Auto Insurance In RI

Auto insurance in Rhode Island (RI) is a must.  That is, it is a requirement for all drivers to have auto insurance.  In fact, Rhode Island operates on a “tort system.”  This means that in the case of an accident, one driver must be found at fault.  The driver found at fault will be held solely financially responsible for all damages, both bodily and to property.  With this in mind, it is important to be fully informed regarding your state’s minimum insurance requirements as well as the types of insurance you can purchase.

Minimum State Requirements for Auto Insurance in RI

Since 1992, the state of Rhode Island has required all licensed drivers to be insured.  You, as the driver, must be able to show proof of insurance in the case of an accident.  The minimum state requirements for auto insurance in RI are  $25,000 bodily harm per person and $50,000 per accident (damage to more than one person), as well as $25,000 property damage.  Usually, the ratio of auto insurance will be listed as 25/50/25.  Another coverage that is mandatory in RI is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in the amount of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Overview of the Types of Required Auto Insurance in RI

Bodily Injury Liability is mandatory auto insurance in RI.  This particular insurance covers you financially when you are at fault in an accident; it supplies the money needed to pay for minor to severe injuries or even injury-related death.  The coverage would be used to pay for medical bills, long term care, general pain and suffering, and funeral expenses. It is important to note that this insurance covers only the other vehicle involved in the accident and its passengers. It does not cover any injury to you or anyone else listed on your insurance policy.

Property Damage Insurance usually involves collision insurance and comprehensive insurance.  Collision insurance covers any damage to your car due to a collision.  It could be a collision with another car, a collision with a fixed object, hitting a pothole or being struck by a stray rock while in transit, and sometimes flipping over due to road or weather conditions.  This would be especially important coverage to have in the winters of New England; icy roads pose a threat to even the most experienced Rhode Island driver.  Collision insurance covers the money needed to pay for the damage to your vehicle or the cost of replacing your vehicle in the event it is “totaled.”  Comprehensive insurance covers the damage to your car due to natural disasters—earthquakes, fire, flood, snow, etc., as well as the damage to your car due to collision with an animal. This would also be important coverage to have in the winter in RI.  Imagine being hit by a Nor’easter this winter, and, unless you have comprehensive insurance, your car is at the mercy of the wind and snow!  Just be sure that you are fully aware of exactly what is covered under your property damage policy.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is available to drivers in Rhode Island in the form of Med Pay.  This is a form of auto insurance in RI that offers you medical coverage within your car insurance policy.  The benefits are that it covers 80% of the medical costs for you and anyone else on your insurance policy when you are in an accident in your own car.  It doesn’t cover you when you are in someone else’s car or when you are hit while walking.  This coverage is optional; you can always choose to rely solely on your own health insurance.  When making the decision to opt in or out of this type of coverage, consider how much your current health insurance covers.  Are you able to cover costs, if needed, through your health insurance, or do you need a boost from your auto insurance?  The amount of coverage varies from state to state.  In states in which PIP is mandatory, there is a set amount of coverage needed.  In states, like Rhode Island, in which PIP is optional under the heading of Med Pay, there is a range from as low as $1,500 to as high as $250,000.

Recommendations for Auto Insurance in RI

Because Rhode Island is a tort state, and someone must be found at fault in the occurrence of an accident, most insurance companies strongly suggest that the driver carry more than the minimum coverage required by law.   This may seem to raise the cost of your insurance, and, while this is true, it is far better to pay before the accident occurs then to have to make up the difference after.  It is still possible to have an affordable rate of auto insurance in RI!  We can help!  Enter your zip code at the top of the page to receive your fast, easy, and affordable rate for auto insurance in Rhode Island!