Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Rhode Island?
Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Rhode Island?
After reviewing several insurers in Rhode Island, we found that Progressive has the best rates for a minimum coverage policy ($1,187 per year), while Geico has the best rates for most drivers looking for full coverage ($2,712 per year).
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Rhode Island
We reviewed all of the top auto insurance companies in Rhode Island and found that Progressive has the best rates for a minimum coverage policy ($1,187 per year), while Geico has the best rates for most drivers looking for full coverage ($2,712 per year).
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 code above for a list of providers active near you to begin shopping for good quotes.
Cheapest auto insurance in Rhode Island: Progressive
For minimum liability auto insurance, Progressive, Geico and Nationwide offer the cheapest annual rates.
Together, the three insurers offer car insurance quotes of $1,332 per year on average. That's about 3% cheaper than the Rhode Island state average for a minimum coverage policy.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Rhode Island
It's important to know that a minimum coverage policy lacks certain protections. For instance, the policy does not include collision coverage, which financially reimburses you for damage caused by crashing into another vehicle.
Before beginning your auto insurance shopping, you should determine how much coverage would suffice for your driving profile and background.
Rank | Company | Average annual rate |
---|---|---|
1 | Progressive | $1,187 |
2 | Geico | $1,313 |
3 | Nationwide | $1,497 |
4 | MetLife | $1,533 |
5 | Allstate | $1,732 |
6 | Amica | $1,799 |
N/A | USAA* | $562 |
USAA is excluded from rankings because it is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest company for full-coverage: Geico
Rhode Island's average full coverage car insurance rate is $3,589. The cheapest insurers in Rhode Island for a full coverage car insurance policy are Geico and Progressive.
The rates listed below are for our sample driver, so it is important that drivers research their individual quotes from at least three carriers that insure vehicles near them.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Geico | $2,712 | $226 |
Progressive | $2,984 | $249 |
Nationwide | $3,212 | $268 |
Rhode Island average | $3,589 | $299 |
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 car insurance for drivers with prior incidents
Insurers use your history to assess your risk as a customer. As a result, Rhode Island drivers who have accidents, citations, or traffic violations as part of their driving history will often pay more than drivers with a clean driving record.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Rhode Island
Cheapest for drivers with an accident: Geico
Geico has the least expensive full coverage policy for drivers with an accident history. A close second is Progressive, which is only $129 more on average.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Geico | $2,855 | $238 |
Progressive | $2,984 | $249 |
Nationwide | $3,212 | $268 |
Rhode Island average | $4,249 | $354 |
Accident history is one of the many factors that insurers take into consideration when estimating a quote. Drivers who have been in just one accident have rates that are 18% more expensive on average than rates for drivers without an accident history.
Cheapest car insurance for people with a speeding ticket: Progressive
Receiving a speeding ticket can raise your auto insurance rates as much as an accident can. Drivers who have this history should contact Progressive, Nationwide and Geico for a quote, as these insurers have the cheapest average rates.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Progressive | $3,648 | $304 |
Nationwide | $3,891 | $324 |
Geico | $3,901 | $325 |
Rhode Island average | $4,217 | $351 |
Unfortunately, drivers with a speeding ticket will not only pay a hefty sum for their fine but will also have their insurance rate increase. Our sample driver with a speeding ticket spent an average of $4,217 annually on full coverage auto insurance — $660 more than a driver without a history of violations.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Progressive
DUIs are serious offenses, and if you have been charged with driving under the influence recently, your car insurance rate will most likely increase. Drivers who fall into this category can find the cheapest rates from Progressive, which costs $3,308 annually, on average, for full coverage.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Progressive | $3,308 | $276 |
Nationwide | $6,407 | $534 |
Allstate | $6,636 | $553 |
Rhode Island average | $7,550 | $629 |
There aren't many alternatives that are around Progressive's price range. Nationwide has the second cheapest insurance price for drivers with a DUI, but it is almost double the cost of Progressive's policy. This difference emphasizes why it's so important to compare rates at multiple companies, especially if you have a high-risk background.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit: Geico
Geico, Nationwide and Progressive have the most affordable full coverage auto insurance for drivers with poor credit.
Many insurance companies use your credit score as an indicator of how "risky" an investment you are to insure. If you have poor credit, you will pay more for car insurance than someone with excellent credit.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Geico | $2,855 | $238 |
Nationwide | $3,329 | $277 |
Progressive | $3,824 | $319 |
Rhode Island average | $4,535 | $378 |
Cheapest car insurance for married drivers: Progressive
Married drivers pay a slightly smaller amount than their single counterparts for auto insurance — spending an average of $135 less for a full coverage policy. For married couples, the cheapest insurance rates in Rhode Island are offered by Progressive, Geico and Nationwide.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Progressive | $2,449 | $204 |
Geico | $2,601 | $217 |
Nationwide | $2,964 | $247 |
Rhode Island average | $3,454 | $288 |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers: Geico
The best rates for a young driver in Rhode Island are provided by Geico, which quotes 18-year-old drivers at an average annual premium of $9,295 for full coverage.
Statistically, young drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers. As a result, drivers in their teens and 20s pay more for car insurance than drivers in their 30s or 40s. The average cost of a full coverage auto insurance policy for an 18-year-old driver is $12,013 — more than three times as expensive as the rate for our sample 30-year-old driver.
Rank | Insurer | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Geico | $9,295 | $4,501 |
2 | Allstate | $10,286 | $3,453 |
3 | Progressive | $12,499 | $5,345 |
4 | Nationwide | $12,746 | $6,404 |
5 | MetLife | $15,742 | $5,737 |
6 | Amica Mutual | $18,687 | $6,772 |
N/A | USAA | $4,840 | $1,803 |
N/A | Rhode Island average | $12,013 | $4,859 |
USAA is excluded from rankings because it is only available to current and former military members and their families.
In order to mitigate the expensive insurance premium, young drivers are encouraged to do three things:
- Compare rates from at least three companies. The difference between the most expensive and most affordable insurance policy for a young driver is $9,392.
- Ask your parents if you can form a combined policy. Their auto insurance rates will definitely increase. However, this is a much cheaper option than obtaining two separate policies.
- Look for discounts. Most insurers have a list of discounts available for their customers. If you're in school, you might even get a small discount for obtaining good grades.
Cheapest for young drivers with one accident: Geico
Most young people struggle to find affordable car insurance. If you're young and already have an accident history, obtaining a cheap insurance policy will be even more challenging. On average, 18-year-old drivers with an accident pay $1,235 more for full coverage than young drivers with a clean record.
The Rhode Island insurer that offers the best full coverage insurance rates to young drivers is Geico, which has an average annual cost of $9,295.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Geico | $9,295 | $775 |
Allstate | $10,286 | $857 |
Progressive | $12,499 | $1,042 |
Rhode Island average | $13,248 | $1,104 |
Cheapest for young drivers with one speeding ticket: Geico
Geico not only has the best rates for young drivers who have been in an accident, but it also has the best rates for those who have received speeding tickets. Allstate is a close second, being only $143 more expensive than Geico.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Geico | $10,958 | $913 |
Allstate | $11,101 | $925 |
Progressive | $12,941 | $1,078 |
Rhode Island average | $13,181 | $1,098 |
Top rated car insurance companies in Rhode Island
According to a survey conducted by ValuePenguin, USAA is the best auto insurance company in terms of customer service feedback.
Unfortunately, USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families. For the average driver, Nationwide and Allstate are great alternatives with similarly positive reception.
Overall rank | Group | Percentage of respondents overall extremely satisfied with most recent claim | Percentage of respondents who rated customer service as "excellent" |
---|---|---|---|
1 | USAA | 78% | 62% |
2 | Nationwide | 78% | 53% |
3 | Allstate | 72% | 47% |
4 | Progressive | 74% | 34% |
5 | Geico | 64% | 42% |
N/A | Amica | - | - |
N/A | MetLife | - | - |
Overall rank takes both claim satisfaction and customer service rankings into account.
