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Rhode Island law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in Rhode Island must hold 25/50/25 in bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. Additionally, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.
Quick Facts
Car insurance is required by law in Rhode Island.
Drivers in Rhode Island must carry 25/50/25 in bodily injury and property damage.
If caught driving uninsured, drivers face up to $1,000 in fines and potential jail time.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Rhode Island
The minimum car insurance requirements in Rhode Island[1] are:
$25,000 for bodily injury liability per person
$50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
$25,000 for property damage liability per accident
Rhode Island is an at-fault or tort state. This means the at-fault driver uses their car insurance policy to cover the other driver’s medical bills and property damages from the accident. Evidence like police reports, cameras, and witness statements can help determine liability.
Why is car insurance required in Rhode Island?
Auto insurance protects drivers from financial liability in the event of an accident. Depending on a policy’s specific coverage limitations, car insurance may cover everything from vehicle damage to medical bills.
Bodily Injury Liability
Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Rhode Island.
Property Damage Liability
Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Rhode Island.
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Is state minimum car insurance enough in Rhode Island?
The minimum required car insurance coverage in Rhode Island provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. If you get involved in a catastrophic at-fault accident, $25,000 for property damage may not be enough, for example. Additional coverage can help you avoid high out-of-pocket costs.
Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Rhode Island
Rhode Island drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Rhode Island, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.
Comprehensive Coverage
Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses.
Other Supplemental Coverage
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, is designed to cover injuries that you or your passengers sustain after an accident, no matter who is at fault. It doesn’t carry a deductible or co-pay. Rental car reimbursement is an optional coverage that can come in handy if you need a rental car because your vehicle is being repaired after a covered accident.
There’s also roadside assistance that offers services to help you when you’re dealing with car trouble. It offers jump starts for dead batteries, lockout services, fuel delivery, winching, and other emergency services.
Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Rhode Island
The SR-22 is a certificate you pay for through your insurance company after a serious traffic offense, like a DUI or reckless driving. It’s proof that you have met the minimum car insurance requirements for a certain period.
While Rhode Island no longer requires an SR-22, you must file an SR-22 if another state requires you to. The Rhode Island Adjudication Office will let you know if this is the case.
More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Rhode Island
Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Rhode Island.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Rhode Island, consider the Insurify tool. You can use it to compare car insurance quotes for free. All you have to do is provide some basic information about yourself and your vehicle. Once you do, you’ll be able to find the right policy for your particular budget, driving habits, and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is car insurance mandatory in Rhode Island?
Yes. Drivers in Rhode Island are required to carry 25/50/25 in bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. You can also purchase optional coverage to protect yourself from high out-of-pocket costs after an at-fault accident.
Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
No. Rhode Island is an at-fault or tort state. This means the driver who causes an accident will need to use their car insurance policy to cover the other driver’s vehicle damage and medical bills. Insurance companies usually use police reports, witness statements, and video footage to determine fault.
Does Rhode Island require uninsured motorist protection?
Under Rhode Island law, insurance companies must offer you $25,000 in uninsured motorist property damage protection. But you can reject it in writing if you’d like. However, if you want to protect yourself from the financial burden of getting involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, it’s worth considering.
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Rhode Island?
You must show proof of insurance to register a vehicle in Rhode Island. In addition, you’ll need the bill of sale, title, a completed title and registration application, and a completed sales tax form. These forms are available on the Rhode Island DMV website. To complete the process, you’ll need to visit a local DMV branch. You can make a reservation if you wish.
How can I find cheap car insurance in Rhode Island?
For cheap insurance in Rhode Island, check out Insurify. It can help you compare carinsurance quotes in minutes. You’ll receive personalized quotes from the leading insurance companies in the state so you can make a solid decision. The tool is free, and there is no need to sign up.
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Service's database of auto insurance rates. With these insights, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.
Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles. "Driver's Licenses." Accessed June 16, 2022
Anna BaluchInsurance Writer
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
