Compare car insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island drivers pay an average of $1,500.31 per year for car insurance according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), that’s about $125.03 per month. Rhode Island drivers pay about 26% more than the countrywide national average of $1,189.64.

The NAIC takes into account all car insurance policies within the state such as drivers who select only state minimum coverage, as well as policies that include various levels of comprehensive and collision coverage. Because car insurance rates are influenced by personal factors, you could find yourself paying significantly less.

Rhode Island state minimum car insurance requirements

Drivers in Rhode Island are required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to legally drive. You may see it written as 25/50/25, but we’ll break down what that means.

In Rhode Island, the driver at fault pays for damage

Rhode Island is an at-fault state, meaning that the driver who causes the car accident pays for the damage. Your insurance company and legal authorities will figure out who’s at fault, based on the circumstances.

However, Rhode Island also considers whether both drivers are partially at fault under a law called pure comparative fault, according to the legal website Nolo. Under this law, both drivers pay for the percentage of damage that they cause.

For example, if you’re 80% responsible for an accident, your insurance pays 80% of the other driver’s damages. The other driver’s insurance pays 20% of your damages.

Cheapest rates by age in Rhode Island

Young drivers under 25 will pay a pretty penny for car insurance in Rhode Island. You’ll want to look at online-based companies like Geico and Esurance to find the best deal.

Geico also serves as the cheapest company for most other ages, according to this sample.

Cheapest rates by gender in Rhode Island

Again, Geico stands as the cheapest company for both men and women. However, men can expect to pay around $14 more per month than women, based on this price analysis.

Sample rates in Rhode Island from major car insurance companies

By far, Geico brings the lowest rates across the board in Rhode Island, costing as much as $76 less per month than competitors.

We base this information off of sample quotes from Savvy.

7 factors that affect car insurance rates in Rhode Island

Factors are characteristics specific to you that car insurance companies use to set how much you’ll pay for car insurance. The less risky each of your factors is the less you pay, the riskier you are the more you’ll pay. We’ll break down Rhode Islander’s rating factors to keep in mind.

Factor	How it affects your rates
Age	How old you are is a top factor in determining your car insurance rates. With each passing year, you earn more experience on the road. More experience can equal cheaper rates. Teen drivers pay the most, but rates begin to level off around your 20’s with drivers over 50 paying the least.
Gender	Rhode Island takes gender into account when determining your rates. Our analysis of Quadrant data found that men under 18 pay 17% more for car insurance compared to women of the same age. But, between 31 and 45, women see rates 5% higher than men. After 45, rates differ between men and women by only 1%, with women on the higher end.
Location	Where you live affects your rates, including where you park your car. High theft rates, high traffic and a high number of uninsured drivers could mean higher rates. Rhode Island vehicle theft rates stand at 142.7 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the FBI’s most recent report on vehicle theft rates. That’s well below the national average of 246 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants. As for uninsured drivers, 16.5% of Rhode Islanders on the road are uninsured. That’s more than average for the percent of uninsured drivers in a state according to Insurance Information Institute, with the national average standing at 12.6%.
Vehicle and mileage	Your car’s make, model and trim directly affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Things like its cost, safety ratings, the likelihood of theft and sportiness all help insurers determine its cost to insure. Safer and cheaper vehicles score the lowest rates, with luxury vehicles with higher repair costs resulting in higher premiums. And, the more you’re on the road, the more at-risk you are to get in an accident, which means higher premiums. However, according to the Bureau of Transportation, Rhode Islanders drive an average of 26.3 miles per day, that’s below the average across the US of 36.1 miles per day.
Credit score	Your credit score is included in your credit-based insurance score which insurers use to help calculate rates. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there is a strong correlation between your insurance score and claims filings. A good credit-based insurance score could mean lower rates. Rhode Island drivers have protections under state laws that regulate the use of credit history when issuing car insurance policies. Credit score can’t be the only factor used to determine your rates.
Coverage	The more coverage you get and the higher limits you choose, the more protection you’ll have and the more you’ll pay in monthly premiums. And, if you opt for full coverage car insurance that includes comprehensive and collision, the amount of your deductible weighs into your costs too, higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums.
Driving Record	The better your driving record, the lower your premium. If you’re in an at-fault accident you could see rates increases from 20% to 50%. And DUI’s in Rhode Island can increase your rate by around 25%. These types of violations typically stay on your record for about three years.

Coverage we recommend for Rhode Island drivers

The purpose of your car insurance is to help you recover financially after a car accident. While your state requires a minimum level of coverage, in most cases it won’t be enough to keep you from out-of-pocket costs. Consider increasing your required coverage and adding optional types of coverage that may be worth the extra cost for you, including:

Higher liability limits

Rhode Island requires 25/50/25 for liability coverage, which is typical among the states. However, this is a low amount of protection if you end up paying someone else’s medical bills and property damage. You need higher protection in most cases, especially if another driver takes you to court. Talk with your insurance agent to weigh how much out-of-pocket costs your budget can afford after an accident. You’ll want to set liability limits that balance your monthly budget and offer the coverage you need to protect your assets.

Collision

For accidents where you’re at fault, your collision coverage pays for your own car’s damage — if you buy this optional coverage. Otherwise, repairs to your own vehicle could cost you out of pocket.

Remember that your required liability coverage doesn’t pay for your car damage. Instead, it pays for damage to someone else’s property.

Consider collision coverage if . . .

