivers should understand that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. Some only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Despite the appearance that it’s possible to get free car insurance, you aren’t that lucky.

A list of companies and some of their more popular discounts are outlined below.

Double check with every insurance company the best way to save money. Some discounts might not apply in Tempe.

Comparing rates from local Tempe insurance agencies

Many people just want to get professional advice from a licensed agent and there is nothing wrong with that. The best thing about price shopping on the web is that you can find the lowest rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local agencies is important especially in Tempe.

Find insurance agent in TempeTo help locate an agent, after submitting this quick form, the coverage information gets sent to agents in your area that can provide free Tempe auto insurance quotes for your business. It makes it easy because there is no need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go straight to your inbox. You can most likely find cheaper rates without requiring a lot of work. If you wish to compare rates for a specific company, you just need to go to their quote page and fill out the quote form the provide.

If you want a reliable insurance agency, it’s helpful to know the different types of agents and how they differ in how they quote coverages. Insurance agents in Tempe can be categorized as either exclusive agents or independent agents.

Independent Agents (or Brokers)

These agents are normally appointed by many insurers and that is an advantage because they can write policies amongst many companies and find you the best rates. If they find a cheaper price, your agent can just switch to a different company and you stay with the same agent.

When shopping rates, it’s a good idea to get rate quotes from several independent agencies to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with different regional companies that can offer cheaper rates than bigger companies.

Below is a list of independent insurance agents in Tempe that may be able to provide free price quotes.

More insurance agents

Exclusive Insurance Agencies

Agents that elect to be exclusive have only one company to place business with and examples are Allstate, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. These agents are unable to compare rates from other companies so always compare other rates. Exclusive insurance agents are well trained on their company’s products and that allows them to sell at a higher price point. Some consumers prefer to use the same exclusive agent mostly because of high brand loyalty and solid financial strength.

Shown below are Tempe exclusive agents who can help you get rate quotes.

More insurance agents

Choosing the best car insurance agent needs to be determined by more than just a low price. A good agent in Tempe will have answers to these questions.

After you get acceptable answers for all questions you ask as well as a affordable price, you have narrowed it down to a car insurance agent that meets the requirements to insure your vehicles.

It’s not one size fits all

Always keep in mind that when comparing insurance from an agent or online, there really is no cookie cutter policy. Everyone’s situation is unique and your policy should reflect that.Higher deductibles save money
Here are some questions about coverages that can aid in determining if your situation could use an agent’s help.

If you’re not sure about those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. To find lower rates from a local agent, simply complete this short form or click here for a list of insurance companies in your area.

Save $488 a year? Really?

Companies like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO seem to constantly run ads on television and other media. They all seem to make the promise that you’ll save big if you switch your insurance coverage to their company. How does every company make the same claim? Here is how they do it.

All the different companies quote the lowest rates for the type of driver they prefer to insure. For instance, this type of driver might have to be a married female, has a clear driving record, and the vehicle is rated for pleasure use. Any new insured that meets those criteria receives the best premium rates in Tempe and as a result will probably save a lot of money.

Consumers who do not meet these standards may receive higher premiums with the end result being the driver buying from a lower-cost company. If you listen closely, the ads state “customers that switch” not “everybody who quotes” save money. That’s the way companies can truthfully advertise the way they do.

This really drives home the point why it’s extremely important to get Tempe auto insurance quotes as often as possible. It is impossible to predict which insurance company will have better premium rates than you’re paying now.

Car insurance coverage information

Understanding the coverages of your car insurance policy can be of help when determining the right coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and reading a policy is terribly boring. Listed below are the normal coverages found on the average car insurance policy.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM)

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they either have no liability insurance or not enough. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants and damage to your vehicle.

Since a lot of drivers carry very low liability coverage limits (15/30/10), their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea. Most of the time these limits do not exceed the liability coverage limits.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage pay for bills for nursing services, surgery, ambulance fees and doctor visits. They are used in conjunction with a health insurance policy or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and will also cover if you are hit as a while walking down the street. Personal injury protection coverage is not universally available and may carry a deductible

Medical Payment Insurance Claims by Vehicle Make and Model
Lowest Claim Frequency Highest Claim Frequency
Audi A4 Allroad Hyundai Accent
Ford Expedition Mitsubishi Mirage
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Chevrolet Spark
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Chevrolet Sonic
Tesla Model S Dodge Charger
Ford F-350 SuperCrew Nissan Sentra

Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years

Liability insurance

Liability insurance can cover damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property by causing an accident. It protects you from claims by other people, and does not provide coverage for your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 15/30/10 that translate to $15,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, a limit of $30,000 in injury protection per accident, and $10,000 of coverage for damaged property. Some companies may use a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount rather than limiting it on a per person basis.

Liability insurance covers things like funeral expenses, pain and suffering and legal defense fees. The amount of liability coverage you purchase is your choice, but it’s cheap coverage so purchase as high a limit as you can afford. Arizona state law requires minimum liability limits of 15/30/10 but you should think about purchasing more coverage.

Liability Insurance Claims by Manufacturer Model
Lowest Claim Frequency Highest Claim Frequency
Mercedes-Benz SL Class Dodge Charger
Subaru Outback Chevrolet Cruze
Fiat 500 Kia Rio
Subaru Forester Mitsubishi Mirage
Audi A6 Hyndai Accent
Volvo XC60 Mitsubishi Lancer

Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years

Collision insurance

This covers damage to your vehicle resulting from colliding with a stationary object or other vehicle. You will need to pay your deductible and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision can pay for claims like hitting a parking meter, sustaining damage from a pot hole and scraping a guard rail. Collision coverage makes up a good portion of your premium, so you might think about dropping it from older vehicles. Another option is to raise the deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.

Car Insurance Collision Claims by Vehicle
Lowest Claim Frequency Highest Claim Frequency
Ford F-250 SuperCab Audi RS7
Ford F-150 SuperCrew Nissan GT-R
Smart ForTwo Ferrari 458
GMC Canyon Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Chevrolet Colorado BMW 6 Series
Mini Cooper Bently Continental GTC

Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years

Comprehensive insurance

This coverage will pay to fix damage from a wide range of events other than collision. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive insurance covers claims such as damage from flooding, a broken windshield and hitting a deer. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if your deductible is as high as the vehicle’s value consider removing comprehensive coverage.

Vehicle Models with the Lowest and Highest Comprehensive Coverage Claims
Lowest Claim Frequency Highest Claim Frequency
Nissan Leaf Porsche Panamera GTS
Chevy Silverado 2500 Mercedes-Benz S Class
GMC Sierra 2500 Maserati Quattroporte
Ford F-350 BMW M6
Nissan Xterra Maserati Granturismo
Smart ForTwo BMW M6

Data Source: iihs.org (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for 2013-2015 Model Years

How much can you save?

Throughout this article, we presented many tips how you can save on auto insurance in Tempe. The key concept to understand is the more rate quotes you have, the better your chances of lowering your rates. Drivers may even discover the most savings is with a lesser-known regional company. Smaller companies may cover specific market segments cheaper compared to the large companies like Allstate or State Farm.

A few companies may not offer online rate quotes and usually these regional carriers only sell through independent agents. Lower-priced auto insurance in Tempe is attainable from both online companies in addition to local insurance agencies, and you need to price shop both so you have a total pricing picture.

More information can be found at the links below