Rhode Island car insurance costs about $1,518 per year for full coverage and $845 for minimum coverage, based on a 40-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations. Rates vary depending on your unique profile.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Rhode Island
Updated: August 15, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Rhode Island car insurance costs range from $816 to $4,296 per year depending on your chosen coverage, driving profile and location.
Rhode Island ranks as one of the most expensive in the country ranking 40th and 33rd overall for minimum and full coverage car insurance affordability respectively.
Find the cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island by deciding on coverage beforehand, researching costs and companies, and comparing multiple quotes.
Average Car Insurance Cost In Rhode Island
| Full Coverage | $126 | $1,518 |
| Minimum Coverage | $70 | $845 |
*Rates are based on a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a clean record driving a 2012 Toyota Camry LE. Minimum coverage means basic liability required by state law. Full coverage includes 100/300/100 liability limits plus comprehensive and collision with $1,000 deductibles.
Average Rhode Island Car Insurance Cost by Category
Car insurance varies widely depending on your unique characteristics, location and car. Here are average rates for common categories of drivers so you can see how pricing can vary.
| Young Drivers | $197 | $358 |
| Adult Drivers | $70 | $124 |
| Senior Drivers | $80 | $139 |
| Drivers With An Accident | $77 | $138 |
| Drivers With A DUI | $135 | $250 |
| Drivers With A Speeding Ticket | $90 | $164 |
| Drivers With Bad Credit | $152 | $302 |
| Drivers With Low Income | $88 | $175 |
| Drivers With Newer Cars | $88 | $160 |
| Drivers With Old Cars | $68 | $122 |
*We modified rates based on the same 40-year-old driver profile with these changes: young drivers (16 to 25), adults (26 to 64), seniors (65+), low income (fair credit), bad credit (poor credit), newer cars (2025 Toyota Camry LE), older cars (2007 Toyota Camry LE). Driving violation profiles include only that specific violation.
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Personalized Average Rhode Island Car Insurance Costs
General driver categories give you a starting point, but your rates will be different. Use our filterable table below to find personalized costs based on your unique profile.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
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Coverage Level:100/300/100 Full Cov. w/$1,000 Ded.
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Age Group:Adult Drivers
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Gender:Female
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Credit Alignment:Below Fair
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Driving Record:At Fault Accident ($1000-$1999 Prop Dmg)
| 100/300/100 Full Cov. w/$1,000 Ded. | 257 | 3084 |
*Rates for the age groups are based on the following assumptions: young drivers (16 to 25), adults (26 to 64), seniors (65+).
Average Rhode Island Car Insurance Cost by City
Your location in Rhode Island plays a major role in your car insurance costs. Annual rates for full coverage range from $645 in Newport East to $2,090 in Providence. Below you can compare both full and minimum coverage rates for your city and all other residential areas in the state.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
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City:Alachua
*Rates are for a 40-year-old driver with good credit and no driving violations who is insuring a 2012 Toyota Camry LE. Minimum coverage represents the minimum required liability coverage in the state while full coverage is representative of a 100/300/100 liability policy with a $1,000 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage.
Is Rhode Island Car Insurance Expensive?
Rhode Island ranks 40th for minimum coverage and 33rd for full coverage affordability among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., making it one of the more expensive states. This reflects statewide averages, and affordability rankings for your city differ from the rest of the United States.
Why Is Car Insurance More Expensive In Rhode Island?
Below we'll explore the reasons for Rhode Island's high car insurance rates:
High Percentage of Uninsured Drivers
One out of every six Rhode Island drivers is now going without any auto insurance, ranking 16th in the country. This creates additional pressure on insurance costs, as companies must account for the higher likelihood of accidents involving uninsured motorists when setting rates for responsible drivers.
Geographic Location and Weather Risks
Rhode Island's coastal location exposes cars to salt air corrosion, winter weather damage and severe storms. The state's position in the Northeast corridor means drivers face risks from nor'easters, ice storms and flooding that can cause comprehensive coverage claims and increase repair costs.
High Cost of Living and Labor
The state's high cost of living translates to expensive labor costs for auto repairs and medical care. Rhode Island has one of the ten most expensive costs for car insurance at over $2,400 for a full coverage policy, so $400 more than the national average.
Urban Crime and Theft Rates
The number of accidents and car thefts can vary from place to place. Generally, urban areas see higher average car insurance costs than rural areas. Providence has the highest average car insurance premiums among the cities in the study: $2,474 per year. That's more than $600 higher than the statewide average.
