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About 11,430 Arizona drivers are already paying more after a First Acceptance rate hike that took effect in May 2026. The average increase is about $232 per year.
Arizona regulators approved a rate increase for First Acceptance Insurance Company, effective May 22, 2026. The filing carries an average rate increase of +10.3% and affects 11,430 policyholders across the state.
For most drivers, that works out to about $232 more per year, lifting the average annual premium from roughly $2,253 to $2,485. Across First Acceptance’s full Arizona book, the filing adds about $2.65 million in annual written premium.
First Acceptance specializes in nonstandard auto insurance. That means it mostly serves drivers who have a hard time getting coverage elsewhere, including drivers with prior accidents, violations, or lapses in coverage. Rates in this market tend to run higher and move more than standard-market carriers like GEICO or State Farm, since the risk pool carries more claims per policy.
Average annual premium for affected drivers
| Current average | $2,253 |
|---|---|
| After rate change | $2,485 |
| Annual increase | +$232 (+10.3%) |
Source: FRST-134943261, Arizona Department of Insurance filing.
What’s Changing in the First Acceptance Arizona Rate Filing
First Acceptance Insurance Company filed a single rate action in Arizona under tracking number FRST-134943261. The filing carries a +10.3% average rate increase and touches 11,430 policyholders statewide.
That +10.3% is a steep jump next to what standard-market carriers have filed in Arizona lately. Nonstandard carriers like First Acceptance often move rates more sharply and more often, since their book of business skews toward higher-risk drivers whose claims costs shift faster year to year.
The increase applies broadly across the company’s Arizona policies rather than splitting across multiple legal entities or tiers. Renewals on or after May 22, 2026 carry the new rate.
What This Means for You
The average First Acceptance driver in Arizona will pay about $232 more per year, or close to $19 a month, once their policy renews under the new rate. Your actual number depends on your coverage level and your driving record.
Nonstandard policies often carry state-minimum liability limits rather than full coverage, since many drivers in this market are covering a required SR-22 or a prior lapse rather than shopping for extra protection. A minimum-liability driver paying closer to $1,800 a year would see roughly $185 more. A driver carrying higher limits would see a bigger dollar jump for the same 10.3%.
If your renewal date already passed on or after May 22, 2026, this new rate is already reflected on your bill. Check your declarations page for your exact renewal date and premium.
How First Acceptance Compares
First Acceptance is a nonstandard auto insurer that focuses on drivers who need an SR-22, have recent violations, or have struggled to find coverage with a standard carrier. That’s a different market than the one served by Progressive, GEICO, Allstate, and State Farm, though some of those carriers also write nonstandard policies through separate entities.
Nonstandard carriers compete less on brand recognition and more on whether they’ll write your policy at all. Still, pricing varies enough between nonstandard insurers that shopping around matters just as much here as it does in the standard market.
Drivers who no longer need an SR-22 or have cleaned up their driving record for a few years may find they now qualify for a standard-market policy at a lower rate than a nonstandard renewal. That’s worth checking before you assume a nonstandard carrier is your only option.
How to Save on Insurance
If your First Acceptance policy renews under this new rate, a few moves can help offset the increase.
- Ask whether you still need nonstandard coverage. If your SR-22 requirement has ended and your record is clean, get quotes from standard carriers like GEICO or Progressive before you renew.
- Compare at least two other nonstandard insurers with identical coverage limits, since pricing swings widely in this market.
- Raise your deductible on collision and comprehensive if you can cover a larger out-of-pocket cost after a claim.
- Ask about any discounts for paying in full, going paperless, or bundling a renters or motorcycle policy.
- Re-shop every six months instead of waiting for your full annual renewal, since nonstandard rates can shift faster than standard-market pricing.
An increase like this is the clearest signal to check your options, especially if your driving record has improved since you first needed nonstandard coverage.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Insurance
- First Acceptance Insurance Company, Inc., FRST-134943261