Cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island for 2024

At an average rate of $2,733 per year for full coverage car insurance and $854 per year for minimum coverage car insurance, Rhode Island has higher-than-average premiums when compared to the national average of $2,458 per year for full coverage car insurance and $678 per year for minimum coverage car insurance. That means the average driver in this state is paying more than drivers across the nation. However, you may be able to drop the rate of your car insurance policy in Rhode Island by finding the right affordable car insurance company.

Key takeaways

• Cheapest company for minimum coverage: Travelers
• Cheapest company for full coverage: Travelers
• Cheapest company for drivers with prior incidents: Travelers
• Cheapest company for young drivers: Amica

Rhode Island requires all drivers to carry at least minimum coverage, also known as liability-only car insurance. That includes bodily injury liability, property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist and uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Bankrate found that Travelers offered the lowest average rates for minimum coverage in our analysis.

Minimum coverage requirements for Rhode Island drivers

Car insurance is a legal requirement in Rhode Island, as it is in most states. In Rhode Island, you must purchase a policy with at least the following minimum coverage limits to drive legally:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person
• $50,000 bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 property damage

Insurance companies in Rhode Island are also required to offer you uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage, although you can decline these coverage types in writing.

Rhode Island has an insurance verification system (RIIVS) that matches active motor vehicle insurance policies with the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of registered motor vehicles in the state. If your vehicle’s VIN doesn't match to an insurance policy for four weeks in a row, you will get a letter in the mail. Your registration will be revoked if you don’t obtain insurance.

Drivers who choose to purchase minimum coverage often pay the lowest rates on car insurance. However, minimum coverage limits could leave you with hefty out-of-pocket expenses if you cause an accident and the injuries or damage exceed your insurance limits. Minimum coverage also does not provide any coverage for damage to your own vehicle; that requires that you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, which typically constitute full coverage.

Although minimum coverage is all that's required by law, many Rhode Island drivers choose to purchase full coverage auto insurance to further protect themselves from financial risk. Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive coverage, both of which can pay towards your own costs and not just other drivers. Bankrate found in our analysis that Travelers offered the lowest average rates in Rhode Island for full coverage.

Having a prior incident on your driving record will likely impact your auto insurance rates in Rhode Island. How much of an impact will depend largely on what type of incident occurred. Below are some of the more affordable options, based on our analysis, for drivers in Rhode Island with incidents on their record:

• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a ticket: Travelers
• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Travelers
• Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers: Travelers

Cheapest insurance companies for drivers in Rhode Island with a speeding ticket: Travelers

Being convicted of a speeding ticket in Rhode Island may lead to a noticeable increase in your rates. While the average increase can vary between companies, it's common for insurers to raise your rates for at least three years after a conviction for just one speeding ticket, as drivers who are convicted of speeding tickets have shown that they are more likely to engage in risky driving practices. Bankrate found that Travelers offered the lowest average rates for drivers with a speeding ticket in Rhode Island. The car insurance companies in Rhode Island that offer the cheapest average rates for drivers who have been convicted of a speeding ticket include:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers in Rhode Island with an at-fault accident: Travelers

Being found at fault for an auto accident is another event that can significantly affect your rates with most insurers for at least three years. The exact amount of the increase depends on the car insurance company, as well as the driver's profile and other factors. However, drivers who are already considered to be riskier to insure, like young drivers, often see a higher increase than older, more experienced drivers. Bankrate found Travelers to offer the lowest average rates for drivers with an at-fault accident. The car insurance companies in Rhode Island that offer the lowest average rates for drivers who have been found at fault for an accident include:

Cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island for high-risk drivers: Travelers

If you've been convicted of a severe traffic violation or several smaller ones, you may be categorized as a high-risk driver by insurance companies. High-risk drivers represent a greater risk to insure and are charged some of the highest average rates of any demographic. Of the many traffic infractions that can cause a driver to be considered high-risk, DUIs are often considered the most severe. High-risk drivers not only face higher average car insurance rates, but some insurers may refuse to cover them. Bankrate found that Travelers offered the lowest average rates for high-risk drivers in Rhode Island. The companies that offer the lowest average rates in Rhode Island for high-risk drivers include:

Age is one of the most important variables in determining car insurance rates. Younger drivers are generally much costlier to insure than older drivers. Teen drivers face some of the highest rates across all demographics of drivers. Still, with some research, it's often possible to find cheap insurance for young adults.

• Cheapest car insurance for insuring a teen driver: Amica
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with a ticket: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Travelers

Cheapest Rhode Island car insurance for insuring a teen driver: Amica

Teen drivers are generally some of the most expensive drivers to insure, as they have the least experience behind the wheel and have a statistically higher likelihood of causing an accident or other incident on the road. When adding a teen driver to your policy, it may be helpful to find the companies that offer the cheapest average rates for teen drivers to help find the lowest cost. Some insurers also offer teen discounts or student discounts, which may further reduce premiums when available. The cheapest companies in Rhode Island for adding a teen driver are outlined below.

Cheapest Rhode Island car insurance for teens with a ticket: USAA

With their base rates already so high, teens with a speeding ticket may want to consider finding affordable car insurance. Bankrate found that USAA offered the lowest average rates in our analysis for teens with a speeding ticket in Rhode Island.

Cheapest Rhode Island car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: USAA

An at-fault accident can drastically increase teens' already high rates in Rhode Island. At this point, it may be wise to consider car insurance for high-risk drivers. Bankrate found that USAA offered the lowest average rates in Rhode Island for teens with an at-fault accident.

Cheapest Rhode Island car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Travelers

Finding an affordable insurance company for a teen with a DUI can be tricky. Most insurers see DUIs as the most extreme type of reg flag that a driver can have. Bankrate found that Travelers offered the cheapest average rates for teen drivers with a DUI in Rhode Island.

When looking for cheap auto insurance in Rhode Island, discounts may be essential for lowering your premium. Discounts vary between insurance companies, but there are several types that have become relatively common. The discounts described below are some of the more readily available types, but this list is in no way exhaustive. For a complete look at which discounts your insurer offers, you will likely need to look at their website or contact your agent.

• Young driver discounts: These discounts are geared toward teen and young drivers and often have requirements that drivers must meet to qualify. For instance, many insurers use discounts like this that require the young driver to stay above a certain GPA in high school or college classes. Some providers also offer discounts if a student attends school at least 100 miles away.
• Safe driver discounts: Insurers will sometimes offer discounts to drivers who go a certain amount of time without receiving a traffic citation. The specifics vary between companies. For instance, some providers require you to complete a safe driver program or log minutes from a driving school.
• No claims discounts: Some insurance companies will offer drivers a discount if they’ve gone a certain number of years without filing a claim. While three years may be a common benchmark, it varies between insurance companies.
• Safety device discounts: Insurance companies often provide discounts for vehicles that have safety features installed that can help to prevent injuries, damage or theft. For example, you might earn a discount for anti-lock brakes, seatbelt use or an alarm system.
• Policy bundling discounts: Buying more than one policy from the same insurer will often net you a discount. The most common example of this is bundling your car and home policies from the same company.