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The average cost of basic liability car insurance in Rhode Island is $2,565 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in Rhode Island will leave you with an average cost of $3,170 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
The average cost of basic liability car insurance in Rhode Island is $2,565 per year. Opting for full-coverage car insurance in Rhode Island will leave you with an average cost of $3,170 per year. In comparison, the national average is $1,627 per year to buy basic liability car insurance and $2,297 per year to buy full-coverage car insurance.
Compare the best car insurance quotes in Rhode Island
Your car insurance rates could be dramatically different based on your zip code, age, driving history, and other factors. Different providers consider these factors and use their own unique formulas to determine your car insurance quote. That's why it's so important to comparison shop—you could be missing out on huge savings if you don't!
Here's what people using Jerry are paying for car insurance in Rhode Island:
| Quote Date | Car | Before Jerry | After Jerry | City | Name | Age | Insurance Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 14, 2023 | Honda Pilot EX | $220/mo. | $140/mo. | Providence | Birdie S. | 27 | Progressive |
| March 14, 2023 | Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited | $220/mo. | $152/mo. | Coventry | Lucinda R. | 35 | Progressive |
| March 8, 2023 | Toyota Corolla LE | $264/mo. | $238/mo. | Providence | Betty D. | 28 | Progressive |
| March 7, 2023 | Jeep Cherokee Latitude | $250/mo. | $161/mo. | North Providence | Belle V. | 26 | Progressive |
| March 3, 2023 | Honda Civic LX | $339/mo. | $142/mo. | Pawtucket | Jonathan L. | 42 | Progressive |
Best car insurance companies in Rhode Island
State Farm, Amica, GEICO, and Progressive are a few of the best insurance companies for Rhode Island drivers, but they aren’t the only ones with good rates. What’s more, the best company is different for every driver.
That’s because each insurance company uses a different methodology to set your annual premium. Nationwide will give you a different rate than Allstate based on the same profile, and other companies—like USAA, which only writes policies for military members and their families—might not even give you a policy.
| Insurance Company | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safeco | $3,104 | $1,094 | |
| Nationwide | $3,608 | $1,062 | |
| Allstate | $3,611 | $958 | |
| Progressive | $3,105 | $930 | |
| Travelers | $3,326 | $694 | |
| Compare Prices | |||
Rhode Island car insurance FAQs
Is car insurance cheaper in Rhode Island?
Compared to the rest of the country, car insurance in Rhode Island is more expensive. This is because Rhode Island has the highest population density of any state, leading to busier roads and higher risk of accident.
What is the minimum car insurance in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, all drivers are required to have a 25/50/25 plan—that’s $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident.
Can you insure a car without a license in RI?
Yes. As long as you have a primary driver on your policy who is fully-licensed, you can usually get car insurance without a license in Rhode Island. Just keep in mind that your rates may be higher and the process may be more difficult since insurers have no driving record from you to assess your risk.
How much does auto insurance cost in Rhode Island?
If you live in Rhode Island, there’s a good chance your premium is higher than the national average. Auto insurance companies charge higher average rates in Rhode Island for a few reasons:
- Rhode Island has the second-highest population density in the country (after New Jersey)
- Over 15% of Rhode Islander drivers don’t carry insurance
- Auto repair costs tend to be high in Rhode Island
- Severe and inclement weather is common, especially in coastal areas
All of these factors have one thing in common: they drive up the cost and likelihood of insurance claims. The more insurance companies expect to pay out for a policy, the more they’ll charge.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t find affordable coverage in Rhode Island! Here are some real savings drivers found when they used Jerry.
Rhode Island car insurance requirements
Like most states, Rhode Island sets certain mandatory insurance coverage limits that must be met before you can legally take your car on the road. To meet the state minimum requirements, your auto insurance policy must include:
- At least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person
- At least $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
- At least $25,000 of property damage liability per accident
How much insurance do I need in Rhode Island?
Required minimum insurance in Rhode Island is $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability for each accident, and $25,000 of property liability for each accident. These requirements are known as the 25/50/25 rule.
What do you need if you’re pulled over?
If you get pulled over, you are required to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration. Thankfully, digital insurance ID cards are accepted by police and the DMV, so you will always have your stored proof of insurance available 24/7 in the Jerry app.
Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
No. Rhode Island is an at-fault state. This means the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for the not-at-fault driver’s and passengers' injuries, once the at-fault driver’s insurance company accepts liability and confirms that there is enough coverage.
Rhode Island only requires liability insurance, which protects other drivers (and your wallet!) in the event of an at-fault accident. Sticking to the minimum limit will keep your costs low, but you could be underinsured if you’re in a serious crash. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to add collision coverage and comprehensive coverage to create what’s often called a “full coverage policy.”
The graph below compares the cost of basic liability insurance in Rhode Island with what you’d pay to add collision and comprehensive.
