Providence Car Insurance
Find the right car insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Although Providence is a compact city with a high percentage of mass transit system users, most people still prefer to drive a car here. There are lots of attractive parks and riverside walks, but without a car, it can be tough to get to Providence Place Mall for your shopping, or to out-of-town locations for work or pleasure.
The right Providence, RI car insurance can protect you from the expense that an auto accident or theft can cause.
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Rhode Island Car Insurance Costs
- National average annual premium: $1,311
- RI average annual premium: $1,656
- 8th most expensive premiums in the US
Rhode Island Car Insurance Requirements
- Bodily injury liability: required
- Property damage liability: required
- Personal injury protection (PIP): not required
- Uninsured motorist: not required
- Minimum liability limits: 25/50/25
- Coverage up to $50,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $25,000 for one individual, and $25,000 coverage for property damage.
There are strict requirements for minimum bodily injury and property damage coverage, and there are stiff penalities for failure to have those limits. First offenders face fines of $100 to $500 and license and registration suspension for up to 3 months. Subsequent offenses incur fines of $500 to $1,000 and license suspension of 6 months to 1 year.
The cost of motoring just keeps on going up. Providence car insurance costs are no exception. Premiums can be high in general, but Rhode Island premiums are above the national average. The normal hazards of daily driving, plus factors like the number of uninsured drivers on the road, place a great burden on the responsible driver. RI has more uninsured drivers than most places, and a high cost of repair as well.
Rhode Island Uninsured Motorists
- National uninsured motorists: 12.6%
- Rhode Island uninsured motorists: 17%
- Average vehicle repair in Rhode Island: $2,992
Car Thefts in Rhode Island
- National vehicle thefts (per 1,000 registered vehicles): 2.94
- Rhode Island vehicle thefts (per 1,000 registered vehicles): 3.20
The car theft rate in RI is higher than the national rate. Your risk of this type of loss can be decreased by a few common-sense measures. Always lock your car and park it in secure or well-lit areas whenever possible. Improvements in security like anti-theft devices or GPS are also helpful. And a comprehensive auto policy can compensate you for loss of this big investment.
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What Can Providence Car Insurance Cover?
- Liability: This covers your financial liability for bodily injury and property damage to other people and their vehicles in case of an accident. It pays for settlement costs and your legal defense. The required limits for RI are low compared to the potential costs of a lawsuit. Any settlement amount over your limits must come from your pocket, assets, and future earnings. So it might pay to purchase more than the required liability coverage.
- Collision: This pays for your own car repair or replacement expenses after a wreck, up to the limits of your policy.
- Comprehensive: This coverage takes care of damage caused by incidents other than collision, such as a hailstorms, tornados, falling trees, theft, or vandalism.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: This covers an accident caused by other motorists who are not adequately insured.
- Medical payments: This coverage can help pay hospital expenses for people in your car after an accident.
- Roadside assistance: This provides basic roadside emergency services, such as flat tire service, battery jumps, and towing.
Beyond the required liability coverage, you can choose from many options for your coverage. If the car is financed, your lender may have certain insurance requirements on top of those mandated by the state. Your age and driving record affect your rates, along with the make, age and value of the car you drive. The place where you park at night, how long you drive each day, and the level of coverage you select also play a part in determining your premium.
How to Find the Right Providence Car Insurance for You
Trusted Choice® agents are independent, so they are not tied to one carrier, and can look around for the best policy for you. They can also give unbiased advice on how to reduce your costs.
A local, independent agent can give you a wide variety of Providence auto insurance quotes, and can make sure that you don’t pay a fortune for the right coverage. Contact an agent near you to get started today.