Car Insurance in Florida vs. Arizona: Costs, Laws and Resources

If you are moving from Florida to Arizona, be aware of the difference in car insurance requirements. In Florida, state law requires you to have a policy with property damage liability and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. However, Arizona’s drivers are only required to have liability coverage.

MoneyGeek researched average policy costs, the cheapest options and differences in requirements and laws for car insurance in Florida vs. Arizona.

Car insurance laws in Florida require a policy with at least $10,000 in property damage liability and PIP coverage. Arizona car insurance laws in Arizona require drivers to have a policy with 15/30/10 in liability limits.

The average cost of the minimum coverage in Florida is $1,123 per year, while it costs an average of $649 annually in Arizona. Florida requires less coverage, but car insurance costs are higher than Arizona because of factors like population density and frequency of accidents.

Since Florida is a no-fault state, drivers have to cover their medical bills and other expenses themselves in case of an accident. On the other hand, Arizona is a tort state, meaning that the at-fault driver has to pay for the other driver's medical expenses and cover damages in the event of an accident.

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance quotes and found that GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage policy on average in both states:

• Cheapest in Florida: GEICO ($590 per year)
• Cheapest in Arizona: GEICO ($366 per year)

In Florida, USAA offers the cheapest minimum coverage policy at an average cost of $406 per year. However, the company only provides car insurance to military families.

In both Florida and Arizona, GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage policies. However, it charges more for a policy in Florida than in Arizona, which shows that rates can differ significantly from state to state.

The average cost of a minimum coverage policy in Florida is $1,123 per year, while it’s around $649 per year in Arizona. For a full coverage policy, drivers in Florida pay an average of $2,208 per year, while the policy costs an average of $1,284 annually in Arizona.

Since car insurance rates in one state can be higher for various reasons, it’s impossible to blame it solely on one factor.

One reason for Florida’s high rates is it is a no-fault state. Also, its highway density, percentage of uninsured drivers and odds of experiencing a natural disaster is higher than in Arizona. These factors contribute to higher rates in the state.

Car insurance rates can vary depending on where you live in the state. MoneyGeek’s research shows that, at an average of $693 annually, Gainesville is the cheapest city for the minimum coverage. Alternately, insurers offer the most expensive policy in Hialeah at an average of $1,461 yearly.

In Arizona, Tucson is the cheapest city for a state-minimum policy, at an average of $578 annually. The most expensive policy is offered in Glendale and Phoenix at an average of $713 yearly.

Since car insurance requirements don’t change within a state, higher costs are likely due to high population densities.

After relocating from Florida to Arizona or vice versa, you'll need to transition your driver’s license and registration. If your current insurer offers sufficient coverage and is available in your new location, you can stay with them. However, you might have to pay different rates that reflect your new state's risks and requirements.

If you decide to find a new insurer, MoneyGeek offers resources to help you find the one that will fit your needs.

Since car insurance laws and requirements are different in Florida and Arizona, MoneyGeek researched the following frequently asked questions to help you understand how car insurance works in both states.

To calculate average car insurance rates by company and across Florida and Arizona, MoneyGeek collaborated with Quadrant Information Services to collect auto insurance quotes from both locations. We used a sample profile for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and minimum coverage unless modified by criteria like coverage level, age, driving offenses and credit score. Learn more about how costs are calculated in our MoneyGeek car insurance methodology.

Minimum car insurance requirements by state were sourced from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the respective state.