Cheap car insurance with a DUI or speeding ticket in Rhode Island
If you or a household member add a violation to your driving record—anything from a minor speeding ticket to a DUI or reckless driving charge—you’re likely to see your rates increase.
Again, it’s all about the risk of an accident. Points on your driver’s license indicate that you’re less careful on the road, making insurance companies anxious about potential claims. They’ll raise the rates of anyone they deem to be a “high-risk driver.”
In Rhode Island, insurance companies can access all your traffic offenses within the last five years. If you commit another violation within that period, it will be considered a second offense and you’ll be hit with even more serious penalties. Here are real quotes high-risk drivers received when the used Jerry.
| Driving Violation | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Record | $2,587 | $822 |
| Speeding over 15 | $5,100 | $2,506 |
| Leaving scene of an Accident/Hit and Run | $3,743 | $1,735 |
| Defective Equipment | $3,658 | $1,381 |
| Improper Passing | $3,305 | $1,286 |
| DUI | $2,913 | $1,245 |
| Driving on Sus. License | $3,703 | $1,124 |
| Cell Phone | $3,376 | $1,117 |
| Failure to Obey Traffic Sign | $3,027 | $890 |
| Speeding under 15 | $2,959 | $870 |
Insurance Cost With a DUI in Rhode Island
If you get a DUI in Rhode Island, you can expect your car insurance to increase to $101.5 per month.
Read Rhode Island DUI Information:
Insurance Cost With a Reckless Driving Citation in Rhode Island
If you have a reckless driving citation, you should expect your insurance to increase to an average of $339.68 per month.
Read Rhode Island Reckless Driving Information:
Rhode Island car insurance rates by age
Young drivers are a major high-risk category when it comes to auto insurance. After all, teen drivers and young adults have less experience on the road, and statistics show that they have a far higher chance of experiencing a crash or having a “close call” compared to their more experienced counterparts.
This added risk leads insurers to charge higher premiums to drivers under the age of 25. But you don’t have to wait for your 25th birthday to save on car insurance! Compare your quotes to the state averages in the table below!
How can young drivers save money on car insurance in Rhode Island?
- Graduated licensing laws in Rhode Island help young drivers develop the necessary skills they need to stay safe on the road.
- Completing an approved defensive driving course can help young drivers to secure lower rates.
- Maintaining a good average can qualify student drivers for a good student discount.
- Graduated licensing laws in Rhode Island help young drivers develop the necessary skills they need to stay safe on the road.
- Completing an approved defensive driving course can help young drivers to secure lower rates.
- Maintaining a good average can qualify student drivers for a good student discount.
Rhode Island auto insurance rates by city
Your age and driving history aren’t the only things that set your insurance rates—where you live matters, too!
Insurance companies look at a ton of factors associated with your ZIP code, from crime rates and accident statistics to weather patterns that could pose a threat to your vehicle. It’s probably no surprise that Providence car insurance costs are among the highest in the state, while Newport car insurance premiums tend to be lower despite the risk of flooding.
See where your ZIP code falls on the table below.
| City | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Cranston | $2,122 | $779 |
| Cumberland | $2,335 | $800 |
| East Providence | $2,260 | $747 |
| Johnston | $2,178 | $794 |
| North Providence | $2,097 | $567 |
| Pawtucket | $2,338 | $812 |
| Providence | $2,315 | $760 |
| Warwick | $2,230 | $746 |
| West Warwick | $2,331 | $830 |
| Woonsocket | $2,453 | $842 |
Least Expensive Cities in Rhode Island
Alternatively, Middletown has the cheapest car insurance rates in Rhode Island.
City with Highest Rates of Accidents in Rhode Island
Warwick has the highest accident rate in Rhode Island. 12.90% of drivers in Warwick have a prior at-fault accident on their record, so drivers in Warwick can expect higher rates along with higher risk of accidents.
Read Rhode Island Accident Information:
City with the Longest Commute Times in Rhode Island
Pascoag has the longest average commute time in Rhode Island at an average 36.6 minutes. Long commutes increase the chances you get in an accident, and they’ll also add miles to your vehicle—which will raise premiums in turn.
Read Commuting Insurance Information:
Average cost of car insurance in Rhode Island by vehicle type
One of the last big factors that influences how much you pay for insurance in Rhode Island is the vehicle you drive. It’s usually easiest to find affordable car insurance if you drive an inexpensive and popular SUV with good safety ratings.
Take Subaru insurance costs as an example. The Subaru Forester SUV and Outback station wagon are among the cheapest vehicles to insure, hands down. That’s partly thanks to low starting prices, but it’s also because they’re some of the sturdiest, most reliable vehicles on the road.
