Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Rhode Island?
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
The average cost of car insurance in Rhode Island is $3,847, but the cheapest car insurance company, Progressive, costs 45% less than the price of the most expensive carrier, Allstate.
Rates vary widely based on where you live in Rhode Island and with which company you insure their vehicle. To measure the difference, we analyzed auto insurance quotes across 29 cities in the Ocean State.
Drivers should always shop around online or ask their agent for at least three car insurance quotes if they're looking for affordable rates. Enter your ZIP above for a list of providers active near you to begin shopping for good quotes.
Cheapest auto insurance companies in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's average car insurance rate is $3,847. The cheapest insurers in Rhode Island for a full coverage car insurance policy were:
- Progressive
- Nationwide
- GEICO
The cheapest three carriers averaged an annual premium of $3,333, which meant 13%, or $514, in savings compared to the Rhode Island average.
Here are the most affordable insurance companies in Rhode Island:
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
The most expensive car insurance companies in Rhode Island were:
- Metropolitan
- Amica Mutual
- Allstate
The three insurers quoted an average annual premium of $5,140, costing 34% more than the state average. These rates are for our sample drivers, so it is important that drivers research their individual quotes from at least three carriers that insure vehicles near them.
Here is the table of average annual rates for the seven insurers included in our analysis, ranked from those with the best car insurance quotes to the highest.
| Rank | Insurer | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Progressive | $3,027 |
| 2 | Nationwide | $3,428 |
| 3 | GEICO | $3,543 |
| 4 | Metropolitan | $4,882 |
| 5 | Amica Mutual | $5,050 |
| 6 | Allstate | $5,489 |
| NA | USAA | $1,510 |
Full coverage car insurance includes liability coverage and comprehensive and collision insurance. Drivers that wish to protect themselves against damage to their own vehicles should consider purchasing a full coverage policy.
Cheap minimum coverage car insurance in Rhode Island
For minimum coverage auto insurance, Nationwide, GEICO and Progressive offered the cheapest annual rates.
Together, the three insurers offered car insurance quotes of $1,475 per year of coverage. That's about 7% cheaper than the Rhode Island state average for a minimum coverage policy.
We ranked Rhode Island insurance companies offering minimum coverage car insurance from the cheapest to most expensive.
| Rank | Insurer | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Progressive | $1,244 |
| 2 | Nationwide | $1,484 |
| 3 | GEICO | $1,697 |
| 4 | Amica Mutual | $1,737 |
| 5 | Metropolitan | $2,007 |
| 6 | Allstate | $2,355 |
| NA | USAA | $600 |
Minimum coverage auto insurance only meets Rhode Island law's minimum coverage limit requirements. Unlike full coverage car insurance, minimum coverage policies do not include comprehensive and collision coverage.
Though you can buy minimum coverage at a lower cost, minimum coverage limits may put you at risk of insufficient protection after a car accident.
Cheap auto insurance rates in Rhode Island for drivers with an accident history
Progressive, Nationwide and GEICO offered drivers with a prior accident on their driving record the cheapest full coverage car insurance quotes. Together, the three insurance companies averaged $4,777, or 8% less than the state average of $5,221.
| Rank | Insurer | Rate with no prior accident | Rate with one accident | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nationwide | $3,428 | $3,850 | 12% |
| 2 | GEICO | $3,543 | $4,843 | 37% |
| 3 | Progressive | $3,027 | $5,638 | 86% |
| 4 | Metropolitan | $4,882 | $5,823 | 19% |
| 5 | Amica Mutual | $5,050 | $6,758 | 34% |
| 6 | Allstate | $5,489 | $7,418 | 35% |
| NA | USAA | $1,510 | $2,214 | 47% |
A single accident on your driving record can result in significantly more costly car insurance rates. The difference in annual auto insurance quotes in Rhode Island for a full coverage policy with no accident history ($3,847) versus one with a single accident ($5,221) was $1,374.
Top rated car insurance companies in Rhode Island
Nationwide, Amica Mutual and Allstate were the best rated large auto insurance in Rhode Island, according to the complaint index, a customer satisfaction metric based on consumer complaints.
| Rank | Insurer | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nationwide | 0.43 |
| 2 | Amica Mutual | 0.67 |
| 3 | Allstate | 0.69 |
| 4 | Progressive | 0.91 |
| 5 | GEICO | 0.92 |
| 6 | USAA | 1.15 |
| 7 | Metropolitan | 1.23 |
To determine the best rated insurance companies in Rhode Island, we reviewed complaint index numbers from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Any company with a complaint index below one received a lower share of complaints than expected for a company of its size.
