Car Insurance in Rhode Island
Rhode Island drivers spend an average of $1,540 a year on auto insurance according to the NAIC — ▲ +20% versus the national average of $1,282, ranking 7th most expensive of 51. The state requires 25/50/25 liability coverage and follows an at-fault system.
Average car insurance cost in Rhode Island
The NAIC average expenditure is what insured drivers actually paid on average, including people who carry only liability. For those who buy each coverage, the average premium was $984 for liability, $540 for collision and $186 for comprehensive ($1,710 combined, versus $1,439 nationally). That average expenditure is 8% higher than the NAIC's previous data year ($1,423). Comprehensive coverage is cheaper than average here, a sign of lower weather and theft losses.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's minimum is written as 25/50/25: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability. Those limits are low compared with the cost of a serious injury claim, so many drivers choose 100/300/100 — we estimate that "standard" level at about $1,190 a year here, $370 more than the minimum.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident or $75,000 combined single limit | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $25,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | No | — Rhode Island does not require personal injury protection. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage must be included unless the insured signs to decline it. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Offered together with uninsured motorist coverage; declining requires the insured's signature. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical payments coverage is optional. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Drivers under 18 must file a GU-1338 Special Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate to register a vehicle.
Compare with another state
Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
No — Rhode Island is an at-fault (tort) state. Rhode Island is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer, use their own coverage, or sue.
Uninsured drivers in Rhode Island
The Insurance Research Council estimates 12.4% of Rhode Island drivers are uninsured — 25th highest in the country, compared with 15.4% nationally. That's roughly one uninsured driver in every 8 on the road. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage isn't mandatory here (Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage must be included unless the insured signs to decline it), but it is still inexpensive protection against hit-and-run and uninsured drivers.
SR-22 requirements in Rhode Island
Rhode Island does not use the SR-22 form. Rhode Island eliminated SR-22 filings; the only special filing is the GU-1338 certificate required for vehicle owners under 18.
By our model, a driver in their 30s with a DUI would pay about $1,540 a year for minimum coverage in Rhode Island, versus $820 with a clean record. What is SR-22 insurance?
Estimate your premium in Rhode Island
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Car insurance by city in Rhode Island
We cover 8 Rhode Island cities. Estimates are for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record; hover a city to find it on the map. The lowest estimate is in Newport ($1,840) and the highest in Central Falls ($2,210).
- ProvidencePop. 194,706 · Providence County$2,095+9% vs state
- CranstonPop. 84,448 · Providence County$1,940+1% vs state
- WarwickPop. 83,554 · Kent County$1,9100% vs state
- PawtucketPop. 76,996 · Providence County$2,085+9% vs state
- East ProvidencePop. 47,961 · Providence County$1,930+1% vs state
- WoonsocketPop. 44,508 · Providence County$2,105+10% vs state
- NewportPop. 24,482 · Newport County$1,840−4% vs state
- Central FallsPop. 23,034 · Providence County$2,210+15% vs state
Estimated cost by driver profile in Rhode Island
Age and driving record move premiums more than almost anything else. A teen on their own policy pays about 2.7× what a driver in their 30s pays for the same full coverage in Rhode Island.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $2,255 | $3,270 | $5,265 | $439 |
| Young adult (22) | $1,310 | $1,905 | $3,065 | $255 |
| Adult in their 30s | $820 | $1,190 | $1,915 | $160 |
| Adult in their 50s | $755 | $1,095 | $1,760 | $147 |
| Senior (72) | $920 | $1,330 | $2,145 | $179 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $1,190 | $1,725 | $2,775 | $231 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $1,515 | $2,200 | $3,540 | $295 |
By coverage level
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $820 | $68 | $675–$970 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $1,190 | $99 | $975–$1,405 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,915 | $160 | $1,570–$2,260 |
Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure in Rhode Island
Full-coverage estimates for current models, using HLDI insurance-loss data where available. Vehicle choice alone can swing the premium by more than $3,745 a year here.
