SR-22 insurance in Rhode Island: Quotes, rankings and information
Are you required to obtain an SR-22 form in Rhode Island?
As of July 2018, SR-22 insurance is no longer required in Rhode Island, though you should still have a basic understanding of what the best options are in terms of auto insurance. Rhode Island is one of the few states that doesn’t require an SR-22 form. If you commit certain driving violations that suspend your license in Rhode Island, you may face penalties and need to pay a fee rather than file an SR-22 form.
For states that require an SR-22 form, it means the driver committed a driving violation and has been required by their state or court to file it with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The SR-22 insurance form is proof of insurance and it guarantees to the state that you have the minimum car insurance coverage required of you. It allows you to drive and is your responsibility to maintain for the necessary period of time until you get your full driving privileges back if your license is suspended.
Often times, the SR-22 requirement is referred to as SR-22 insurance. While SR-22 insurance is not technically a different form of coverage, the term is often used to describe car insurance coverage for those who need an SR-22 endorsement because an SR-22 affects your average cost and what service you'll need while you have an SR-22 active.
One of the most common reasons drivers may need SR-22 insurance in other states is because of a DUI conviction. In Rhode Island, instead of getting SR-22 insurance, you’ll face other penalties and requirements if you’ve been convicted of an alcohol or drug-related offense. Rhode Island DUI penalties may include a license suspension as well as other requirements.
Another common reason drivers may need an SR-22 in other states is for driving without an active car insurance policy. If you’re caught driving without car insurance in Rhode Island, you may face fines, fees and license and registration suspensions.
If you need to compare companies, we offer an online, free tool that can help you.
What are the required limits in Rhode Island?
Although SR-22 insurance is not required in Rhode Island, all drivers are required to have car insurance to legally drive in the state. Rhode Island drivers are required to have at least the following limits:
- Liability:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
Having bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability on your policy can be financially helpful should you ever be required to cover someone's medical bills or repair costs due to an accident. Compare the insurance costs to what you may have to pay out of pocket, and suddenly your auto policy may seem a little bit more affordable. Not to mention you won't have to pay any fines for reckless driving without coverage.
Driving without car insurance in Rhode Island is against the law and is subject to many fines, fees, and license and vehicle registration suspension. It's your financial responsibility to find a carrier who will be able to provide you with the coverage you need at a rate you can afford, and if you're not content with the company you have, you can always shop around.
Who needs an SR22 in Rhode Island?
Even though Rhode Island does not require its drivers to have SR22 insurance after certain convictions, if you’re a driver in Rhode Island and you’re moving to a state that requires SR-22 insurance, you may need to file for an SR-22. It is required in a few scenarios in order for you to get your license reinstated.
SR-22's are required after you’ve committed certain violations with the law. You may even be required to have an SR-22 if you’ve had a series of small violations within a short span of time. You could need SR22 insurance for the following reasons:
- Conviction for driving under the influence (DUI or DWI)
- Driving without car insurance
- Driving with a revoked or suspended license
- Having repeated traffic violations in a certain amount of time, including speeding tickets
- Numerous at-fault accidents
- A fatal at-fault accident or one that results in injuries
- Reckless or dangerous driving
- Assignment from a court order
- Failure to pay fines from tickets
- Refused consent to breathalyzer or blood alcohol test
If you’re moving to a new state and need to get SR-22 insurance, you'll want to look at what the minimum requirements for coverage will be with your new state. Update your address and plates as soon as you can — most insurance carriers will want all your new information before providing you with auto insurance rates.
What are the rates for coverage in Rhode Island?
A DUI is one of the most common reasons drivers need SR22 insurance. If you’ve been convicted of a DUI in Rhode Island, while you won’t be required to get SR-22 insurance, your car insurance rates may still be affected because you will be considered a high-risk driver. On average, drivers in Rhode Island with one DUI pay $2,421, which is 90.5 percent higher than standard drivers with a clean record. In the table below, you can view average insurance rates for drivers in Rhode Island who’ve been convicted of a DUI.
| Company | Car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $812 |
| Travelers | $1,481 |
| Progressive | $2,040 |
| Nationwide | $2,159 |
| USAA* | $1,515 |
| Allstate | $2,372 |
| Geico | $3,005 |
| Amica | $4,317 |
*USAA is only available to active and former military members and their families.
