Rhode Island car insurance: minimums, SR-22 rules and costs

Last updated: November 12, 2026

Rhode Island drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 of bodily injury liability and $25,000 of property damage liability. In 2023, insured drivers in Rhode Island spent an average of $1,539.47 on car insurance, 20% above the national average of $1,281.60, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That makes Rhode Island the 7th most expensive of the 50 states and D.C. by that measure.

Minimum car insurance required in Rhode Island

Coverage	Minimum
Bodily injury liability, per person	$25,000
Bodily injury liability, per accident	$50,000
Property damage liability, per accident	$25,000

You'll often see this written as 25/50/25. The first two numbers are the bodily injury limits in thousands of dollars (per person and per accident), and the last is property damage. Those amounts are the most the policy pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Anything above them can come back to you personally.

Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?

No. Rhode Island isn't one of the 12 no-fault states listed by the Insurance Information Institute, so the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, is generally responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. That's why the liability limits above matter so much.

SR-22 rules in Rhode Island

Under Rhode Island law (R.I. Gen. Laws §31-47-9), driving without insurance can mean a license and registration suspension of up to three months and a $100 to $500 fine for a first offense, six months and $500 for a second, and up to a year (plus a $1,000 civil fine) for a third or later offense. Under DMV rules, reinstating costs $250 per vehicle registration and $150 for a driver license.

We couldn't find an official Rhode Island page that sets a standard SR-22 filing period. If the DMV requires proof of insurance to reinstate, ask your insurer what it needs to file.

What drives car insurance costs in Rhode Island

Average spending in Rhode Island rose 11% from 2019 to 2023, compared with 19% nationwide. Here's average annual spending per insured vehicle, from the NAIC:

Year	Rhode Island average	U.S. average
2019	$1,382.15	$1,075.08
2020	$1,390.23	$1,047.76
2021	$1,421.29	$1,060.23
2022	$1,422.82	$1,124.45
2023	$1,539.47	$1,281.60

The NAIC's "average expenditure" is total written premium divided by insured vehicles. It isn't a quote, and your own price depends on your driver profile and the coverage you choose.

Uninsured drivers. An estimated 12.4% of drivers in Rhode Island were uninsured in 2023, lower than the national estimate of 15.4%. That's the 25th highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. When more drivers are uninsured, insured drivers' own uninsured motorist coverage pays more claims, which pushes up its price.
Crash deaths. Rhode Island recorded 52 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024, or 0.68 per 100 million miles driven, lower than the U.S. rate of 1.19 (the 2nd lowest of the 50 states and D.C.). Severe crashes drive up bodily injury claim costs.
Where and how crashes happen. In 2024, 13% of Rhode Island's crash deaths happened in rural areas (U.S.: 41%), 31% involved speeding (U.S.: 29%), and 25% of those killed were pedestrians (U.S.: 18%).

Ways to save on car insurance in Rhode Island

Compare at least three quotes. Insurers weigh the same facts differently, so prices for the same driver in Rhode Island can vary widely. More ways to lower your bill.
Check your uninsured motorist limits anyway. Even at 12.4%, uninsured and underinsured drivers are common, and UM coverage is usually inexpensive. How UM coverage works.
Shop at renewal. Even where prices rise more slowly, your own renewal can jump after a claim, a move or a new car. When to compare.
Pick a deductible you can actually pay. Raising it lowers your premium, but only if you could cover it after a claim. How deductibles work.
Ask about discounts. Common ones include safe driver, multi-car, bundling, paying in full, good student and usage-based programs. They're not always applied automatically.

See other states in our car insurance guides by state.

Sources

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DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.