• Your car loan requires it.
• It costs less than your car’s value.
• You can’t pay for car repairs or another car out of pocket.
• You drive your car regularly, such as for commuting.

Comprehensive

Rhode Island sees a less-than-average amount of vehicle thefts compared to other states. Though depending on the theft rates surrounding the type of car you drive, you may still be at risk for car theft. Adding comprehensive coverage to your policy means you’re covered for the outright theft of your vehicle, plus any damages that might occur during a break-in.

The possibility of tidal flooding, high winds and coastal flood events also make this coverage more appealing for Rhode Island drivers, since the coverage can kick in to cover damages from harsh weather, falling tree branches or animals.

Consider this coverage if . . .

• It’s required for your car loan.
• You can’t repair or replace your car out of pocket.
• Your area has a high risk of theft or serious storms.

Roadside assistance

Though Rhode Islanders tend to drive less than the average miles per day, adding on roadside assistance offers the peace of mind that if you’re stuck on the side of the road you’ll have access to dependable help. This coverage gives you a dedicated customer service number to call if your car breaks down, with features like tire changes, towing or fuel delivery.

Consider this coverage if . . .

• You rely on your car to get around.
• You own an older or less reliable vehicle.
• You don’t have roadside assistance through your car warranty.
• You’d rather not research service providers on your own after a breakdown.

Top 10 auto insurance companies in USA that serve Rhode Island

We’ve pulled the top 10 companies by market share that offer coverage in Rhode Island according to S&P Global. Compare top companies by three major rating agencies along with our overall score.

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating measures how a business interacts with its customers, with the highest rating being A++.
• J.D. Power determines customers’ overall satisfaction with their car insurer’s price, billing, claims and customer support. The higher the J.D. Power score out of 1,000, the better.
• NAIC complaint index shows how a company’s number of complaints compares to similar companies of its size. Scores lower than 1.00 show the company receives less than the average number of complaints, and scores above 1.00 show more complaints than average.
• Finder’s score shows you an overall look at the company by taking into account scores from each of these agencies as well as the coverage and discounts each company offers.

Provider	BBB Rating	JD Power Rating	NAIC complaint ratio	National market share %	Finder score	Go to site
State Farm	A+	847/1000	1.93	16.2	★★★★★ 4/5	Read review
Geico	A+	832/1000	1.42	13.6	★★★★★ 4/5	Read review
Progressive	A+	830/1000	1.05	13.3	★★★★★ 4/5	Get Quotes
Allstate	A+	827/1000	2.71	10.4	★★★★★ 4/5	Read review
USAA	A+	884/1000	1.9	6.3	★★★★★ 4/5	Get Quotes
Farmers	A-	820/1000	1.64	4.9	★★★★★ 4/5	Read review
Liberty Mutual	A+	827/1000	2.2	4.7	★★★★★ 4/5	Get Quotes
Nationwide	A+	814/1000	2.08	2.3	★★★★★ 4/5	Read review
Travelers	A+	820/1000	3.28	2	★★★★★ 4/5	Read review
The Hartford	A+	833/1000	NR	0.7	★★★★★ 3.5/5

Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island?

Of Rhode Island’s largest cities, Cumberland has the cheapest rates and Providence has the most expensive car insurance rates. Providence drivers could face rates 3 times more than Cumberland drivers.

• Pawtucket
• Woonsocket
• Cumberland
• Cranston
• Providence

Compare car insurance providers in Rhode Island

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Name	Product	Gap insurance	Homeowner discount	Telematics	Has an app?	Available states
Progressive		loan/lease coverage	Yes	Snapshot	Yes	All 50 states & DC	Discover coverage that’s broader than competitors, valuable discounts up to 30% off and perks like shrinking deductibles that reward no claims.	Get quotes More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Zebra		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	All 50 states	Get quotes More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
USAA		No	Yes	SafePilot	Yes	All 50 states & DC	Affordable car insurance with highly rated customer service. Only available to military members and veterans and their family.	Get quotes More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Liberty Mutual		Yes	Yes	RightTrack	Yes	All 50 states & DC	Earn free accident forgiveness after five years claims-free and customize your policy anytime.	Get quotes More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bankrate		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	All 50 states	Compare personalized rates from multiple insurance companies in one go. Plus, access a live agent for any questions along the way.	Get quotes	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Quinstreet - Insure.com		Yes	Depends on provider	Depends on provider	Depends on provider	All 50 states	Get quotes	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Bottom line

Getting the right car insurance can protect you, your passengers, your vehicle and everyone else on the road. Rhode Island requires a minimum standard of auto insurance coverage. And by shopping around and comparing your options, you can find a policy that works for you at a reasonable rate.

To learn more about insuring your car, from rules and regulations to better rates and policy options, read our comprehensive guide to auto insurance.

Frequently asked questions about car insurance in Rhode Island

• Should I report the car accident I was recently involved in?

  It depends on the severity of your accident. Rhode Island law requires you to report the crash if damages exceeded $1,000 in value or if anyone is injured or killed. For minor fender benders, you might be OK settling it between yourself, the other drivers and the insurance companies involved.

• How does my credit score affect my insurance rate and why?

  Independent studies from the University of Texas and the Federal Trade Commission show links between low credit scores and high accident risk. So in 47 states — that’s excluding California, Hawaii and Massachusetts, where this practice is prohibited — car insurance companies can use a poor credit score to suggest a higher likelihood of filing insurance claims. Higher-risk customers, for the most part, are charged higher rates for coverage.