Insurance in Rhode Island: State Rules and Requirements

Car insurance in Rhode Island (25/50/25)

Minimum car insuranceRhode Island requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, or a $75,000 combined single limit. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage must be included at your liability limits; it can be reduced to zero only if you buy just the state minimum and sign an advisory notice. PIP is not required. Source
Fault systemRhode Island is an at-fault state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible through their liability insurance for the injuries and damage they cause. Source

Business insurance rules in Rhode Island

Workers’ compensationSince January 1999, Rhode Island employers with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation; the state is not monopolistic. Source
Contractor licensingContractors must register with the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board before working on a structure. Registration requires at least $500,000 combined single limit of liability insurance plus any required workers' compensation, and proof at registration and renewal. Source

Home insurance in Rhode Island

Home insurer of last resortHurricanes are the main catastrophe exposure along the coast. A residential hurricane deductible may be at most 5% of the dwelling's insured value and applies only after the National Weather Service issues a hurricane warning for Rhode Island. Source

Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in Rhode Island

Rhode Island disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes, from federal records
Measure	Rhode Island	Rank among the states	Detail
Federal major disaster declarations since 2000	10	#48 (tied) of 51	Most often for severe storm (7), hurricane (2), snowstorm (1). Newport County(in PMSA 2480,6480) has been in 8 of them.
National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025	4,310	#28 of 51	$120.0 million paid; 29% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
Homes in high-risk flood zones with a federal flood policy	49%	#10 of 50	5,486 policies for 11,194 homes in the counties FEMA can measure; US: 40%.
Hail reports, 2016–2025	24	#48 of 51	0 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 1.75 inches, Providence County, June 2019.
Tornadoes, 2016–2025	9	#47 of 51	1 rated EF2 or stronger; 20 recorded since 1950.
Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025	0	—	None of magnitude 4.0 or greater recorded in or near the state.

From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.

Look up the storm history of any county in Rhode Island.

Worth knowing in Rhode Island

Rhode Island caps homeowners hurricane deductibles at 5% of dwelling value and lets them apply only during a National Weather Service hurricane warning, and auto UM coverage can be dropped only on minimum-limit policies after signing a state advisory notice.

Rhode Island’s insurance regulator

Insurance in Rhode Island is regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.

Sam Alishahi holds a nonresident insurance producer license in Rhode Island (NPN 21022298), so requests from Rhode Island are handled by him directly.

Common questions

What is the minimum car insurance in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, or a $75,000 combined single limit. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage must be included at your liability limits; it can be reduced to zero only if you buy just the state minimum and sign an advisory notice. PIP is not required.

Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?

Rhode Island is an at-fault state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible through their liability insurance for the injuries and damage they cause.

Do employers in Rhode Island need workers’ comp?

Since January 1999, Rhode Island employers with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation; the state is not monopolistic.

What can a Rhode Island homeowner do if no insurer will write the house?

Hurricanes are the main catastrophe exposure along the coast. A residential hurricane deductible may be at most 5% of the dwelling's insured value and applies only after the National Weather Service issues a hurricane warning for Rhode Island.

Sources

General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.

Tell me what you need insured.

Home, car, business, trucks or something harder to place. One request, and I take it from there.

Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage.

Insurance in Rhode Island