Extreme Population Density and Traffic Congestion
Rhode Island ranks as the country's third most densely populated state, with over one million residents in the nation's smallest state. This high population density means more cars in the same area, which leads to more accidents and higher insurance costs. With this data, we can reasonably conclude that many cars moving through a small area lead to more accidents, more claims and, ultimately, higher insurance rates.
Rising Traffic Fatalities and Reckless Driving
Rhode Island reports an increase in traffic fatalities in 2023, with about 58% of drivers in deadly crashes drinking and driving, up from 42% last year. Insurance companies have also seen more negligent driving behavior on the road with accidents and severe accidents — even fatal accidents — up over the past couple of years.
Highest Car Repair Costs in the Nation
Rhode Island drivers now pay the highest amount for collision repair in the country, with the average collision repair cost at $1,987 in 2024. It's expensive to get your car repaired in Rhode Island — it's the third most expensive state in the nation for car repairs. Car repairs and maintenance are more expensive than they used to be over the past couple of years and even outpacing normal inflation.
Limited Competition Among Repair Shops
Rhode Island has the longest restriction on aftermarket parts currently in place, which is the longest such restriction in the country. This will only further impact the wallets of Rhode Island drivers with higher car repair costs, increased insurance premiums and longer repair times. Limited competition among repair facilities contributes to the state's position as having the highest collision repair costs nationwide.
How To Lower Car Insurance Costs In Rhode Island
Below we've created a step-by-step guide to lowering your car insurance costs.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs beforehand
Deciding on your coverage needs is important so you're not oversold on too much coverage. Consider your financial situation, driving habits, car details and risk tolerance when making this decision.
- 2
Research costs and discounts
To save money for your profile, know the average costs for your preferred coverage level. Research car insurance discounts you may qualify for and look into the best home and auto insurance bundles for the most balanced perspective.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
Cost isn't everything. Consider add-on coverage options and customer experiences with different providers to help narrow down which companies you'd like to compare quotes from. Use resources like industry studies, review forums and public forums like Reddit.
- 4
Compare quotes through multiple means
Compare quotes from multiple companies to find the best deal possible. Use different methods of getting quotes, such as comparison sites and independent agents, since pricing varies widely by method.
Cost of Car Insurance in Rhode Island: Bottom Line
Rhode Island car insurance costs are among the more expensive in the United States, making it important to take advantage of savings strategies. Decide on your coverage needs beforehand, do thorough research and compare quotes from the right insurers.
Cost of Car Insurance in Rhode Island: FAQ
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Rhode Island car insurance costs:
How much is Rhode Island car insurance per month?
Rhode Island car insurance costs $70 for minimum coverage and $126 for full coverage policies. Rates range from $68 to $358 monthly depending on your unique driver profile and coverage choice.
What factors affect Rhode Island car insurance costs?
Primary factors include driving history, age and location. Drivers with accidents, violations or those who are young face higher rates, while urban areas cost more than rural ones. Car type, coverage amounts, credit score and annual mileage also impact premiums, along with factors like gender and marital status in some states.
Why is Rhode Island car insurance so expensive?
Rhode Island has the country's third-highest population density and the highest collision repair costs nationally at $1,987 average. The state faces poor road infrastructure with 37.2% of major roads in poor condition and rising traffic fatalities. One in six drivers lacks insurance, and regulatory restrictions on aftermarket parts contribute to the nation's longest repair times and highest costs.
How expensive is Rhode Island car insurance?
Rhode Island ranks 40th in affordability for minimum coverage and 33rd overall for full coverage, making it one of the most expensive places to get auto insurance in the U.S.
How We Determined Rhode Island Car Insurance Costs
We used the following profile and modifications of this profile to determine Rhode Island auto insurance costs across all available zip codes and cities in the state:
- 40-years-old
- Clean driving record
- Good credit
- 2012 Toyota Camry LE
Minimum coverage was defined as a state's minimum liability coverage and full coverage is a policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible for comprehensive and collision coverage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
sources
- Autobody News . "Rhode Island tops U.S. for average collision repair costs ." Accessed August 18, 2025.
- Turn To 10 . "RIDOT reporting significant increase in traffic fatalities in 2023 ." Accessed August 18, 2025.
- Turn To 10 . "What's causing car insurance rates to spike ." Accessed August 18, 2025.
- U.S. News & World Report . "Cheap Car Insurance Rhode Island ." Accessed August 18, 2025.