Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Rhode Island (2024)

Being a high-risk driver in Rhode Island may increase your auto insurance premiums, but you can still find ways to save money.

Erin Gobler
Escrito porErin Gobler
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler
  • Más de 5 años de experiencia en redacción financiera 

  • Certificado de planificación financiera por la Universidad de Boston

Erin es escritora y periodista especializada en finanzas personales. Sus artículos exploran inversiones, tarjetas de crédito, hipotecas, seguros y mucho más.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logo
Katie Powers
Editado porKatie Powers
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersEscritora de seguros

Katie Powers es una escritora de contenido de seguros para Insurify. Desde que completó su título universitario de escritura, literatura, y publicación, está acabando un título de maestría de publicación en Emersion College. En su tiempo libre, a ella le gusta leer y salir para largas caminatas.

Amber Benka
Revisado porAmber Benka
Icon of a woman
Amber BenkaAgente de seguros con licencia

Actualizado el 11 de mayo de 2023

Compara cotizaciones de 70+ companías de seguros y ahorra hasta $717

Seguro. Gratis. Fácil de usar.
Basado en más de 3806 reseñas
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers
Advertiser Disclosure

At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

¿Por qué puedes confiar en Insurify: Insurify es la plataforma mejor valorada de comparación de seguros en América. Nos asociamos con compañías principales de seguros, y somos licenciados en todos los 50 estados. No obstante, los expertos en seguros que escriben nuestro contenido operan de manera independiente de estos socios, y se puede aprender más de cómo hacemos dinero al ver nuestra revelación de anuncios. También mira reseñas de más de 3,000 clientes satisfechos, nuestra metodología de datos, y nuestros estándares editoriales.

When shopping for car insurance in Rhode Island as a high-risk driver, you might find rates much higher than premiums for drivers with a clean record. Depending on your violation history, you might even struggle to qualify for a policy because some insurance companies don’t take on drivers with increased risk.

Plenty of insurance companies offer policies to high-risk drivers in Rhode Island, though. You should understand what to expect when signing up for coverage.

Datos Breves
  • A high-risk driver describes someone an auto insurer views as more likely to file a claim based on their driving history, credit score, age, or another factor.

  • Drivers with certain risk factors often pay higher insurance premiums to account for what they may cost their insurance company.

  • You can save money as a high-risk driver by improving your driving record, shopping around for insurance, and using discounts.

Find Rhode Island Car Insurance

Seguro. Gratis. Fácil de usar.
Basado en más de 3806 reseñas
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Factors that determine high-risk status in Rhode Island

Though Rhode Island doesn’t have a legal definition of a “high-risk driver,” it’s a term insurance companies use to describe someone with a greater likelihood of filing an auto insurance claim.

“A high-risk driver can also be a newly licensed operator and/or someone with low liability limits on their insurance policy,” says Kristen Gryglik, a senior insurance agent with Comparion Insurance Agency.

You can’t simply divide drivers into categories of low-risk or high-risk, though. Drivers fall somewhere on a broad risk spectrum. Lower risk results in lower insurance rates, and greater risk leads to more expensive coverage.

The following factors could cause insurance companies to view you as a high-risk driver:[1]

  • Traffic violations, tickets, and DUIs: The presence of one or more driving violations on your record can indicate a certain level of risk — especially if your record demonstrates a pattern of tickets or you have a serious conviction, like a DUI or driving while uninsured.

  • Accidents and claims: Recent or frequent at-fault accidents will make insurers wary of having to pay out future claims. A history of multiple claims indicates future risk.

  • Credit score and financial history: Drivers with a poor credit history tend to earn higher rates than drivers with good or excellent credit because of how insurers calculate insurance scores.

  • Age and driving experience: Teenagers and drivers younger than 25 typically pay the highest rates for car insurance by age group because their lack of experience leads to a greater likelihood of accidents.

  • Location: Some factors tied to your location — like bad weather or high rates of vehicle theft, accidents, or uninsured driving — can cause average rates in your area to increase.

Best Rhode Island auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers by violation

High-risk drivers typically face higher premiums than drivers with clean records. Different violations and risk factors will increase your premiums by different amounts. For example, your premiums will likely increase a lot more after a DUI than after a single speeding ticket.

Best car insurance for Rhode Island high-risk drivers with an at-fault accident

Having an at-fault accident on your driving record typically increases your insurance rates — especially if you filed an expensive claim. Your liability insurance protects you financially from the cost of injuries and property damage you cause in an accident. If you have collision insurance, your policy pays for the cost of damage to your vehicle.

The cost of auto insurance for someone with an at-fault accident varies widely depending on your insurance company. For example, USAA offers the cheapest average rate for Rhode Island drivers with an at-fault accident, at $159 per month for full coverage. A Liberty Mutual customer with an at-fault accident on their record could see an average rate of $492 per month.

