Arizona auto insurance minimums — and why they're not enough

Arizona requires every registered vehicle to carry liability insurance, but the state’s minimum limits are low compared to the actual cost of a serious crash. The result: Arizona drivers are routinely under-protected — both as at-fault drivers buying coverage and as injured victims trying to recover.

Why this matters

A single trip to the ER plus an MRI can exceed minimum bodily-injury limits.
When the at-fault driver has only state minimums, your own UM/UIM coverage is often the only meaningful source of recovery.
Most Arizona drivers don't know what limits they actually carry until they need them.

Arizona minimum limits

Effective July 1, 2020, Arizona increased its statutory minimums. Today, the floor is:

These limits apply to liability coverage — what your insurance pays to other people when you cause a crash. They do not pay for your own injuries or damage to your own car.

Why state minimums often aren’t enough

Modern medical bills outpace the limits

A single ambulance ride, ER visit, and MRI routinely tops $25,000 before any treatment begins.

Multi-injury crashes break the per-accident cap

A $50,000 per-accident maximum split across three injured occupants is rarely a real recovery.

Property damage gets eaten quickly

A modern vehicle replacement can use the entire $15,000 property limit on its own — leaving no room for any other damaged property.

No coverage for the at-fault driver's own injuries

Liability-only policies leave the policyholder uncovered when they're hurt in their own crash.

Coverages worth carrying above the minimum

Higher liability limits

Going from $25K/$50K to $100K/$300K is usually a small premium difference and protects your assets if you cause a serious crash.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage

Pays you when an uninsured driver causes the crash. With many Arizona drivers uninsured or underinsured, this is the most under-utilized coverage in the state.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage

Pays you when the at-fault driver has insurance but their limits aren't enough to cover your damages.

Medical payments (med-pay)

No-fault coverage that pays a portion of your medical bills regardless of who caused the crash.

Umbrella liability

A separate policy that adds liability protection above your auto and home limits — usually inexpensive for the coverage it provides.

Arizona auto insurance minimums — and why they're not enough

Arizona minimum limits

Why state minimums often aren’t enough

Coverages worth carrying above the minimum

See also

Questions about how this applies to your case?