Cheapest Car Insurance in Rhode Island (September 2024)

Travels offers the cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance in Rhode Island. State Farm and USAA also offer the cheapest rates for certain types of drivers.

Review MoneyGeek's rankings for the best car insurance companies in Rhode Island to find a company that balances affordability and quality service.

Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, the cheapest car insurance companies in Rhode Island for a minimum coverage policy are:

• Travelers: $475 per year
• American Family: $504 per year

With an average yearly premium of $1,256, GEICO is the most expensive auto insurance provider in Rhode Island for minimum coverage.

The Rhode Island state minimum requirements for auto insurance include only property damage liability (PDL) and bodily insurance liability (BIL).

A minimum coverage policy only pays for damages you cause to others’ vehicles, not your own. If you want broader protection that covers damages to your own car, purchase a full coverage policy that includes comprehensive and collision insurance.

In Rhode Island, these companies offer the cheapest full coverage car insurance:

• Travelers: $1,002 per year
• State Farm: $1,014 per year

GEICO charges around $2,459 annually for full coverage auto insurance, making it the most expensive insurer in Rhode Island.

Your annual rate may increase if you add comprehensive and collision insurance to your car insurance policy. For instance, Travelers charges $527 more for full coverage than minimum coverage.

Full coverage auto insurance provides more financial protection if you need to make a claim. It covers losses resulting from off-road occurrences and on-road collisions.

Car insurance rates are considerably impacted by how much car insurance you need. MoneyGeek’s sample full coverage policy includes the following limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury per person
• $300,000 bodily injury per accident
• $100,000 property damage per accident

You can lower your insurance costs by reducing your liability limits, dropping comprehensive and collision insurance or increasing your deductible. If you opt for less coverage, you might pay more out of pocket if you get into an accident.

Car insurance providers usually offer online quotes, but providing the required personal information can take up to 15 minutes. Repeating this process for multiple providers will allow you to compare rates, but that time adds up.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator helps you get a quote quickly without requiring you to give personal information to multiple insurers. To start, choose your age, gender and history from the options below.

State Farm and Travelers offer the cheapest car insurance options, on average, depending on your age group.

In Rhode Island, the following companies generally provide teen drivers on a parent's policy with the most affordable car insurance:

• State Farm: $2,187 per year for male teens and $1,592 per year for female teens
• Nationwide: $2,982 per year for male teens and $2,577 per year for female teens

Progressive has the highest rates for teenagers, which average $4,861 per year for males and $4,415 for females.

These premiums apply to a 16-year-old who is covered by their parent's policy. Adding a teen to your coverage costs significantly less than purchasing a separate policy for them. If a 16-year-old Rhode Island resident purchases their own policy, they could spend $10,026 per year compared with $3,432 if their parents add them to an existing policy — a significant difference of $6,594.

Distant students and students with outstanding grades are both eligible for discounts from most of these insurers, including State Farm, Allstate, Travelers and Progressive. GEICO and Nationwide only offer good student discounts for this demographic.

In Rhode Island, the following companies offer the most affordable car insurance for drivers in their 20s:

• Travelers: $1,040 per year
• Amica Mutual: $1,244 per year

With an average annual cost of $2,612, GEICO offers the most expensive car insurance policy for young adult drivers in Rhode Island.

Typically, drivers in their 20s pay more for car insurance than middle-aged drivers. In Rhode Island, a 25-year-old driver pays approximately $229 more for auto insurance than a 40-year-old.

MoneyGeek found that the following companies are the cheapest car insurance providers in Rhode Island for seniors:

• Travelers: $1,016 per year
• State Farm: $1,031 per year

GEICO offers the most expensive auto insurance for seniors at about $2,340 annually.

Senior drivers tend to pay more for car insurance than middle-aged drivers. In Rhode Island, senior drivers pay approximately $102 more per year than middle-aged drivers. As drivers approach their 70s and 80s, rates frequently rise.

Seniors in Rhode Island can receive discounts from Allstate, GEICO and American Family. Comparing providers is the easiest way to obtain affordable, competitive coverage because age is just one of several factors that insurers use to calculate rates.

In Rhode Island, State Farm has the lowest rates for drivers with tickets, DUIs on their records and those with at-fault accidents. Auto insurance companies frequently impose higher premiums on drivers with a history of traffic infractions. Travelers is the most affordable provider for drivers with poor credit and those with sports cars.

