DUI Car Insurance in Arizona


Key Takeaways
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Your driving record shows a DUI for five years in Arizona, while insurers raise rates for three years (read more).

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Arizona requires an SR-22 filing for three years post-DUI, which your insurance company submits to prove coverage (read more).

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Shopping around helps find affordable DUI coverage, with State Farm offering Arizona's lowest rates at $116 per month (read more).

How Long Does a DUI Affect Car Insurance in Arizona?

Most Arizona drivers have higher insurance costs for three years after a DUI, though the conviction remains on your driving record for five years. The exact timeline varies by insurer and your overall driving history, as companies review your record and factor the DUI into their rate calculations.

Drivers with clean records in the state pay around $134 per month for coverage, while those with a DUI have average monthly costs of $217. This substantial increase means drivers with a DUI will have difficulty finding cheap rates, making it essential to compare quotes from multiple insurers.

Arizona requires an SR-22 filing to prove you carry the state's minimum liability coverage of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident and $15,000 for property damage). Read more about insurance costs after a DUI in Arizona.

Insurance Requirements After a DUI in Arizona

Arizona's SR-22 requirement runs three years after a DUI conviction. Your insurer submits the form directly to the state to confirm you're carrying active coverage, and the DMV monitors your status for the full three-year period.

Any lapse or cancellation during that window forces your insurer to notify the DMV, which automatically suspends your license. A single gap doesn't just pause the clock. It extends your legal obligations past the original DUI date. Keep your policy active and your payments current throughout the entire filing period.

How Much Does Insurance Cost After a DUI in Arizona?

Arizona drivers pay high insurance costs after a DUI, with monthly premiums jumping from $134 to $217 for full coverage. That's a 62% increase that strains household budgets for those with DUI convictions.

Nationally, drivers with DUIs pay $219 per month compared to $122 for clean records, an 80% increase. Arizona's 62% increase falls below that national figure, making the state relatively more forgiving than most for post-DUI insurance penalties.

Data filtered by:
Full Coverage
Arizona$134$217
National$122$219

Best Cheap DUI Car Insurance Companies

Drivers with DUI convictions can save $101 monthly with State Farm, which offers the cheapest car insurance for Arizona residents. Travelers earns the best overall car insurance ranking based on MoneyGeek's comprehensive scoring system.

That $101 monthly difference adds up to $1,212 a year compared to the state's $217 average for DUI drivers. State Farm charges $116 per month, which is 47% below Arizona's post-DUI average.

Travelers charges $129 per month and earned a 4.74 out of 5 MoneyGeek score. The rating weighs affordability, customer experience and coverage options. Drivers who want quality service alongside lower rates will find Travelers a good fit.

Travelers4.74$129
Progressive4.59$158
Auto Owners4.54$198
State Farm4.52$116
Farmers4.29$198
Allstate4.04$254
Safeway Insurance4.04$173
Geico4.01$242
Nationwide3.87$299
AAA3.51$454

Can You Get an Insurance Rate Reduction if You Don't Have a DUI?

Don't fall for ads promising special payouts for maintaining a clean driving record. Facebook ads claiming cash back for DUI-free driving are common scams designed to steal your personal information. No insurance company offers rebates or refunds for avoiding DUIs. Insurers price coverage based on risk assessment. Drivers without DUI convictions pay lower premiums because they're safer to insure, not because of any bonus program.

Additional Costs to Consider After a DUI in Arizona

Car insurance premiums aren't the only financial hit after a DUI in Arizona. Legal fees, mandatory device installations and court-ordered programs add up fast.

  • Fines and court costs. A first-time DUI carries a minimum $1,250 fine and at least 10 days in jail. Second offenses bring minimum fines of $3,000 and a 90-day sentence. Extreme DUI cases start at $2,500 and 30 days for first offenses. All convictions also carry court fees, community service requirements and DUI surcharges.
  • Towing and impound fees. Your vehicle will likely be impounded after a DUI arrest. Towing runs $100 to $300, storage costs up to $25 per day and Arizona statute sets an administrative impound fee of around $150.
  • Drug/alcohol screening and education. Before reinstatement, you must complete a drug or alcohol screening and DUI prevention classes. State-approved programs cost $25 to $360, depending on course length.
  • Ignition interlock device (IID). Arizona law requires an IID for at least one year after conviction. Installation runs $75 to $100, with monthly monitoring fees of $70 to $100 depending on the provider.
  • License reinstatement fee. The Arizona MVD charges a reinstatement fee to recover your driving privileges. You'll also need to show proof of IID installation and completion of all required programs.
  • Attorney fees and accident liability. Legal representation for DUI cases usually starts around $2,000 and climbs with case complexity. If you caused a crash while under the influence, you may also owe repair bills, medical expenses and face civil suits.
  • Insurance premium increases. Arizona drivers with a DUI on record see their premiums roughly double in the first few years after conviction.

How to Get the Best Cheap Arizona Car Insurance With a DUI

Getting affordable car insurance after a DUI in Arizona isn’t easy, but it’s possible. The steps below can help you lower your rates and find coverage, even if you’ve been denied by standard insurers.

  1. 1
    Understand your needs

    After a DUI in Arizona, you'll need to carry additional coverage, but don't stop at the minimum. Optional add-ons like collision or uninsured motorist coverage give you broader financial protection. Use our auto insurance coverage needs calculator to figure out where to start.

  2. 2
    Research costs and discounts

    Before pulling quotes, look up average car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI in your part of Arizona. Bundling policies, applying online and signing up early can all trim your premium. Arizona's defensive driving program may cut your rate by up to 10% if you qualify.

  3. 3
    Compare multiple providers

    No single insurer offers the lowest rate for every driver. Pull quotes from as many companies as you can, and make sure each quote reflects the same coverage levels so you're doing an apples-to-apples comparison.

  4. 4
    Use state high-risk car insurance programs if denied

    If traditional insurers turn you down, the Arizona Automobile Insurance Plan, managed by AIPSO, connects high-risk drivers with coverage. Premiums through this program run higher than the open market, but it keeps you legally insured.

  5. 5
    Make lifestyle or vehicle changes

    A better credit score can lower what you pay for car insurance. If you're in the market for a vehicle, choosing a model that's cheaper to insure helps keep costs down.

  6. 6
    Consider nontraditional coverage types

    Low-mileage drivers can cut costs with a pay-per-mile insurance program. Usage-based insurance rewards safe driving habits with discounts of up to 40%.

DUI Insurance in Arizona: FAQ

MoneyGeek's experts answer the most common questions about getting car insurance after a DUI in Arizona.

Who has the cheapest car insurance for Arizona drivers with a DUI?

How much does a DUI increase rates in Arizona?

How We Chose the Cheapest Car Insurance for Arizona's DUI Drivers

MoneyGeek examined records from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services to identify the best providers for Arizona drivers with DUIs. We reviewed financial stability, customer satisfaction, claims handling and affordability across companies.

These rates represent a 40-year-old male with both a clean driving record and a DUI conviction insuring a 2012 Toyota Camry LE driven 12,000 miles yearly. We created variations of this base profile for additional rate comparisons.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.


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