The Best Cheap Car Insurance in Rhode Island for 2020

The Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies for RI Drivers in 2020

When you begin your search for car insurance coverage, you’ll find multiple options including five of the most familiar car insurance companies. The table below shows the average costs from these companies, but your quote will vary by several individual factors. Use this information to get started and then request free car insurance quotes from a few providers to find personalized pricing information.

There is no one size fits all plan for auto insurance. Personalized factors (i.e., age, credit history, driving history) will impact your cost. These factors include where you live, gender, age, driving record and the vehicle you drive.

The Best Car Insurance Companies in Rhode Island for 2020

We all hope to never get in an accident, but when we do, we want to know our insurance company will be there to help. That’s why MoneyGeek ranked the best car insurance companies in Rhode Island. These top companies are ranked out of 100 based on JD Power’s customer satisfaction, claims, and affordability score, as well as AM Best’s financial strength rating. You want an insurance company that is reliable, so it’s a good idea to consider both performance and affordability.

Market Share by Company

Larger insurance companies can sometimes offer lower rates. Progressive is the largest insurer in Rhode Island with 22% of the market share.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Drivers With a DUI in Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Patrol is combating drunk driving fatalities with a task force to find and arrest impaired drivers. The state ranks above the national average in drunk driving deaths, with 34% of deadly crashes caused by alcohol or drugs. In a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.4% of Rhode Island adults reported driving after drinking too much within the last 30 days at the time of the survey.

Rhode Island law makes it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over .08% or any amount of a control substance. The consequence is a conviction for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and up to a year in jail, $100 to $400 fines, and your license suspended. The punishes increase with a higher BAC or with a second or third offense.

A DWI can impact your life and finances for years. You can expect your car insurance premiums to double overnight. You can work to clear your driving record in order to lower your car insurance premiums, but you’ll have to wait five years before starting the expunging process. It’s still possible to find affordable auto insurance after a DWI. Get quotes from multiple providers and ask if taking an alcohol treatment or driver’s education course can lower your rate.

Cheapest Car Insurance for RI Speeding or Distracted Driving Tickets

Distracted driving and speeding are considered risky driving behaviors and will increase your auto insurance rates. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving accounted for 56 vehicle crashes in Rhode Island in 2018. Rhode Island passed a new law in 2018 making it illegal to hold a cell phone or wireless device while driving. The law also prohibits using headphones or accessories that cover both ears. If you are caught, it’s a $100 fine.

Oregon does not use a point system on your record but does track moving violations, including speeding and distracted driving citations. Your insurer can view these violations and can adjust your rates accordingly. To maintain cheap auto insurance rates with a ticket, work to remove any violations from your record. Rhode Island allows you to review your record and work to clear it.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in RI for Drivers With Bad Credit

According to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, statistics show a correlation between credit history and claim frequency. The state allows insurance companies to use a driver’s credit history when setting rates. Insurers believe the better the credit the score, the better the driver. A lower credit score can increase your costs. According to Experian, Oregon has one of the highest credit score ratings in the country at 713.

The following table showcases what drivers with bad credit can expect to pay for auto insurance in Rhode Island.

There are still ways to get cheap auto insurance with bad credit in Rhode Island. The first step is to review your credit report and learn why your credit is low. In many cases, there is a mistake that can easily be fixed. There are also ways to improve your credit score. When your score improves, reach out to your auto insurance company about getting an updated and improved rate.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Rhode Island for Seniors

With age comes wisdom and experience. But when it comes to driving, age can also begin to affect vision, cognition and motor function. According to 2017 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13.6% of fatal traffic accidents in Rhode Island involved a driver over the age of 65. While licenses are normally renewed every five years, drivers over 75 will have to go to the DMV every two years.

When looking for cheap car insurance for seniors in Rhode Island, your driving record will play a significant role. Those with a good driving history may be rewarded for their experience with senior discounts. However, violations may show the impact of age and increase your rates. If you are a senior shopping for car insurance, meet with your doctor to discuss your medical capabilities behind the wheel. Then ask insurance companies about discounts. Rhode Island offers a Defensive Driving course that many insurers consider beneficial and could get you a lower car insurance rate.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Students

Because teen drivers are inexperienced, they are more likely to get into an accident. This is why their rates are much higher than mom’s or dad’s insurance. There are ways to find cheap car insurance for teen drivers. The best way is to shop around and get multiple quotes. Tell insurers about your teenager’s grades, driver’s education, and what vehicle would be most affordable to insure. Consider the estimates in the following table for what to expect when insuring a young driver in Rhode Island.

