Rhode Island Auto Insurance
If you are going to drive a car in Rhode Island, auto insurance is necessary. Like most states, Rhode Island requires all drivers to have valid car insurance when registering a car. Although it can seem like a hassle when you are shopping around, if you were ever in an accident in RI, an auto insurance policy would save you a LOT of money.
Rhode Island Minimum State Auto Insurance Requirements
Each state sets its own coverage requirements, and Rhode Island’s minimums are very typical. There is a minimum Bodily Injury Liability of $25,000 per person (which covers injury to another person in an accident caused by you), $50,000 per accident (the upper limit the insurance company will pay to all others sustaining injury in an accident caused by you), and a Property Damage Liability of $25,000 (which covers damage to another person’s property in an accident caused by you). You will see this listed as 25/50/25.
You will notice that the coverage listed above is all regarding damage done in an accident that you cause. This is because Rhode Island follows a “tort” system, which means that the person at fault covers all costs. If the accident is not your fault, then whoever caused it will pay for your injuries and/or property damage with their insurance plan.
What if the person who caused the accident does not have enough insurance to cover you? It is a good idea to purchase Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist insurance as well, which would take care of this situation. In the event that the person at fault does not have enough coverage, your Underinsured Motorist coverage would take over and cover the remainder. The minimum for this kind of insurance is $25,000 per person, and up to $50,000 per accident.
Proof Of Rhode Island Auto Insurance
Like mentioned above, Rhode Island requires proof of insurance when you are registering a car in your name. It is up to you to keep your insurance valid, by renewing it with the same company, or switching companies if you prefer. Whenever you purchase car insurance, you will receive a card proving that you do carry insurance on that vehicle.
You will need this card if you are ever in an accident or pulled over for a traffic violation. If you do not have the card with you, or your insurance has expired, your license will be suspended until you can prove that you have valid insurance again. The penalty can be even more severe if you have been at fault for an accident before, or have previous driving convictions, such as a DUI.
Rhode Island Auto Insurance Costs
The cost of car insurance will vary depending on many factors, one of which being your fellow Rhode Island drivers! Insurance companies in RI base their rates not on state mandates, but instead on the amount the companies spend on all of the state’s drivers. So if there are a lot of unsafe drivers who cause a higher quantity of accidents, then your rates may go up the next year.
This is even more true if you fall within a category of historically unsafe drivers; categories are based on things such as age, type of vehicle, driving record, and where you live. For example, a single 19-year-old male with a sports car will pay more than a married 35-year-old woman with a van. It is quite possible that neither of them has ever gotten a ticket, or been at cause for an accident, but based on accident trends, the 19-year-old male is more likely to be in an accident.
Compare Rhode Island Auto Insurance Quotes
As is true for any kind of insurance, there are multiple companies from which you can buy auto insurance. Some of the most popular national companies are Geico, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, and All State, all of which have websites that can provide more specific information for the state of Rhode Island. You can also get quotes directly from them and other companies.
Another way to get insurance quotes is through an agent, who will shop around for you to find the best rate. There are now internet “agents” that take the information you give supply – zip code, age(s) of driver(s), type of car(s), coverage you want, etc. – and then provide you with the various quotes. You then may want to contact the companies whose services you are interested in, and speak to a customer service representative, or even just visit the website, to get a sense of the company.
To find the best RI auto insurance rate for you, start your search now with the quote tool above. You'll immediately start to receive quotes from top Rhode Island auto insurance companies who are ready to compete for your business. Get started now!