Insurance CompanyAverage Quote: Full CoverageInsurify Quality (IQ) Score
USAA$1594.5
State Farm$2044.4
Safeco$2793.8
GEICO$3234.3
Nationwide$3354.1
Travelers$4364.3
Midvale Home & Auto$4533.2
Allstate$4804.1
Liberty Mutual$4923.8
Descargo de responsabilidad: Datos en esta tabla encontrados en cotizaciones reales de las 50+ aseguradoras asociadas con Insurify, más estimaciones de Quadrant Information Services. las cotizaciones reales variarán en función del perfil de conductor único del asegurado.
  • El puntaje compuesto de Insurify (ICS) es una marca propietaria calculada por nuestro equipo de analistas, que se basa en múltiples factores que reflejan la calidad, la fiabilidad, y la salud financiera de una compañía de seguros.

    Los factores de entrada a la puntuación se incluyen en el puntaje de A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, y Fitch; puntajes de J.D. Power; encuestas de satisfacción de los consumidores de Consumer Reports y de reclamaciones de los consumidores; opiniones de los usuarios sobre la aplicación móvil; y opiniones de los usuarios sobre la compañía.

Best car insurance rates for high-risk drivers in Rhode Island with a DUI

A driving under the influence (DUI) charge typically increases your rates more than any other driving violation.

In Rhode Island, a DUI results in license suspension, lasting anywhere from 30 days to three years depending on the offense.[2] If you lose your license and cancel your insurance, the DUI will affect your rates if you reinstate your license and sign up for insurance again.

The cheapest average rates for full-coverage insurance following a DUI in Rhode Island range between $222 and $685 per month.

Insurance CompanyAverage Quote: Full CoverageInsurify Quality (IQ) Score
USAA$2224.5
State Farm$2854.4
Safeco$3883.8
GEICO$4494.3
Nationwide$4664.1
Travelers$6074.3
Midvale Home & Auto$6313.2
Allstate$6684.1
Liberty Mutual$6853.8
Descargo de responsabilidad: Datos en esta tabla encontrados en cotizaciones reales de las 50+ aseguradoras asociadas con Insurify, más estimaciones de Quadrant Information Services. las cotizaciones reales variarán en función del perfil de conductor único del asegurado.

Best auto insurance for Rhode Island high-risk drivers with speeding tickets

A speeding ticket can also increase your insurance rates. Unlike an at-fault accident, a speeding ticket doesn’t necessarily cost your insurance company any money. But someone who drives over the speed limit may cause an accident and file a claim in the future.

In Rhode Island, the cheapest average full-coverage rates for drivers with speeding tickets start at $149 per month, from USAA.

Insurance CompanyAverage Quote: Full CoverageInsurify Quality (IQ) Score
USAA$1494.5
State Farm$1924.4
Safeco$2613.8
GEICO$3024.3
Nationwide$3144.1
Travelers$4094.3
Midvale Home & Auto$4253.2
Allstate$4504.1
Liberty Mutual$4613.8
Descargo de responsabilidad: Datos en esta tabla encontrados en cotizaciones reales de las 50+ aseguradoras asociadas con Insurify, más estimaciones de Quadrant Information Services. las cotizaciones reales variarán en función del perfil de conductor único del asegurado.

Cheapest Rhode Island car insurance companies for high-risk drivers with poor credit

Your credit history is a factor that determines your insurance premiums. Data has shown a correlation between people with lower credit scores and an increased likelihood of filing insurance claims.[3]

Some states prohibit insurance companies from using credit as a factor in setting insurance rates, but Rhode Island allows the practice. However, insurers in the state can’t penalize drivers due to an absence of credit history.

Drivers with a poor credit score tend to face higher rates than drivers with good and excellent credit history. Average quotes for drivers with poor credit start at $244 per month for full-coverage insurance.

Insurance CompanyAverage Quote: Full CoverageInsurify Quality (IQ) Score
USAA$2444.5
Safeco$3193.8
State Farm$3374.4
GEICO$4894.3
Liberty Mutual$5373.8
Midvale Home & Auto$5633.2
Travelers$5834.3
Allstate$8264.1
Descargo de responsabilidad: Datos en esta tabla encontrados en cotizaciones reales de las 50+ aseguradoras asociadas con Insurify, más estimaciones de Quadrant Information Services. las cotizaciones reales variarán en función del perfil de conductor único del asegurado.

Find Rhode Island Car Insurance

Seguro. Gratis. Fácil de usar.
Basado en más de 3806 reseñas
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

How to find affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers in Rhode Island

If you have violations on your record or qualify as high risk for another reason, you’ll likely pay more for insurance.

However, you can still find ways to save money on car insurance when shopping for a policy:[4]

  • Comparison shop. The amount you pay for car insurance varies not only by violation but also by the insurance company. You can often save money on premiums by comparing quotes from a handful of different insurers before signing up for a policy.

  • Work with an agent or broker. An insurance professional — especially an independent one — can help you find the best insurance rates. Based on their experience, they may have a better idea of which insurers will be most affordable based on your situation.