To determine the best-rated insurance companies in Rhode Island, we also 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.
Motor Club, Nationwide and Travelers have the best customer service when measured by customer complaint index. Notably, Motor Club received no complaints during the 2019 year.
Insurer | 2019 NAIC complaint index | 2020 J.D. Power claims satisfaction | AM Best rating |
---|---|---|---|
Motor Club | 0.00 | 866 | A+ |
Nationwide | 0.37 | 876 | A+ |
Travelers | 0.37 | 861 | A++ |
Allstate | 0.63 | 876 | A+ |
Progressive | 0.67 | 856 | A+ |
USAA | 0.68 | 890 | A++ |
Amica | 0.91 | 907 | A+ |
LM General | 0.92 | 870 | A |
American Commerce | 0.93 | 844 | A |
Geico | 1.01 | 871 | A++ |
MetLife | 1.24 | 886 | A |
HiRoad Assurance | 1.62 | 881 | A++ |
Average cost of auto insurance in Rhode Island
The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Rhode Island is $3,589. Below is a list of Rhode Island cities ranked from the cheapest annual rates to the most expensive.
Newport East, Middletown and Newport are the cheapest for full coverage auto insurance, while Providence, North Providence and Cranston are the most expensive.
City | Average annual cost | Percentage difference from average |
---|---|---|
Newport East | $2,805 | -21.8% |
Middletown | $2,815 | -21.6% |
Newport | $2,829 | -21.2% |
Melville | $2,947 | -17.9% |
Jamestown | $2,978 | -17.0% |
Misquamicut | $2,993 | -16.6% |
Westerly | $2,993 | -16.6% |
Block Island | $3,029 | -15.6% |
Kenyon | $3,058 | -14.8% |
Bradford | $3,064 | -14.6% |
Portsmouth | $3,079 | -14.2% |
Little Compton | $3,080 | -14.2% |
Rhode Island rate changes by company
In Rhode Island, auto insurance providers increased their premiums in 2020 by a slight 0.1%, continuing the trend of higher premium rates observed in the past several years. Amica Mutual shows the most significant decrease in premiums, with rates down by just 1.1% compared to 2019. Many other insurance providers in Rhode Island, such as Progressive, Geico and Liberty Mutual, opted not to change their premium rates at all in 2020.
Insurer | Premiums written (millions) 2019 | Rate change 2019 | Rate change 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
Progressive | $239.3 | -0.5% | 0.0% |
Geico | $127.4 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Amica Mutual | $112.2 | 5.6% | -1.1% |
Allstate | $102.1 | 0.0% | -0.1% |
USAA | $65.3 | 2.3% | 0.5% |
Liberty Mutual | $60.0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
MetLife | $46.2 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Nationwide | $45.5 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Mapfre | $26.6 | 5.0% | 3.5% |
Travelers | $24.2 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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
Although a minimum liability policy is the cheapest option, it may not be ideal for your needs. Drivers with cars that are new or worth more than $3,000 should opt for higher coverage limits. If you get into an accident with an expensive car but have insufficient coverage, you will likely be paying significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Recap of the cheapest auto insurance in Rhode Island
- Cheapest for minimum coverage: Progressive
- Cheapest full coverage: Geico
- Cheapest after an accident: Geico
- Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket: Progressive
- Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: Progressive
- Cheapest for drivers with bad credit: Geico
- Cheapest for married couples: Progressive
- Cheapest for young drivers: Geico
- Cheapest for young drivers with one accident: Geico
- Cheapest for young drivers with a speeding ticket: Geico
Methodology
We collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across Rhode Island for the largest 10 insurers. We used a sample driver with the following profile:
- 30-year-old man
- Drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX
- Average credit
The base policy for the study was a full-coverage policy with the following limits:
Coverage type | Study limits |
---|---|
Bodily liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
Personal injury protection | $10,000 |
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 our minimum-coverage policy, we quoted a policy with the minimum required limits in Rhode Island, above.
For other rates analyses (age, credit score, accident history and marriage status) the base policy listed above was alternated to reflect the new driver.
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.