Car insurance in the Phoenix area

Last updated: November 12, 2026

The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area, as the U.S. Census Bureau defines it, covers 2 counties in Arizona. It had an estimated 5,186,958 residents in July 2024, up 6.9% from its April 2020 base. Car insurance prices aren't set by metro area, but where you live and how much you drive both affect what you pay. Here's what the public data says about driving in the Phoenix area.

State rules that apply in the Phoenix area

Your policy follows the rules of the state where your car is registered. Each state's page has the full minimums, SR-22 rules and sources.

State	Minimum liability	Fault system	Avg. spending, 2023	Uninsured drivers, 2023
Arizona	25/50/15	At‑fault	$1,344	10.6%

Average spending is the NAIC's statewide average expenditure per insured vehicle (U.S.: $1,282). Uninsured rates are Insurance Research Council estimates (U.S.: 15.4%). Both are statewide figures, not metro figures.

How people get around the Phoenix area

From the Census Bureau's 2025 American Community Survey:

Average commute: 27.5 minutes each way, about the same as the U.S. figure (27.4 minutes).
Drive alone to work: 67.4% of workers (U.S.: 69.8%). Another 10.4% carpool (U.S.: 8.9%).
Take public transportation: 1.0% of workers (U.S.: 3.8%).
Work from home: 17.4% of workers (U.S.: 12.9%).
Households without a vehicle: 5.7% (U.S.: 8.8%). Households with three or more vehicles: 22.3% (U.S.: 22.1%).

With 17.4% of workers at home, many drivers here put fewer miles on their cars than they did a few years ago. If that's you, make sure your insurer has your current mileage.

Crash deaths in the Phoenix area

In 2024, 687 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the 2 counties of the Phoenix area, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. That's 13.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, above the national rate of 11.5 reported by IIHS. Pedestrians were 23% of those killed, compared with 18% nationwide.

That puts the Phoenix area above the national rate even though it's a large metro area. Insurers price on how often claims happen and what they cost, including vehicle repairs and medical bills, so local crash patterns can show up in premiums.

Ways to save on car insurance in the Phoenix area

Compare quotes from several insurers. Each company weighs location, mileage and driving history differently. More ways to lower your bill.
Update your mileage. If you work from home or have a short commute, a lower annual mileage estimate or a usage-based program may lower your price. Is pay-per-mile worth it?
Check your liability limits. Pedestrian crashes can cause serious injuries, and state minimums may not cover a serious claim. Liability vs. full coverage.
Ask about discounts for bundling, paying in full, safe driving and multiple cars. They aren't always applied automatically.

What this page covers

Figures on this page are for the Census Bureau's Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes: Maricopa County, AZ; Pinal County, AZ.

See other metro areas in our car insurance guides.

Sources

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DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.