Minimum car insurance in Rhode Island.
What Rhode Island requires, in plain words, and why the minimum may not be enough.
The minimum limits
In Rhode Island, the minimum liability limits are written 25/50/25 (in thousands): $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to everyone in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
How the system works
Rhode Island is generally an at-fault (tort) state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other party’s losses. That is why liability limits matter so much.
Tort (at-fault) state. UM/UIM bodily injury is included unless rejected in writing.
What the minimum means in practice
Say a crash you cause injures three people. The Rhode Island minimum pays at most $25,000 to any one of them and $50,000 in total, shared between all three. Any medical bills above that could become your responsibility. Property damage stops at $25,000.
If you drive without insurance in Rhode Island
Under R.I. Gen. Laws 31-47-9, a first offense brings a suspension of up to three months and a $100 to $500 fine, a second offense a six-month suspension and $500 fine, and a third or later offense a suspension of up to one year and a civil fine of up to $1,000. A registration revoked after failing to respond to the DMV's insurance verification letter costs $253.50 to restore.
Proof of insurance
The Rhode Island Insurance Verification System matches policies to vehicle VINs and sends a request for verification when a vehicle has no matching policy for four straight weeks.
Also worth knowing in Rhode Island
After a registration is reinstated, insurance is monitored for 12 months, and if coverage cannot be verified the registration is revoked immediately with no hearing.
Your state regulator
Rhode Island Division of Insurance (Department of Business Regulation) is the official place for consumer questions and complaints about insurers.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Requirements change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with your state insurance department or an agent.
Questions
Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
Rhode Island is generally an at-fault state.