Rhode Island Car Insurance
Rhode Island drivers must carry 25/50/25 liability under the Rhode Island Financial Responsibility Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-31-7)1. UM and UIM are a must-offer at the compulsory liability limits under R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.12. Rhode Island is a traditional tort state and does not require PIP4.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
Traditional tort state. Rhode Island does not require PIP. First-party medical bills typically flow through health insurance or optional MedPay; tort recovery against the at-fault driver remains the primary mechanism4.
UM/UIM default is on. Every Rhode Island personal auto policy includes UM and UIM unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing2.
How to make a real decision. Treat 25/50/25 as a floor, not a target. For how to think about higher limits, see how to choose coverage limits.
State requirements at a glance
What Rhode Island car insurance law requires
Minimum liability limits
25 / 50 / 251
$25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage per accident, under the Rhode Island Financial Responsibility Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-31-7).
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Not required4
Rhode Island is a traditional tort state. No PIP is required on personal auto. Medical Payments coverage is an optional first-party add-on insurers typically offer.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist
Must offer; 25 / 50 BI if purchased2
R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1 requires every Rhode Island personal auto policy to include UM and UIM at not less than the compulsory liability limits unless the named insured rejects it in writing.
Coverage verification
Rhode Island DMV insurance verification3
The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles administers insurance verification. Confirmed lapse under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-9 can trigger driver license and registration suspension plus SR-22 filing requirements.
Rate approval regime
DBR Insurance Division oversight4
Rhode Island does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age as personal-auto rating factors.
25/50/25 compulsory liability
The Rhode Island Financial Responsibility Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-31-7) compels every registered Rhode Island vehicle to carry 25/50/25 liability1. Many Rhode Island drivers carry higher limits.
PIP: not required in Rhode Island
Rhode Island does not require Personal Injury Protection. Medical Payments coverage is an optional first-party add-on that insurers typically offer. For how MedPay compares to PIP in states that require it, see our medical payments coverage guide.
UM/UIM must-offer under R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1
Every Rhode Island personal auto policy must include UM and UIM at the compulsory liability limits unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing2.
DMV verification and lapse enforcement
The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles administers insurance verification5. A confirmed lapse under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-9 can trigger driver license and registration suspension plus SR-22 filing requirements3. For a general lapse treatment, see our after-a-lapse guide.
Rating-factor landscape
Rhode Island does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age4.
Where the Rhode Island situation rules live on YesWeSure
This State Guide owns the Rhode Island pricing and legal framework. Situation-specific mechanics live on the sibling Situation guides:
- After an accident. See our after-an-accident guide.
- After a DUI. Rhode Island SR-22 and reinstatement mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide.
- After a lapse. DMV consequences of a lapse are treated in our after-a-lapse guide.
- Moving into Rhode Island. New-resident registration is treated in our moving-to-another-state guide.
Ready to compare Rhode Island quotes at or above the compulsory limits?
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Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Rhode Island?
25/50/25 liability under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-31-71. UM/UIM is a must-offer at the compulsory liability limits and ships on the policy unless rejected in writing2.
Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
No. Rhode Island is a traditional tort state and does not require PIP4.
Is UM/UIM required in Rhode Island?
UM and UIM are must-offer. Every Rhode Island personal auto policy includes UM/UIM at the compulsory liability limits unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing under R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.12.
Sources & methodology
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-31-7: Rhode Island Financial Responsibility Act; 25/50/25 compulsory liability. (Rhode Island General Assembly)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist must-offer at compulsory liability limits; written rejection required. (Rhode Island General Assembly)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-9: Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Reparations Act; penalties and license/registration suspension for operation without insurance. (Rhode Island General Assembly)
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Insurance Division: Automobile Insurance consumer page. (Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Insurance Division)
- Rhode Island DMV: Insurance Requirements consumer page. (Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (YesWeSure)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure)
- YesWeSure: What is medical payments coverage? (YesWeSure)
- YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure)
- YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure)
Every claim on this page traces to a source listed above. Every legal number traces to a Rhode Island primary source: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 27-7-2.1, 31-31-7, 31-47-9. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Last reviewed .