  • Take advantage of discounts. Most insurance companies offer a variety of discounts to help customers save money on their policies. Common discounts include savings for maintaining low mileage, having vehicle safety features, or paying your premium up front.

  • Bundle your policies. If you also have renters or homeowners insurance, purchase your auto insurance policy with the same insurer. Many insurance companies charge a lower premium to customers who bundle policies.

How to improve your driving record and lower your car insurance rates in Rhode Island

Improving your driving record is one of the best ways to lower your car insurance rates over time.

“There’s not much that can be done once the violation is on your record,” says Gryklik. “However, if you do get a surcharge notice for an accident or moving violation, I always advise to appeal if there is any chance you can be found less than 50% at fault for an accident.”

In Rhode Island, violations usually only affect your insurance premiums for three years.[5] And you can take advantage of the state’s Good Driver’s Statute. This statute allows you to have a violation dismissed from your record if you’ve had an active driver’s license for at least three years and haven’t had any other violations on your record within the past three years.[6]

You can improve your driving record and lower your insurance rates in a few other ways, as well:

  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies lower insurance rates for someone who’s completed a defensive driving course.

  • Maintain a good credit score. Your credit score is a major risk factor when it comes to your insurance rates. Even if you have a violation on your record, you could improve your rates by increasing your credit score.

  • Sign up for accident forgiveness. Many insurance companies offer accident forgiveness, which means your rates won’t increase after your first accident. While this won’t help you with accidents already on your record, it’ll help improve your record in the event of any future accidents.

  • Seek legal help. If you cause an accident or end up with a violation on your record, seek the help of an attorney to see if you can keep the violation off your driving record (or at least lessen its severity).

Find Rhode Island Car Insurance

Seguro. Gratis. Fácil de usar.
Basado en más de 3806 reseñas
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers

Rhode Island high-risk drivers insurance FAQs

Signing up for auto insurance as a high-risk driver presents challenges, and doing your research ahead of time may help you. Here’s what you should know about high-risk car insurance in Rhode Island.

  • What kind of driver is considered high-risk in Rhode Island?

    A high-risk driver in Rhode Island is someone with a greater likelihood of filing a claim based on their driving record, lack of driving experience, or credit score.

  • How do auto insurance companies calculate risk in Rhode Island?

    Each insurance company uses its own formula for calculating risk and insurance rates. But generally speaking, drivers are grouped with others who have similar risk characteristics. Drivers within each group pay a similarly priced premium.

    Factors included in this calculation may include your driving record, location, gender, age, coverage type and amount, credit score, and more.

  • What’s the cheapest insurance company for high-risk Rhode Island drivers?

    USAA has the cheapest auto insurance for most high-risk drivers, but the company only provides coverage to current and former military members and their families. State Farm offers the next-cheapest high-risk policies and offers more widely available coverage.

  • How much does high-risk auto insurance cost in Rhode Island?

    Rates start as low as $149 per month but can increase to more than $650 per month. The amount you’ll pay for high-risk auto insurance in Rhode Island depends on several factors besides your driving violations, including your amount of coverage, where you live, your insurance company, your credit score, and more.

  • How long does reckless driving affect insurance in Rhode Island?

    In Rhode Island, moving violations remain on your driving record for three years, meaning they can affect your insurance rates for that long. You may also have to deal with other long-term effects of reckless driving, including jail time and license suspension.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
  2. State of Rhode Island. "Title 31 Motor and Other Vehicles."
  3. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "A Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance."
  4. Insurance Information Institute. "How to save money on car insurance."
  5. State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Insurance Division. "Consumers Guide to Auto Insurance."
  6. Government of Central Falls, Rhode Island. "Good Driving Record Dismissal Policy."
Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler

Erin Gobler es una escritora y periodista especializada en finanzas personales basada en Madison, Wisconsin. Con más de cinco años de experiencia, Erin ha cubierto temas como inversiones, tarjetas de crédito, hipotecas, seguros y mucho más. Su trabajo ha aparecido en publicaciones importantes como Business Insider, Fox Business y Time. Erin recibió su bachillerato de la Universidad de Wisconsin-Oshkosh en 2013, estudiando periodismo y ciencias políticas. También recibió un certificado de planificación financiera de la Universidad de Boston en 2022.

Katie Powers
Editado porKatie PowersEscritora de seguros
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersEscritora de seguros

Katie Powers es una escritora de contenido de seguros para Insurify. Desde que completó su título universitario de escritura, literatura, y publicación, está acabando un título de maestría de publicación en Emersion College. En su tiempo libre, a ella le gusta leer y salir para largas caminatas.

Amber Benka
Revisado porAmber BenkaAgente de seguros con licencia
Icon of a woman
Amber BenkaAgente de seguros con licencia

Compara cotizaciones de seguros de auto instantáneamente

Seguro. Gratis. Fácil de usar.
Basado en más de 3806 reseñas
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualTravelers