Rhode Island Car Insurance Requirements: What the Law Requires and What to Ask Your Agent

Yes, car insurance is mandatory in Rhode Island. Every registered motor vehicle must carry liability coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for damage to other people's property, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-2 (opens in a new tab). That's usually written as 25/50/25. You can show proof on paper or on your phone, and the DMV checks coverage electronically by VIN, so a gap can lead to a revoked registration. Collision and comprehensive aren't required by law, though a lender or lessor may require them. New residents have 30 days to title and register.

If you're registering a car, moving to Rhode Island, replacing a policy or holding a letter from the DMV, the questions below follow the order you'll likely face them.

What insurance does Rhode Island require?

Rhode Island is a compulsory-insurance state. The Rhode Island DMV (opens in a new tab) states that all registered motor vehicles must be covered by insurance. The minimum liability limits in § 31-47-2 (opens in a new tab) are:

Liability coverage pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. It does not pay to fix your own car. That's the job of collision and comprehensive coverage, which are separate.

An insurance policy isn't the only form of financial security the statute recognizes. § 31-47-2 (opens in a new tab) also defines proof through a financial-security bond, a financial-security deposit or approved self-insurance. For most drivers, though, an owner's liability policy is how the requirement gets met.

These are legal minimums, not a measure of what a serious accident costs. Ask your agent to quote higher liability limits next to the minimum so you can compare the price difference. For help with that choice, see how much car insurance you need.

Do you need insurance to register a car in Rhode Island?

Yes. For ordinary registration transactions, the DMV's new registration requirements (opens in a new tab) include valid Rhode Island insurance information. Have the policy in place before your DMV visit, along with your title or registration documents, your Rhode Island license or ID, a bill of sale when one applies and a VIN check if the DMV requires it.

What proof of insurance does Rhode Island accept?

Paper or electronic proof both work. Under § 31-47-2 (opens in a new tab), proof of financial security can be shown in paper form or electronically, including on a mobile device.

What happens if Rhode Island can't verify your insurance?

The Rhode Island Insurance Verification System (RIIVS) matches active registrations to insurance policies by vehicle identification number. If your VIN doesn't match a policy for four consecutive weeks, RIIVS generates a Request for Insurance Verification letter, according to the DMV's insurance verification program (opens in a new tab).

When that letter arrives, you have three ways to respond: buy insurance, have your insurer electronically submit the coverage you already have, or show that an exemption applies to the vehicle. A mismatch can happen even with a valid policy, for example if the VIN was reported incorrectly, so call your agent first and ask them to confirm how the insurer reports your VIN to RIIVS.

If you don't respond, the DMV can revoke the registration and block renewals and licensing privileges. After a revocation notice, you can request a hearing within 10 days of the notice date. Restoring a revoked registration requires proof of insurance, an affidavit and a $253.50 fee, according to the DMV (opens in a new tab), checked October 1, 2026. Follow the instructions on your specific notice, because the procedure depends on which notice you received.

What are the penalties for driving without insurance?

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-9 (opens in a new tab), knowingly driving, or letting someone else drive, a vehicle that's registered or required to be registered without the required financial security carries escalating penalties:

Getting your privileges back takes more than buying a policy. The DMV won't restore a suspended license or registration until you meet the legal reinstatement conditions, pay a $30 reinstatement fee (which the administrator can raise to as much as $50), and file and keep proof of financial security, under the same section. The $253.50 RIIVS restoration fee is a separate charge tied to registration revocation.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Rhode Island?

Bodily-injury uninsured motorist coverage is built into Rhode Island policies by default. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1 (opens in a new tab), a liability policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Rhode Island must include uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury or death, in an amount equal to your bodily-injury liability limits.

You can choose a lower uninsured motorist limit in writing, but not below the statutory minimum. The exception is a driver buying only the minimum compulsory coverage: in that case, the limit can be reduced to zero after you sign the advisory notice approved by the Department of Business Regulation (DBR).

Property-damage uninsured motorist coverage works differently. You can reject it in writing, and if you carry collision coverage, it's not required unless you choose it. For more on that choice, see whether you need uninsured motorist coverage.

What about medical payments, collision, comprehensive and gap?

Medical payments coverage is required in policies covered by R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.5 (opens in a new tab) at no less than $2,500 per person and $5,000 aggregate, but the named insured can reject it in writing. It pays covered medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash.

Collision and comprehensive coverage aren't required by Rhode Island law for an ordinary personal vehicle, according to the DBR (opens in a new tab). A lender or lessor can require both. Collision pays for damage from a crash. Comprehensive covers noncollision damage such as theft, fire, severe weather, vandalism, flood and hitting an animal.

Gap insurance is designed for a narrower situation: when your car is a total loss and its market value is less than what you still owe on the loan, according to the NAIC consumer guide to auto insurance (opens in a new tab). Gap coverage doesn't replace liability insurance. If your car is financed or leased, ask the lender or leasing company for its written requirements on coverage, deductibles, loss-payee wording and gap before you buy the policy.

What must new Rhode Island residents do?

If you move to Rhode Island, you have 30 days to get a new title and registration, according to the DMV's guidance for new residents (opens in a new tab). The vehicle needs at least liability coverage, and the insurer must be licensed to do business in Rhode Island. If your current insurer isn't licensed here, you'll need a new policy before you register. New residents also need to have their cars inspected within five days of registration.

Ask your current insurer whether it writes policies in Rhode Island before you move, so the new policy can start without a gap.

How do cancellations and nonrenewals work?

For nonrenewal, Rhode Island sets a 60-day notice rule. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-29-17.2 (opens in a new tab), a nonrenewal is generally ineffective unless the insurer gives written notice to the first-named insured and the producer of record at least 60 days before the policy expires. If notice comes later than that, coverage stays in effect until 60 days after the notice was given.

No nonrenewal notice is required when the insurer or an affiliated company offers a renewal policy, or when you've obtained, or agreed in writing to obtain, replacement coverage. A transfer within the same insurance group, a premium or deductible change, a change in the amount of insurance or a reduction in limits isn't necessarily a refusal to renew under that section. The terms used in these rules, such as expiration and renewal, are defined in § 27-29-17.1 (opens in a new tab).

Midterm cancellation is a separate question. Ask your agent for the cancellation provisions in your policy, and confirm the current rule with the DBR Insurance Division (opens in a new tab) if you receive a cancellation notice. When you switch insurers on your own, start the new policy before you cancel the old one so RIIVS never sees a gap.

Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?

No. Rhode Island isn't a mandatory no-fault state for ordinary auto liability claims. Bodily-injury and property-damage liability claims go against the driver responsible for the crash, according to the DBR (opens in a new tab). Medical payments coverage can pay your covered medical bills regardless of fault, but that doesn't turn Rhode Island's liability system into a no-fault system.

What should you ask an insurance agency?

A licensed agent can explain how each part of a quote works. The NAIC auto insurance shopping tool (opens in a new tab) suggests questions like these:

• What does each limit I've selected cover, and how does it compare with the 25/50/25 minimum?
• What exclusions or restrictions apply?
• Are other drivers in my household covered?
• Does the policy cover business use, commuting, rideshare or rental cars?
• Does my lender or lessor require collision and comprehensive, and what deductibles fit those requirements?
• How are total-loss values handled?
• Are rental reimbursement and towing included?
• What uninsured motorist and medical payments options am I choosing, and what am I signing to reject or reduce them?
• How will the insurer report my VIN and policy to RIIVS?
• How will I receive cancellation, nonrenewal, payment and claim notices?
• How do I report a claim outside business hours?

How to check an agent's license or file a complaint

The DBR license-status verification service (opens in a new tab), run with the NAIC, lets you confirm that an insurance producer is licensed. If a problem with an insurer or producer isn't resolved, the DBR Insurance Division (opens in a new tab) handles complaints. Contact the licensee first, keep copies of your documents, and send copies rather than originals with a complaint.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep a car registered in Rhode Island without insurance?

Not without risking revocation. RIIVS checks registrations against insurance policies by VIN, and a four-week mismatch triggers a verification letter, according to the DMV (opens in a new tab). If you believe an exemption applies to your vehicle, respond to the letter with written proof of it.

Is the $75,000 combined single limit the same as 25/50/25?

It's a statutory alternative to the separate 25/50/25 limits under § 31-47-2 (opens in a new tab). Ask your agent which format your policy uses and how the limit applies in a claim.

How long do I have to request a hearing after a revocation notice?

You can request a hearing within 10 days of the notice date, according to the DMV (opens in a new tab). Keep the notice and its reference number when you call.

Does an out-of-state policy work after I move to Rhode Island?

Only if the insurer is licensed in Rhode Island, according to the DMV (opens in a new tab). You'll need to title and register the car within 30 days of moving.

Staying covered

Start with a liability policy at or above 25/50/25 from an insurer licensed in Rhode Island, keep proof on paper or your phone, and make sure the VIN on your policy matches your registration. If a lender or lessor is involved, get its coverage requirements in writing. If you're comparing rules across states, see our guides to Connecticut car insurance requirements and New York car insurance requirements.