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Rhode Island requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 25/50/25 liability coverage, which pays up to $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage you cause. Because the state is small and densely populated, with traffic concentrated around Providence and the coastal towns, crashes often involve several vehicles and the property damage limit can be used up quickly. The Insurance Research Council estimated that about 15.6 percent of Rhode Island drivers were uninsured in 2022, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The state does not leave enforcement to roadside checks alone. The DMV's Insurance Verification Program compares registered vehicles against insurer records and writes to owners whose vehicles go unmatched. Rhode Island also has an unusual uninsured motorist rule: insurers must provide that coverage at your liability limits, and you can reject it only if you buy the bare 25/50 minimum. That makes the choice of liability limits and the choice of UM/UIM coverage closely linked.

Rhode Island at a glance
Minimum liability25/50/25 (BI per person / BI per accident / PD, in $1,000s)
Other required coverageNone beyond liability
Fault systemAt-fault (tort)
Credit-based insurance scoresAllowed

Rhode Island minimum liability limits

To register and drive a car in Rhode Island you need at least this much liability coverage:

  • $25,000 for injuries to one person in an accident you cause.
  • $50,000 in total for injuries to everyone in that accident.
  • $25,000 for damage to other people's property, such as their car.

Tip: The minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. If a serious crash costs more than your limits, you could be personally responsible for the rest. See how much liability coverage you may need.

Other required and offered coverage

Insurers must provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage equal to your bodily injury limits, and the Division of Insurance says it may be rejected only if you choose the minimum 25/50 liability limits. Insurers must also offer uninsured motorist property damage coverage of at least $25,000.

Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.

Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?

Rhode Island is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage, which is normally paid by that driver's liability insurance. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer or, in some cases, sue.

Rhode Island is an at-fault state: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the damage. Fault can be shared, and under Rhode Island's pure comparative negligence rule your recovery is reduced by your own share of blame rather than barred.

Read more: at-fault vs. no-fault states explained.

Can insurers use your credit in Rhode Island?

Status: Allowed.

See how credit affects car insurance for the bigger picture.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Rhode Island

Under R.I. Gen. Laws 31-47-9, knowingly driving or letting someone drive a registered vehicle without financial security can bring a suspension of up to three months for a first offense and a fine that starts at $100 to $500, with longer suspensions and fines of up to $1,000 for repeat offenses. DMV rules list different fine amounts, so check with the DMV for your situation.

The DMV's Insurance Verification Program matches registered vehicles to insurer records. If a vehicle's VIN has no matching policy for four consecutive weeks, the owner is sent a Request for Insurance Verification, and failing to respond leads to a registration revocation notice.

If you are ordered to file proof of insurance, see what SR-22 insurance is.

Tips for Rhode Island drivers

  • If you get a Request for Insurance Verification from the DMV, answer it. Ignoring it can lead to a registration revocation notice, and a hearing must be requested in writing within ten days of the notice date.
  • Make sure the VIN on your policy matches the vehicle you registered. A VIN with no matching policy for four consecutive weeks is what triggers the DMV letter, so a typo or an unreported vehicle swap can cause trouble even when you are insured.
  • Before you decide on limits, remember that the written rejection of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is only available at the 25/50 minimum. If you buy higher liability limits, UM/UIM comes along with them.
  • Ask whether your policy includes uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Rhode Island regulations require insurers to offer it with a minimum of $25,000.
  • If you stop driving a car and want to drop its insurance, check your registration status first. The verification program looks for registered vehicles without a matching policy, so cancelling coverage while the registration is still active can create a problem.

When you shop, compare quotes from several insurers using the same limits and deductibles, so the prices are like-for-like.

Official resources

Your state insurance department can answer questions about your rights and handle complaints about insurers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum car insurance in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island requires liability coverage of at least 25/50/25. That means $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to everyone hurt in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. These limits cover other people's injuries and property, not your own car or your own medical bills.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Rhode Island?

By statute, insurers must provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage equal to your bodily injury liability limits. The Division of Business Regulation says you can reject it only if you request the minimum 25/50 liability limits. Insurers must also offer uninsured motorist property damage coverage with a minimum of $25,000.

What happens if I drive without insurance in Rhode Island?

Under state law, a first offense can bring a suspension of up to three months and a fine that starts at $100 to $500. Repeat offenses carry longer suspensions and fines of up to $1,000. DMV rules also describe registration and license suspension plus reinstatement fees, so ask the DMV about your exact situation.

What is the DMV insurance verification letter?

If the DMV cannot match a registered vehicle's VIN to an insurance policy for four consecutive weeks, it sends the owner a Request for Insurance Verification. If the owner does not respond, the DMV issues a registration revocation notice. A hearing must be requested in writing within ten days of that notice, and reinstated vehicles are monitored for twelve months.

Sources

General information only. State rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation - Insurance Division or your insurer before you buy. This page is not insurance or legal advice.