These rates are based on a 35-year-old single adult with one driver and one vehicle on a policy. The car used was a 2015 Toyota Highlander LEs. Full coverage was used with 100/300/50 limits and a $500 collision and comprehensive deductible. The driver had one DUI on their record. The rates displayed should only be used for comparative purposes as individual rates for high-risk insurance in Alabama will differ. Rate data is provided by Quadrant Information Services.
How do you file for an SR-22 in Rhode Island?
If you’ve been convicted of a driving violation in Rhode Island, you may be considered a high-risk or non-standard driver. This may result in your car insurance rates increasing. Most states require an SR-22 form to be filed by certain high risk drivers guilty of violations, requiring the drivers to get SR-22 insurance.
Even though Rhode Island doesn’t require an SR22 form, drivers with violations typically associated with SR22 insurance may have a harder time finding an insurance company that will sell them a policy. If you’re considered a high-risk driver, it may be a good idea to shop for a new car insurance company in Rhode Island.
Use the table at the top of this page to find all the car insurance companies that offer high-risk insurance in Rhode Island with a minimum of 25 reviews. If you want to see which companies customers say are the best for high-risk insurance in Rhode Island, sort the table by highest rated. You can sort through companies and find the ones you want to get quotes from. To get quotes, click on the orange, “click for quote” button next to the company, call the number available or visit the company’s website.
If you want to read customer reviews of the company, click the company name in the table and you will be directed to the company’s profile page containing information about the company and reviews.
Are there any fees associated with an SR-22 in Rhode Island?
An SR-22 is not required in Rhode Island, therefore there are no fees associated with filing the form. In states that require SR-22, drivers who need SR22 insurance likely have to pay a fee to file the SR22 form in addition to fees to get their license reinstated. You may be required to pay fees and fines if you commit certain violations such as driving without car insurance or being convicted of a DUI. You will also face having to pay penalties should you have any lapse in coverage at any time.
Are rates calculated in Rhode Island?
When searching and comparing car insurance quotes, it can be frustrating trying to understand how your insurance rates are calculated. While there is no exact formula that each car insurance company uses when providing you a quote, there are many factors that do contribute to the price you pay for your insurance. Among the factors that car insurers consider are:
- Your driving record
- How much you drive
- Location
- Age
- Marital status
- Gender
- Your car’s make, model and year
- Your credit history (in some states)
- Amount of car insurance coverage (required coverage and optional add-ons, such as collision and comprehensive)
One of the biggest misunderstanding when it comes to insurance rates is that the history of drivers in your area also contributes to how much you pay. For instance, even if you go two years without an accident, if there were a lot of accidents near you recently, your rates might still go up. Why is that the case?
Insurance companies disperse risk across all policyholders so that when it comes time to pay a claim, they have enough money to pay out. But imagine a scenario where they only raised rates for drivers with an accident. For drivers who had an expensive claim, the drivers simply wouldn't be able to afford the raised rates that are based off how much their insurer had to pay after an accident. So instead, insurance companies slightly increase rates across the board to offset the costs, though of course the at-fault driver may see a larger increase.
How much car insurance do I need?
You certainly don’t want to be underinsured or uninsured while staring at a claim after a car accident or other damage to your car. But at the same time, there’s no sense in paying for more coverage than you need, right? So it begs the question: How much car insurance coverage do you actually need?
The answer, as frustrating as it may be, is it depends. For example, someone insuring a brand-new, leased car is likely required to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, but for someone driving an older car that doesn’t have much value, it may not make sense to purchase optional coverage. Plus, states have different car insurance requirements. There are 12 no-fault states that require its drivers to purchase personal injury protection (PIP).
So when it comes to determining what car insurance coverage and limits you should purchase, it’s important to do your research. Talk with an insurance agent or your insurance company to determine what makes the most sense for your situation.
Are there ways to save money on your car insurance?
At the end of the day, we’d all like to have the best coverage at a cheap, affordable price. While you never want to sacrifice quality to save a couple of dollars, there are some different ways you can lower your car insurance premium.
Here are six ways you may be able to lower your car insurance rates:
- Bundle your car insurance with other policies
- Consider raising your deductibles
- Pay your car insurance policy in full
- Try usage-based car insurance
- Monitor price changes to your policy
- Shop for better insurance rates
How does Clearsurance rate and rank companies?