Both the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Mazda Miata MX-5 are cheaper than the Subaru Outback, but they cost more to insure. With its cheap build and tiny stature, the Mirage has shaky safety ratings and is more likely to rack up major repair costs after an accident. The Miata, on the other hand, has great engineering—but because it’s a sports car, insurers associate it with risky driving.
Take a look at the features below to see how Rhode Island car insurance rates can change based on what you drive.
| Car | Average Cost | Annual Savings with Jerry |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata Sport | $2,570 | $886 |
| Nissan Rogue S | $2,612 | $857 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $2,331 | $790 |
| Honda Civic LX | $1,884 | $533 |
| Subaru Forester 2.5Xs | $1,181 | $410 |
Most Popular Car in Rhode Island
The Toyota Highlander is the most popular vehicle in Rhode Island. Highlander drivers spend an average of $1,550 in car insurance annually, but drivers can find cheaper quotes with the same coverage through Jerry.
Read more about your Toyota Highlander:
Do you need more than minimum coverage in Rhode Island?
It’s a good idea for most drivers to go beyond Rhode Island’s minimum liability coverage levels. Having additional liability insurance can help you avoid a personal injury lawsuit if you’re in a major accident, but that’s not the only insurance you need.
Uninsured motorist coverage can help to cover your medical payments if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance (remember, that’s as many as 15% of Rhode Island drivers!). Collision and comprehensive insurance, meanwhile, will allow you to submit claims for damage to your own car caused by a wide range of covered perils.
A policy that includes collision and comprehensive on top of basic liability insurance is considered a “full coverage car insurance policy.” But that doesn’t mean those are your only coverage options! Take a look at the features below for some other ideas of the auto insurance add-ons you may need in Rhode Island.
Though Rhode Island doesn’t have a lot of traffic congestion, vehicle repairs are much more expensive than other states. Get collision insurance to protect your vehicle so you don’t pay for pricey repairs out-of-pocket.
Read more about Rhode Island Traffic:
Non-collision damages, such as hail damage or vandalism, require comprehensive insurance to cover. Make sure you have comprehensive coverage to be fully protected.
In Rhode Island, 16 percent of drivers are uninsured. Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance provides coverage if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn't have the required liability insurance.
Read information about uninsured drivers:
Rhode Island residents give their roads a 6.5/10 quality rating. Don’t let a pothole leave you stranded on the side of the road—get roadside assistance.
How to save money on car insurance in Rhode Island
Paying a lot for car insurance doesn’t have to be part of life in Rhode Island. Before you resign yourself to living with high rates, check out the tips below.
Shop around for quotes
If you’ve been with the same insurance provider for years—especially if you just picked the first quote you came across—it’s a good idea to shop around to see if you could save money with a different provider.
It might seem like you’d get the same rate from every insurance company—they’re offering the same product, right?—but you might be surprised by how much you can save by switching companies.
Experts recommend re-shopping every six months or when something that impacts your car insurance changes—like your marital status or ZIP code.
Look for discounts
You’ve probably heard it during an ad break: bundling your homeowner's insurance with your auto insurance policy could save you on both! But what if you don’t have homeowners insurance—are you just stuck paying the same high rate?
No! Most companies actually offer a ton of insurance discounts, but they don’t always advertise them all, which means it’s up to you to uncover the one you might be eligible for. Jerry’s here to help with that: below are just a few of the most popular discounts for drivers in Rhode Island.
Clean Driving Record Discounts
Clean Driving Record Discounts
Low risk drivers don’t make claims as often as high risk drivers, so insurance companies will offer a discount to drivers with clean driving records.
Bundling Discounts
Bundling Discounts
Car insurance customers who get other types of insurance with the same carrier, such as home or renters insurance, can save with a bundling discount.
Defensive Driving Discounts
Defensive Driving Discounts
Per Rhode Island law, car insurance companies must offer a discount to drivers ages 50+ for completing an approved defensive driving course.
Increase your deductible
If you’ve got full coverage car insurance, you have a deductible that you agree to pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in on a collision or comprehensive claim.
In most cases, your car insurance deductible will be either $500 or $1,000, but it’s possible to get a higher deductible—and the higher it is, the less you’ll pay month to month to keep the policy active.
If you have enough in savings to pay a large deductible, this is a great way to free up your cash flow. Just be careful not to select a deductible that’s higher than what you could reasonably pay!
By R.E. Fulton
Updated on Mar 20, 2023
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear, Director of Content.
Compare the best car insurance quotes in Rhode Island
Best car insurance companies in Rhode Island
Rhode Island car insurance FAQs
How much does auto insurance cost in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island car insurance requirements
Cheap car insurance with a DUI or speeding ticket in Rhode Island
Rhode Island car insurance rates by age
Rhode Island auto insurance rates by city
Average cost of car insurance in Rhode Island by vehicle type
Do you need more than minimum coverage in Rhode Island?
How to save money on car insurance in Rhode Island
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