In Rhode Island, the providers with the cheapest full coverage car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket are:

• State Farm: $1,014 per year
• Travelers: $1,204 per year

With an average cost of $3,661 per year, GEICO has the highest premium if you have a speeding ticket.

Many insurers charge higher car insurance premiums after a ticket. Rhode Island’s rates for our sample driver spiked by $465 after a ticket.

The cheapest full coverage car insurance providers in Rhode Island for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records are:

• State Farm: $1,014 per year
• Travelers: $1,136 per year

GEICO has the most expensive annual premium at $2,613 for drivers with an at-fault accident.

In Rhode Island, having an at-fault accident on your driving record will increase your annual car insurance premium by around $49.

If you have a DUI on your record, the cheapest options for full coverage auto insurance in Rhode Island are:

• State Farm: $1,014 per year
• Travelers: $1,395 per year

GEICO charges about $7,356 annually for drivers with a DUI, making it the most expensive provider. In Rhode Island, a DUI typically results in a $1,446 increase in your annual premium.

The following Rhode Island auto insurance providers offer the lowest rates for policyholders with poor credit:

• Travelers: $1,473 per year
• Amica Mutual: $1,738 per year

GEICO has the highest annual premium for auto insurance for individuals with poor credit at around $3,376.

Your credit score plays a significant role in determining your rate. In Rhode Island, drivers with poor credit spend about $932 more for auto insurance than those with credit scores above 750.

Because drivers with lower credit scores are more likely to file claims, some auto insurers raise insurance costs to safeguard against loss. Like most states, Rhode Island allows businesses to consider your credit score when setting your rate.

Your insurance rate could decrease if your credit score increases over time, but you can also look for insurers who give safe driver or other discounts to help offset rate increases.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Rhode Island for drivers with sports cars are:

• Travelers: $1,238 per year
• State Farm: $1,256 per year

GEICO is the most expensive company for insuring sports cars, with an average annual premium of $2,612.

Sports car insurance is typically, but not always, more expensive than a policy for a conventional car because these vehicles have greater repair and replacement costs. For instance, sports car owners in Rhode Island pay $295 more for auto insurance than Toyota Camry LE owners.

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car in this study, but costs may differ depending on your particular car model. Sports, electric and luxury cars are generally more expensive to insure; otherwise, the model may not be a significant factor. However, this may not be true for all states.

USAA is the cheapest car insurance option in Rhode Island for military personnel, with an average annual premium of $898. This insurer provides special coverage benefits and discounts for active-duty military officers, veterans and their families.

In Providence, State Farm offers the cheapest premium for a full coverage insurance policy for middle-aged drivers at approximately $1,255 per year.

Rhode Island state laws mandate that drivers have bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage. The minimum liability coverage required in the state is 25/50/25, which pays for $25,000 in BIL per person, $50,000 in BIL per accident and $25,000 in PDL.

Drivers in Rhode Island must always carry physical or digital proof of insurance with them. State law only requires them to have auto insurance that satisfies the legal minimum standards for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. A minimum coverage policy will save you money, but it won't provide as much financial security in the event of an accident.

Although Rhode Island does not require drivers to get SR-22 insurance for driving suspensions within the state, you may be required to obtain the insurance for a driving infraction that occurred in a different state.

For added security, MoneyGeek advises purchasing liability insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 per injury and $300,000 per accident and increasing property damage coverage to $100,000. Those who financed their car may also be required to purchase comprehensive and collision insurance.

Comprehensive insurance will pay for the necessary repairs or replacements if your car is damaged in an off-road accident. This coverage extends to damages, including those from theft, vandalism, animals and weather. Damages from another vehicle or object, like a tree or telephone pole, are covered under collision insurance.

Those with expensive vehicles may benefit from purchasing comprehensive and collision insurance.

The Rhode Island Automobile Insurance Plan for High-Risk Drivers provides alternative coverage for high-risk drivers who are unable to obtain insurance through conventional channels.

In Rhode Island, there is also an alternative to car insurance. However, drivers must obtain a surety bond or certificate of deposit of $60,000 per vehicle with the DMV to cover any upcoming incidents. Because of this, it’s only an option for drivers with extra cash.

When it comes to auto insurance, it's normal to have concerns about cost and quality. You might learn more about auto insurance in Rhode Island by reviewing our responses to the most frequently asked questions about the subject.