Wondering how Clearsurance determines scores for insurance companies? Our algorithm analyzes a range of inputs from our community of unbiased customers, including:
- Cost
- Customer service
- Overall experience
- Claim service
- Purchasing experience
- Likelihood to recommend
Is there a guide with more information available?
Hopefully Sr-22 filings make a little more sense now, but understanding your auto coverage is important as well. Whether you’re buying your insurance direct or going through an agent, understanding the different car insurance coverage options is a must. Do you know what is covered by comprehensive coverage? Are you familiar with uninsured motorist coverage? Do you know how a deductible works?
We want to make sure you’re equipped with proper knowledge on finding Rhode Island auto insurance that's a good fit for your lifestyle, so check out our practical guide to understanding car insurance. Looking for more educational information about car insurance? Check out our blog for more information and topics related to car insurance.
We also have a free tool that will let you compare quotes from different companies if you want to find more competitive rates. Affordable auto insurance may require some research if you have an SR-22 form, but that doesn't mean just because you don't have a clean driving record that you're going to be unable to find a company that's right for you.
How car insurance rates are calculated
When searching and comparing car insurance quotes, it can be frustrating trying to understand how your insurance rates are calculated. While there is no exact formula that each car insurance company uses when providing you a quote, there are many factors that do contribute to the price you pay for your insurance. Among the factors that car insurers consider are:
- Your driving record
- How much you drive
- Location
- Age
- Marital status
- Gender
- Your car’s make, model and year
- Your credit history (in some states)
- Amount of car insurance coverage (required coverage and optional add-ons, such as collision and comprehensive)
One of the biggest misunderstanding when it comes to insurance rates is that the history of drivers in your area also contributes to how much you pay. For instance, even if you go two years without an accident, if there were a lot of accidents near you recently, your rates might still go up. Why is that the case?
Insurance companies disperse risk across all policyholders so that when it comes time to pay a claim, they have enough money to pay out. But imagine a scenario where they only raised rates for drivers with an accident. For drivers who had an expensive claim, the drivers simply wouldn't be able to afford the raised rates that are based off how much their insurer had to pay after an accident. So instead, insurance companies slightly increase rates across the board to offset the costs, though of course the at-fault driver may see a larger increase.
How much car insurance do I need?
You certainly don’t want to be underinsured or uninsured while staring at a claim after a car accident or other damage to your car. But at the same time, there’s no sense in paying for more coverage than you need, right? So it begs the question: How much car insurance coverage do you actually need?
The answer, as frustrating as it may be, is it depends. For example, someone insuring a brand-new, leased car is likely required to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, but for someone driving an older car that doesn’t have much value, it may not make sense to purchase optional coverage. Plus, states have different car insurance requirements. There are 12 no-fault states that require its drivers to purchase personal injury protection (PIP).
So when it comes to determining what car insurance coverage and limits you should purchase, it’s important to do your research. Talk with an insurance agent or your insurance company to determine what makes the most sense for your situation.
How to save money on your car insurance
At the end of the day, we’d all like to have the best coverage at a cheap, affordable price. While you never want to sacrifice quality to save a couple of dollars, there are some different ways you can lower your car insurance premium.
Here are six ways you may be able to lower your car insurance rates:
- Bundle your car insurance with other policies
- Consider raising your deductibles
- Pay your car insurance policy in full
- Try usage-based car insurance
- Monitor price changes to your policy
- Shop for better insurance rates
How we rank car insurance companies
Wondering how Clearsurance determines scores for insurance companies? Our algorithm analyzes a range of inputs from our community of unbiased insurance customers, including:
- Cost
- Customer Service
- Overall Experience
- Claim service
- Purchasing experience
- Likelihood to recommend
Guide to understanding car insurance
Whether you’re buying your insurance direct or going through an agent, understanding the different car insurance coverage options is a must. Do you know what is covered by comprehensive coverage? Are you familiar with uninsured motorist coverage? Do you know how a deductible works?
We want to make sure you’re equipped with a proper knowledge of car insurance, so check out our practical guide to understanding car insurance. Looking for more educational information about car insurance? Check out our blog for more information and topics related to car insurance.