Premium Comparison by Student Type

PREMIUM COMPARISON FOR TWO ADULTS + 16-YEAR-OLD

Average premium for two 2014

Mustang GTs

$5,622

Average premium for two 2008

Town and Country Limiteds

$3,633

Annual benefits of minivans:$1,989 saved

This is 35% less expensive.

Cheaper premium for college vs. high school drivers

Median premium change with a college student vs. high school driver:

$729 DECREASE

This is a savings of 17%.

Potential discounts for teens in Rohde Island

Impact on annual premium with good student and defensive driving discounts:

$286 SAVED

Rohde Island students: a long-distance discount

You may pay a smaller annual family premium if your child lives 150 miles or more away from home.

Average premium for a 19-year-old male

$4,041 at home

$3,471 at school

$574 IN SAVINGS

Average premium for a 19-year-old female

$3,481 at home

$3,033 at school

$448 IN SAVINGS

Insurance Rate Information for Military Drivers and Veterans

Military families and veterans living in Rhode Island will need car insurance. Some automatic discounts are available to veterans and active-duty military members. Whether you're looking at a specialty carrier who sells insurance only to military members, or a larger company that offers a military discount, it pays to compare rates by shopping around. If you expect to be deployed and won't be using your car for some time, ask potential insurance companies if you can suspend coverage and pause premiums while you're gone.

Rhode Island, which has about 3,400 active-duty military personnel living in the state and more than 63,000 veterans, offers an online guide to buying insurance. If you are stationed in Rhode Island, you are required to renew your registration before it expires, even if you are out-of-state at the time.

Age savings for Rohde Island service members

25 years$1,663
50 years$1,467

25 years$1,609
50 years$1,437

---

$196 Saved

$172 Saved

Median auto insurance for service members: $1,490

Who Needs Car Insurance in Rhode Island?

If you're living in Rhode Island and plan to drive in the state, you'll need at least the minimum levels of liability insurance.

Proof of Insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island drivers must show proof of insurance when getting a driver's license or registering a vehicle at the DMV. You also have to carry your insurance card or a photocopy in your car at all times, so you can show it after an accident or if a police officer asks for it.

Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements in Rhode Island

Rhode Island requires mandatory liability insurance in these amounts:

• $25,000 per injured individual
• $50,000 for all injuries per accident
• $25,000 per accident for property damage

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance is highly recommended. However, state law allows you to waive this insurance if you buy only the minimum amounts of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Uninsured Motorist coverage is important if the at-fault driver has no insurance (or the crash is a hit-and-run), it ensures your provider will still cover you. Rhode Island does have a high rate of uninsured motorists, so this coverage may be worth considering.

Alternatives to Insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island drivers with extra money lying around can skip insurance, but they'll have to get a surety bond or deposit $60,000 per vehicle with the DMV for a security bond or cash deposit to cover any future accidents.

High-Risk Auto Insurance Program in Rhode Island

High-risk drivers who can't get insurance through the normal means can get alternative coverage through the Rhode Island Automobile Insurance Plan for high-risk drivers.

Car Insurance Requirements in RI: How Much Coverage Do You Need?

For more on common types of insurance and what's best for you, see the MoneyGeek guide to car insurance.

Compare Auto Insurance Rates

Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

COMPARE QUOTES

Sources

• Alcohol.org. “DUI Arrests and Fatalities Across the U.S.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Motor Vehicle Safety.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• DrivingLaws.org. “DUI Laws by State.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• Experian. “2019 Consumer Credit Review.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• MatthewTMarin.com “Rhode Island Criminal Defense Blog.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• NAIC. “2018 Market Share Reports.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• NHTSA. “Traffic Safety Facts.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. “Consumers Guide to Auto Insurance.” Accessed March 19, 2020.
• Rhode Island DOT. “New DUI Initiative.” Accessed March 19, 2020.