If you own a registered vehicle in Rhode Island, you’re legally required to carry car insurance. The Rhode Island car insurance market is competitive, and drivers have numerous choices. To help you find the best carrier, we did some research to find the best car insurance in Rhode Island. Our results showed that Amica, USAA, Progressive, Geico, and Allstate offer some of the best auto insurance in Rhode Island.
The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Rhode Island
For our evaluation process, we compared a number of popular providers based on 2021 average rates from Bankrate.com, coverage options, discounts, financial strength, and third-party ratings.
- Amica: Best for Customer Service
- USAA: Best for Military-Centric Options
- Progressive: Best for Discounts
- Geico: Best for Driving Incidents
- Allstate: Best for Add-On Coverage
Compare the Top Car Insurance Companies in Rhode Island
While these carriers stand out in our rating methodology, keep in mind that the best carrier for you could be different entirely. Shopping around can help you find the right carrier for your unique lifestyle.
| Average Annual Minimum Coverage Premium* | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* | AM Best AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power** J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Amica | $512 | $1,810 | A+ | 867 | |
| Pin USAA | $523 | $1,297 | A++ | 887** | |
| Pin Progressive | $1,012 | $2,433 | A+ | 840 | |
| Pin Geico | $643 | $1,798 | A++ | 841 | |
| Pin Allstate | $1,219 | $3,853 | A+ | 810 |
Information accurate as of April 2022
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
**J.D. Power’s 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study rating for the New England region. Based on a 1,000-point scale. USAA is not officially rated by J.D. Power due to eligibility requirements.
Best for Customer Service
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Offers dividend policies
- Variety of discounts available
- High J.D. Power customer service ratings
Cons
- Not available nationwide
- Few local offices
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Home
- Flood
- Marine
- Life
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- Loyalty
- Homeownership
- Adaptive headlights
- Automatic payments
Best for Military-Centric Options
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Low average premiums
- Numerous discounts
- High J.D. Power customer satisfaction score
Cons
- Limited eligibility
- Very few branch locations
- Some coverages and discounts only apply to deployed members
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Boat
- Motorcycle
- Condo
- Health
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- Good student
- Family discount
- Length of membership
- Military installation
Best for Discounts
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Numerous discounts
- Robust mobile tools
- Higher-than-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score
Cons
- High average premium
- Below-average J.D. Power claims satisfaction score
- Higher-than-average NAIC complaint index
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Renters
- Home
- RV/trailer
- Motorcycle
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- Continuous insurance
- Snapshot
- Homeowner
- Online quote
Best for Driving Incidents
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Numerous discounts
- Robust digital tools
- Lower average premium than some competitors
Cons
- Higher-than-average overall NAIC complaint index
- Few options for customization
- Few local agents
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Home
- Renters
- Motorcycle
- Boat
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- Federal employee
- Military member
- Emergency deployment
- Good student
Best for Add-On Coverage
WHY WE CHOSE IT
Why we chose it
Pros
- Numerous optional coverages
- Plentiful local agents
- Several discounts
Cons
- High average premium
- Lower-than-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score
- Financial strength is lower than some competitors
OTHER POLICIES OFFERED
- Home
- Condo
- Business
- Life
STANDOUT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
- New car
- Drivewise
- Early signing
- Paperless
*Data provided by Bankrate.com.
**J.D. Power’s 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study rating for the New England region. Based on a 1,000-point scale. USAA is not officially rated by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in Rhode Island
The average cost of car insurance in Rhode Island is $2,018 per year for a full coverage policy and $749 per year for a minimum coverage policy, according to 2021 data from Bankrate.com. Rhode Island residents pay more for car insurance than drivers in the country as a whole. Bankrate’s 2021 data indicates that the national average annual premium is $1,674 for full coverage and $565 for minimum coverage. Shopping around and comparing quotes could help you find a lower rate. Ultimately, car insurance rates are personalized, so you might pay more or less than the statewide average based on factors like your age, credit score, claims history, and the type of vehicle you drive.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Rhode Island
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| State Farm | $955 |
| USAA | $1,297 |
| Travelers | $1,308 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Rhode Island
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Allstate | $2,071 |
| Progressive | $2,433 |
| Quincy Mutual Group | $3,853 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Rhode Island
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Newport | $1,577 |
| Newport East | $1,592 |
| Middletown | $1,592 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in Rhode Island
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium* |
| Providence | $2,651 |
| North Providence | $2,580 |
| Johnston | $2,501 |
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
Key Things to Know About Car Insurance in Rhode Island
Before you purchase car insurance in Rhode Island, it’s important to understand the state’s minimum coverage requirements and what optional coverages you might want to add to your policy for further protection. This can help you tailor a policy to your needs.
Rhode Island Minimum Insurance Requirements
Car insurance is a legal requirement in Rhode Island. Every state has different car insurance requirements, but in most places, drivers must carry at least minimum levels of certain coverage types. Rhode Island drivers are required to carry 25/50/25 liability insurance, which includes the following coverages:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Additionally, insurance companies must offer you uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, although you can decline it in writing. Before you do that, though, talk to an agent; you may want to opt into these coverage types. Additionally, you might want to purchase higher limits for more coverage.
Car Insurance Coverage Options
In addition to basic liability insurance, many Rhode Island drivers choose to purchase additional coverage for more protection. Here are some of the optional coverages to consider:
- Collision insurance: Collision insurance pays to repair your vehicle’s damages after a covered accident, regardless of fault. If you have a loan or lease, this coverage is likely required.
- Comprehensive insurance: Comprehensive insurance pays to repair your vehicle’s damages resulting from a non-collision incident. Examples include theft, vandalism, flooding, and falling objects. This is also a required coverage if you have a loan or lease.
- Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance pays for basic vehicle repairs, like flat tire changes, fuel delivery, and battery replacements, as well as towing.
- Rental car reimbursement: If you lease or finance your vehicle, and your vehicle gets totaled, gap insurance pays the difference between your remaining loan balance and your car’s depreciated value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
Reviews.com reviews products, services, and companies based on five criteria to help readers understand how companies compare based on similar metrics. For the best car insurance companies, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores, and online resources from each company to determine top providers.
As for average pricing, we used Bankrate.com’s data of car insurance in Rhode Island, based on the profiles of a 40-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
About the Authors
Cate Deventer is a writer and licensed insurance agent. She has a Bachelor’s degree in theatre and is currently pursuing a degree in English with a concentration in professional and technical writing from Indiana University East. Her work has been featured on Reviews.com and Bankrate.com, and she’s passionate about helping people take charge of their finances. In her free time, she likes to read thrillers and sci-fi novels, garden, and toss tennis balls for her dog.
