Getting car insurance in Rhode Island isn’t difficult, but it’s not the same as getting car insurance in every other state. This is because each US state has different requirements for car insurance, and coverage can vary drastically state-to-state, so the average cost of auto insurance in one place may not be the average in another.
This is why it’s so important to do a little research before you buy car insurance in Rhode Island. Even if you already have insurance, it’s a good idea to read this information and consider getting a comparison quote and maybe even switching companies. After all, you want to make sure you’re getting the best policy at the best price, right?
Right!
A little financial literacy can go a long way toward saving you a lot of stress, and money. (Our Rhode Island car insurance quotes have saved American consumers hundreds of dollars a year!)
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Rhode Island is a beautiful place to live, but if you’re looking for car insurance, be prepared to pay 38% more than the national average. (We’re talking about $2,106 per year.)
Of course, you may not need to pay that much. The exact cost of car insurance in Rhode Island depends on a myriad of factors beyond geography. They include:
Your age. Young and older drivers tend to be involved in more accidents. As a result, they are classified as higher risk and their car insurance costs more.
Your ride. Certain car makes and models cost more to insure than others. Dodge RAMs and Teslas are among the most expensive vehicles to insure. Subarus, by comparison, are less.
Your driving record. If you have a history of dangerous driving, you will pay more for insurance. Safer drivers pay less.
Your commitment to safety. Taking a safety course can reduce your car insurance by up to 10% per year. More than that, it can make you a better driver, which could save your life, or someone else’s. Either way, taking a safe driving course is worth it.
Your bundles. Bundling your car insurance with your home and other auto policies can also save you a pretty penny. Definitely ask your insurance provider about bundle savings.
Additional discounts. There may be other discounts you qualify for, including military or veteran discounts, car safety feature discounts, loyalty discounts, and safe driving discounts.
Your credit rating. People with poor credit pay more for car insurance since the insurance company sees your credit rating as an indicator of your financial responsibility.
Your deductible. A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance provider will start paying. The higher your deductible, the less your premium, since you are agreeing to pay more upfront.
Shop around. We can’t stress this enough: simply shopping around for your Rhode Island car insurance can save you hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars a year. Prices between providers can vary to dizzying degrees, so don’t assume that the price you get from one provider will be around the same you’d get from another.
Just consider this: if you’re looking to get protected for just the state minimum coverage in Rhode Island (more on this in a second), State Farm’s average annual premium is $371 per year whereas Allstate’s is $1,283. That’s a pretty massive price difference for the same coverage.
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Every single state has minimum car insurance requirements. This means you have to have at least these types of coverages and these exact limits to drive legally.
In Rhode Island, the minimum car insurance requirements are as follows:
Bodily injury of $25,000 per person
Bodily injury of $50,000 per accident
Property damage of $25,000 per accident
While these are the required minimum limits, this does not mean that this is all you actually need. For example, this coverage does not cover comprehensive or collision insurance, which means you are not protected in the event your vehicle is vandalized, stolen, or damaged in a weather related accident. You’re not even covered for damage done to your car in a car accident. These are some pretty massive gaps in coverage.
Getting more protection will obviously cost more money, but if you cannot afford to pay for a damaged or new vehicle in the event of an accident or incident, then it’s worth it.
A policy with comprehensive and collision insurance, and a $1000 deductible, will cost about $1,893 in Rhode Island.
Learn more about full-coverage car insurance.
An SR-22 is a form you legally need to ask your insurance company to file with the state if you have been convicted of a serious driving offense. (Example: a DUI, having too many points on your insurance, being at-fault in a collision, driving without insurance or with a suspended license.)
Some companies may drop you as clients if you need this form, while others will be happy to insure you, at a higher premium.
If you are an uninsured driver who requires an SR-22, you will likely be asked to pay an upfront fee for a prospective insurance provider to file the form and cover you.
If you don’t have a car, you will need to get non-owner insurance before you can request a filing for an SR-22.
Learn more about how to get an SR-22 without a car here and more about getting an SR-22 form in general here.
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Where you live within any given state can impact the cost of your car insurance, and Rhode Island is no exception. Some places are more dangerous to drive in. For instance, Providence has the most expensive car insurance rates, coming in at around $3,108 per year, whereas the cost of car insurance in Warwick is $2,359.
Even if you live in a more expensive place to get car insurance in Rhode Island, remember, there are ways you can lower your rates, and shopping around for Rhode Island car insurance quotes to get the best price should be your first step to getting the best price.
Getting car insurance in Rhode Island is, on average, more expensive than many other places in the US, but as we’ve discussed in detail, there are many ways to reduce the cost.
Start here, with us. Get Rhode Island car insurance quotes fast, and for free, from our nation’s top and most trusted providers.
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Jessica Fox Jessica Fox has been a freelance writer for five years, with a specialty in health, wellness, and insurance. During this time, she’s written for some of the biggest B2B and B2C brands from around the world. Jessica is also the mother of two young daughters and loves coffee, writing, and working out.
