Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Arizona?

uninsured motorist accident with police motorcycle

In Arizona alone, it’s estimated that as much as 13% of all drivers are driving without insurance. That’s over one out of every ten drivers operating illegally on the roads without being properly covered! That’s an alarmingly high number, one that Arizona officials are trying hard to reduce every day.

So what happens if one of those uninsured drivers strikes you in an accident, resulting in bodily injury? Normally their insurance would pay for the costs of your medical bills. But if they don’t have any insurance, are you simply out of luck?

That’s where uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona comes in.

In Arizona, uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage isn’t just a helpful option to keep you covered in the event of the scenario we described above— it’s legally required.

Arizona law requires the following limits for auto insurance policies:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability coverage: Minimum $15,000
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
  • Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident

That’s right— you’ll need to have at least $25,000 per person in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and $50,000 per accident in underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage in Arizona.

All that said, you might have some other questions, such as:

  • What is uninsured motorist coverage?
  • What is underinsured motorist coverage?
  • Why do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona?

What is uninsured motorist coverage?

In the world of car insurance, uninsured motorist coverage protects you in the event that you sustain injuries due to an accident caused by a driver who is not properly insured or is underinsured. For example, let’s say that another driver causes an accident that results in you having to go to the hospital and have medical procedures done, resulting in medical bills. Normally, their insurance would cover the costs of your medical bills. But what if the driver is illegally driving without insurance or the legally required minimum coverage? 

This is where uninsured motorist coverage (also known as underinsured motorist coverage) comes in. Uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona is designed to protect you against the possibility of being left on the hook for medical costs resulting from an accident that wasn’t your fault just because the responsible party wasn’t properly covered.

That’s not all uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona helps you with. What about the event that you’re the victim of a hit and run, where the driver responsible leaves the scene and can’t be found at all? Uninsured motorist coverage would also protect you in this circumstance. Hit and run drivers are considered uninsured when it comes to bodily injury claims.

In some cases, underinsured motorist coverage in Arizona will also help you if the driver responsible for your injuries is properly covered, but not enough to cover all of the costs of your injuries. For example, Arizona requires a minimum of $15,000 per person for bodily injury liability coverage. If you sustain injuries totalling $30,000 in costs, underinsured motorist coverage can help make up the difference.

Why do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona?

While needing to pay premiums for uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona may be frustrating, the requirement is designed to keep responsible drivers safe from financial burdens that aren’t their fault. After all, without uninsured motorist coverage, an accident caused by someone else could cause you thousands of dollars in medical costs if the other driver isn’t properly insured. And with over one in ten drivers on the roads in Arizona uninsured, it’s possible that you could be victim to an accident caused by an uninsured driver. If that happens, you’ll be glad that you have uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona to protect you from having your life savings drained due to an accident you couldn’t have avoided.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Arizona?

To sum up everything we’ve shared so far, here are the basic points you need to know:

  • Arizona law requires every driver to have at least $25,000 per person in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and $50,000 per accident in underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage in Arizona.
  • Uninsured motorist coverage protects you in the event that you sustain injuries due to an accident caused by a driver who is not properly insured or is underinsured
  • With 13% of drivers in Arizona driving without proper insurance, uninsured motorist coverage provides you with protection against being left with thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills for an accident that wasn’t your fault

You may be wishing that you didn’t have to pay for uninsured motorist coverage just to account for all of the irresponsible drivers driving in Arizona without insurance. But the good news is that adding uninsured motorist coverage to your insurance policy doesn’t have to break the bank. Some insurers such as Freedom National offer cheap car insurance in Arizona that will get you properly covered and on the road in no time. 

Conclusion

Looking to get great quotes online for Arizona insurance? Go to our Arizona insurance quote page to find cheap car insurance in Arizona for all of your unique needs and life circumstances. Here you’ll find info about the kind of rates you can expect and how you can lower your rate with Freedom National, including opportunities to get coverage for those who may have adverse events on driving records such as SR-22s. If you’re looking for more information or want to learn more about car insurance in Arizona, feel free to browse our blog for additional info.

Once you’re ready to find cheap car insurance that will keep you fully covered and allow you to easily customize your plan based on your unique needs, head to our page to start your free quote. It takes just a few minutes to enter some basic information and get a custom quote.