Best car insurance in Rhode Island for 2024

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto and home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Rhode Island requires all drivers to have the state-mandated minimum amount of car insurance to legally drive their car on the road. Reputable car insurance companies will not allow you to buy a policy with less than these minimum liability requirements, but most insurance professionals recommend purchasing higher limits if you can afford to do so. Full coverage car insurance may offer better financial protection in the event of an accident or other covered incident.

If you finance or lease your vehicle, you may be required to carry full coverage car insurance. These requirements may help to financially protect both you and the lender if your vehicle becomes damaged or totaled. Gap insurance may also be beneficial. Without it, drivers can be stuck paying off the loan on a car that is no longer functional while still needing a new vehicle.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to auto insurance coverage. Maybe you have a young driver and need a company with plenty of teen driver discounts. Or perhaps your driving record is not the best, and you need a company that will insure high-risk drivers. The first step to finding the best coverage for you is likely understanding what you need. Once you've narrowed down the coverage types, discounts and digital tools you want, you can compare quotes from carriers that offer these options.

There is no single company that is always the best choice for everyone, since coverage needs, budget and rating factors can vary widely. You may value low cost above everything else, for example, or perhaps excellent customer service is most important to you. Finding the best company for your own needs is a matter of determining your priorities and then asking for quotes from the companies that are most likely to be able to meet your needs.

The cheapest car insurance company in Rhode Island varies from person to person, depending on their circumstances. Insurers base their rates on a range of factors that are unique to you: your age, gender and credit rating, as well as your driving history and your car's age, make and model, among others. This is why experts recommend that you shop around and request quotes from a number of companies that are known for writing cheap car insurance policies, to see which offers you the most favorable rate.

Like almost all states (New Hampshire is the main exception), Rhode Island does require a minimum level of car insurance for you to drive on public roads legally. This coverage is often written as 25/50/25, which translates to:

• $25,000 in bodily injury coverage for a single person's injuries in an accident
• $50,000 for total bodily injury coverage for all persons' injuries in an accident
• $25,000 in property damage for coverage for a single accident

Note that these levels of coverage are fairly low, and might not provide enough financial protection in a serious accident. Many insurance experts recommend that you purchase more than the minimum required to ensure that you have enough insurance, even if the costs of an accident are high.