A company with a smaller share of complaints than its share of business is doing better than average. Nationwide had a particularly strong index, while Metropolitan performed poorly compared to the rest of the group.
Minimum state auto insurance requirements in Rhode Island
Rhode Island drivers have to purchase a minimum amount of auto insurance in order to legally drive in the state. Rhode Island is not a no-fault state, so drivers are only required to carry liability protection.
The minimum coverage limits required in Rhode Island are:
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured / Underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
Cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island, by city
We determined which insurance companies had the most affordable auto insurance rates by city within Rhode Island.
For nearly all Rhode Island cities, Progressive, GEICO and Nationwide offered the cheapest car insurance quotes, and usually in that order. Central Falls was the only outlier, with Metropolitan among the city's top three cheapest insurer.
| City | Insurer | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Barrington | Progressive | $2,933 |
| GEICO | $3,284 | |
| Nationwide | $3,440 | |
| Bristol | Progressive | $2,933 |
| Nationwide | $3,174 | |
| GEICO | $3,528 | |
| Central Falls | Progressive | $3,837 |
| Nationwide | $4,190 | |
| Metropolitan | $4,580 | |
| Charlestown | Progressive | $2,341 |
| Nationwide | $2,799 | |
| GEICO | $3,121 | |
| Coventry | Progressive | $3,046 |
| Nationwide | $3,457 | |
| GEICO | $3,544 | |
| Cranston | Progressive | $3,494 |
| Nationwide | $4,578 | |
| GEICO | $4,745 | |
| Cumberland | Progressive | $2,695 |
| Nationwide | $3,137 | |
| GEICO | $3,544 | |
| East Greenwich | Progressive | $2,961 |
| GEICO | $3,295 | |
| Nationwide | $3,659 | |
| East Providence | Nationwide | $3,750 |
| GEICO | $3,814 | |
| Progressive | $4,078 | |
| Exeter | GEICO | $2,876 |
| Progressive | $3,046 | |
| Nationwide | $3,407 | |
| Foster | Progressive | $3,107 |
| Nationwide | $3,315 | |
| GEICO | $3,839 | |
| Hopkinton | Progressive | $2,341 |
| GEICO | $2,876 | |
| Nationwide | $2,899 | |
| Jamestown | Progressive | $2,341 |
| GEICO | $2,481 | |
| Nationwide | $2,675 | |
| Johnston | Progressive | $3,046 |
| Nationwide | $4,300 | |
| GEICO | $4,722 | |
| Lincoln | Progressive | $3,046 |
| Nationwide | $3,350 | |
| GEICO | $3,742 | |
| Little Compton | GEICO | $2,481 |
| Progressive | $2,596 | |
| Nationwide | $2,864 | |
| Narragansett | Progressive | $2,341 |
| Nationwide | $2,881 | |
| GEICO | $3,121 | |
| Newport | Progressive | $2,341 |
| GEICO | $2,481 | |
| Nationwide | $2,689 | |
| North Kingstown | GEICO | $2,909 |
| Progressive | $2,961 | |
| Nationwide | $3,348 | |
| North Providence | Progressive | $3,915 |
| Nationwide | $4,518 | |
| GEICO | $4,722 | |
| North Smithfield | Progressive | $2,695 |
| Nationwide | $3,084 | |
| GEICO | $3,240 | |
| Pawtucket | Progressive | $3,385 |
| Nationwide | $4,239 | |
| GEICO | $4,363 | |
| Providence | Progressive | $3,809 |
| Nationwide | $4,722 | |
| GEICO | $4,839 | |
| Tiverton | Progressive | $2,596 |
| GEICO | $2,610 | |
| Nationwide | $2,953 | |
| Warren | Progressive | $2,933 |
| Nationwide | $3,046 | |
| GEICO | $3,528 | |
| Warwick | Progressive | $3,345 |
| GEICO | $3,524 | |
| Nationwide | $3,631 | |
| West Greenwich | Progressive | $3,046 |
| Nationwide | $3,383 | |
| GEICO | $3,544 | |
| West Warwick | Progressive | $2,961 |
| Nationwide | $3,449 | |
| GEICO | $3,863 | |
| Woonsocket | Progressive | $2,695 |
| Nationwide | $3,086 | |
| GEICO | $3,421 |
Your actual quotes will differ based on these factors, since these premiums were derived from our sample driver, who commutes locally in his Honda Civic EX.
The cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island's largest cities
For a more in-depth look at the five largest cities in Rhode Island, we pulled car insurance quotes for:
- Providence
- Cranston
- Warwick
- Pawtucket
- East Providence
We found that the five largest cities in Rhode Island had an average auto insurance rate of $4,461, or 16% above the state average of $3,847.
Fortunately, even if you do live in these cities, there are still many opportunities to save on car insurance. For example, if you're a current or former member of the military, or related to one, you may qualify for especially cheap rates offered by USAA.
Below, we've highlighted some of the cheapest companies in each city that you should include on your list when shopping for auto insurance near you.
Cheap car insurance companies in Providence, Rhode Island
- Average annual cost = $5,071
- 32% higher than Rhode Island average
Providence, Rhode Island, is home to the most expensive car insurance in the state. Fortunately, car insurance rates quoted from Progressive, Nationwide and GEICO, the top three cheapest companies in Providence, averaged $1,282. This is 12% less than the city mean and translates to $614 in savings for Providence locals.
Best auto insurance quotes Cranston, Rhode Island
- Average annual cost = $4,749
- 23% more than Ocean State average
Cranston ranks third on our list of most expensive cities for auto insurance in Rhode Island. To save some extra money, try looking into Progressive, Nationwide and GEICO for car insurance.
We found that these top three cheapest companies averaged an annual auto insurance rate of $4,272 in Cranston for our driver's policy, which is 10% less than the city mean.
Cheap auto insurance rates in Warwick, Rhode Island
- Average annual cost = $4,023
- 5% more than Rhode Island mean
To save money on car insurance, we suggest shopping with Progressive, GEICO and Nationwide, who quoted our motorist an average rate of $3,500. This is 13% less than the city average and is equivalent to saving $523 per year.
Cheapest auto insurance quotes in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
- Average annual cost = $4,322
- 12% higher than state average
We recommend Progressive, Nationwide and GEICO for the cheapest quotes in Pawtucket.
Best car insurance rates in East Providence, Rhode Island
- Average annual cost = $4,140
- 8% more than Rhode Island average
Nationwide, GEICO and Progressive offered the cheapest rates in East Providence.
Average cost of auto insurance in Rhode Island
The average cost of car insurance in Rhode Island is $3,847, and here are 29 of Rhode Island's most populous cities ranked from the cheapest annual rates to the most expensive.
Newport, Jamestown and Little Compton were the cheapest for auto insurance, while Providence, North Providence and Cranston were the most expensive.
| Rank | City | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport | $2,981 |
| 2 | Jamestown | $3,136 |
| 3 | Little Compton | $3,242 |
| 4 | Tiverton | $3,259 |
| 5 | Hopkinton | $3,283 |
| 6 | Charlestown | $3,329 |
| 7 | Narragansett | $3,342 |
| 8 | North Kingstown | $3,490 |
| 9 | Woonsocket | $3,569 |
| 10 | North Smithfield | $3,580 |
| 11 | Exeter | $3,583 |
| 12 | Bristol | $3,654 |
| 13 | Warren | $3,667 |
| 14 | Cumberland | $3,703 |
| 15 | Barrington | $3,733 |
| 16 | West Greenwich | $3,749 |
| 17 | Coventry | $3,827 |
| 18 | East Greenwich | $3,836 |
| 19 | Lincoln | $3,910 |
| 20 | Foster | $3,939 |
| 21 | Warwick | $4,023 |
| 22 | West Warwick | $4,027 |
| 23 | East Providence | $4,140 |
| 24 | Pawtucket | $4,322 |
| 25 | Central Falls | $4,540 |
| 26 | Johnston | $4,726 |
| 27 | Cranston | $4,749 |
| 28 | North Providence | $4,861 |
| 29 | Providence | $5,071 |
Methodology
We collected car insurance quotes for cities in Rhode Island from seven insurance companies. Our sample driver was a:
- 30-year-old male
- Driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX
The driver was profiled as having no credit history, making him equivalent to a driver with below-fair to poor credit, according to our data source, Quadrant Information Services.
Our sample driver held full coverage car insurance with the following limits:
| Coverage type | Study limits |
|---|---|
| Bodily liability | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident |
| Property damage | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
For a minimum coverage policy, our sample driver had coverage equivalent to the minimum Rhode Island state requirements.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.