Rhode Island Auto Insurance Quotes and
Coverage Guide
Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Insurance
Questions & AnswersQ: Is
auto insurance mandatory?
A: You know that any state with a chicken as
its state bird is dead serious about auto insurance.
As such, it’s the law that all cars driven in the
state of Rhode Island must be insured with the state
liability minimums, and the insurance company must
be licensed to do business in the state of the Rhode
Island Red Hen.
Q: Is Rhode Island a "tort" state?
A: Yes. In traditional tort liability states,
there are no restrictions on lawsuits. The other
driver and the other driver’s passengers can sue you
‘til you turn a brilliant shade of Rhode Island red
for pain and suffering caused by an accident, as
well as for out-of-pocket expenses such as medical
costs.
Q: What type of insurance is required to purchase
and maintain a Rhode Island tag and registration?
A: Rhode Island auto insurance laws require
liability coverage of 25/50/25. (That's $25,000 per
person for injuries you cause to the other party, up
to $50,000 for all, and $25,000 for any damage you
inflict to the other driver's car, property, or to
the Little Red Hen.)
Q: Suppose I lend my car to a friend, is he/she
covered under my automobile insurance policy?
A: Whenever you knowingly loan your car to a
friend or an associate, he or she will be covered
under your automobile insurance policy. In fact,
even if you do not give explicit permission each
time a person borrows your car, they are still
covered under your automobile insurance policy as
long they had a reasonable belief that you would
have given them permission to drive the car. Unless
he or she is a chicken.
Q: I lost one of my plates. What do I do?
A: Providing you have not used it as nesting
material for your Rhode Island Red, if the vehicle
is registered in your name you must return the one
remaining plate and obtain a new set of two plates
with a different number. If you wish, you may order
the original set to be remade. These will be
re-issued to you after the mandatory 90-day waiting
period or about three months. You also need to bring
your current Rhode Island drivers license and
insurance information. If the vehicle is registered
to a leasing company you will have to show a Power
of Attorney form from the leasing company
authorizing you to change the plate.
Q: What if I fail to keep insurance on my vehicle
that I’ve registered in Rhode Island?
A: You may be subject to the following
penalties if you knowingly operate a motor vehicle
in Rhode Island without having in full force and
effect the financial security or an operator’s
policy of liability insurance as required by state
law:
-- First offense: license and registration
suspension of one (1) to three (3) months and a $100
to $500 fine
-- Second offense: license and registration
suspension of six (6) months and possible five-
hundred-dollar ($500) fine
-- Third and subsequent offense: license and
registration suspension of up to one (1) year.
Additionally, any person violating this section a
third or subsequent time may be guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be fined one
thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or imprisoned in a
state-run home for wayward chickens for one year or
both.
Q: What factors can affect the cost of my
automobile insurance?
A: A number of factors can affect the cost of
your automobile insurance - some you can control and
some beyond your control. The type of car you drive,
the purpose the car serves, your driving record, and
where you live can all affect how much your
automobile insurance will cost you. Even your
marital status can affect your cost of insurance.
Statistics show that married people tend to have
fewer and less costly accidents than do single
people and lay fewer eggs when driving than
chickens.
Q: How can I lower my automobile insurance rates?
A: There are a number of things you can do to
lower the cost of your automobile insurance:
-- Shop around: It is not surprising to find quotes
on automobile insurance that can vary by hundreds of
dollars for the same coverage on the same car. When
you shop, be careful to make sure each insurer is
offering the same coverage..
-- Look for discounts: Many insurers offer a
discount if you insure multiple cars under the same
policy, or if you have had a driver education class
in the last five years.
-- Increase the deductible: Simply raising your
deductible from $250 to $500 can lower your premium
sometimes by as much as five or ten percent.
However, make sure that you have the financial
resources necessary to handle the larger deductible.
-- Leave your chickens at home: Statistics have
found that accidents are less likely to happen if
you leave your Rhode Island Red at home safely in
its chicken house. You may save money as well as
avoid having egg on your face as well.
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