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Acadia | Midsize SUV | $1,205 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | Midsize SUV | $1,290 |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $1,385 |
| Honda Pilot | Midsize SUV | $1,415 |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $1,420 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Small SUV | $1,420 |
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $1,455 |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $1,465 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Large SUV | $1,485 |
| Acura RDX | Luxury SUV | $1,505 |
| Model | Segment | Est. / year |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M4 | Luxury sports car | $4,950 |
| BMW M3 | Luxury car | $4,830 |
| Lamborghini Urus | Luxury SUV | $4,375 |
| BMW 7 Series | Luxury car | $4,230 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Luxury car | $3,375 |
| Lucid Air | Luxury car | $3,335 |
| Audi RS 7 | Luxury car | $2,855 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class | Luxury SUV | $2,755 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Luxury car | $2,740 |
| Lexus LS | Luxury car | $2,715 |
Cheap car insurance in Rhode Island: how to lower your rate
- Raise your deductible. Going from $500 to $1,000 on collision and comprehensive saves about $100 a year on a typical Rhode Island full-coverage policy.
- Match coverage to your car's value. On a 10-year-old car, dropping collision and comprehensive could cut the bill from about $1,590 to $1,190.
- Drive less, pay less. Low-mileage and usage-based programs can save around $135 a year if you drive under 7,500 miles.
- Protect your record. A single speeding ticket adds roughly $420 a year in our model; an at-fault accident adds much more.
- Shop at renewal. Rates for the same driver differ widely between insurers. Compare identical limits and deductibles.
- Ask about discounts — bundling home and auto, good student, safe-driver, paid-in-full and defensive-driving course discounts. See common discounts.
Complaints and help: Rhode Island Division of Insurance
The Rhode Island Division of Insurance licenses insurers and agents, reviews rates and handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and billing — free of charge.
- Website
- dbr.ri.gov
- File a complaint
- Consumer complaint page
- Consumer helpline
- 1-401-462-9520
Rhode Island vs. neighboring states
| State | NAIC avg. | Minimums | System | Uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $1,540 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 12.4% |
| Connecticut | $1,394 | 25/50/25 | At-fault (tort) | 11.8% |
| Massachusetts | $1,326 | 25/50/30 | No-fault | 7.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Rhode Island?
NAIC data puts the average Rhode Island auto insurance expenditure at $1,540 a year, 20% more than the national average of $1,282 (rank 7 of 51, where 1 is the most expensive). Our estimate for full coverage for a driver in their 30s with a clean record is about $1,915 a year ($160 a month); state-minimum liability is about $820.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires at least 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
No. Rhode Island is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver responsible for a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage.
How many drivers in Rhode Island are uninsured?
The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 12.4% of Rhode Island drivers are uninsured, ranking 25th in the nation (national estimate: 15.4%).
Does Rhode Island require SR-22 insurance?
Rhode Island does not use the SR-22 form. Rhode Island eliminated SR-22 filings; the only special filing is the GU-1338 certificate required for vehicle owners under 18.
Which Rhode Island city has the cheapest car insurance?
Among the 8 cities we cover, Newport has the lowest full-coverage estimate at about $1,840 a year, while Central Falls is the highest at about $2,210. Differences come from population density, commute length and local weather risk.
How much does car insurance cost for a teen driver in Rhode Island?
An 18-year-old on their own full-coverage policy would pay roughly $5,265 a year in Rhode Island by our estimate, or about $2,255 for minimum coverage. Joining a parent's policy usually costs less.
How do I file a complaint against a car insurance company in Rhode Island?
Contact the Rhode Island Division of Insurance (consumer line 1-401-462-9520). It handles consumer complaints about claims, cancellations and rates at no cost.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- R.I. Gen. Laws 31-47-2 (financial security definitions and limits)
- RI DBR Insurance Division: Industry Alert 2018-2 (SR-22 filings eliminated)
- RI DMV: GU-1338 Special Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate
- RI DBR: Division of Insurance - Consumers
- RI DBR: Have a Question or Complaint?
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: population estimates and American Community Survey
- FEMA National Risk Index