Insurance in Rhode Island: State Rules and Requirements

Insurance in Rhode Island

The rules that shape car, home and business insurance in Rhode Island, each linked to its official source, and how to get coverage shopped here. Sam Alishahi holds a Rhode Island nonresident insurance producer license (#3004487642, NPN 21022298) and places Rhode Island policies directly.

By Sam Alishahi · Reviewed October 2026

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

High-value homes in Rhode Island.

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.

The property risks that matter in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's long coastline makes hurricane deductibles standard on many homeowners policies near Narragansett Bay.

Wind from tropical storms is the defining property risk along the Rhode Island coast. Ask whether your policy uses a named-storm deductible, how it is triggered, and whether roof upgrades or shutters earn a mitigation credit.

Nor'easters bring coastal flooding, wind and heavy snow to Rhode Island. Wind damage is generally covered; storm-surge flooding needs flood insurance.

Standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood. In Rhode Island, flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer, and NFIP policies generally carry a 30-day waiting period, so buy before storm season. Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.

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.

Annual review checklist for Rhode Island

Compare your auto liability limits with the Rhode Island minimum of 25/50/25 and with your actual assets.
Find your hurricane or named-storm deductible in dollars and set aside that amount.
Clear gutters and check for storm-surge flood exposure before winter.
Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and price an NFIP or private flood policy before storm season (NFIP usually has a 30-day wait).
Landlords: confirm fair rental value and liability on each unit.

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 Rhode Island nonresident insurance producer license (#3004487642, NPN 21022298) and places Rhode Island policies 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.

Does Rhode Island homeowners insurance cover hurricanes?

Wind damage from hurricanes is generally covered, often subject to a separate hurricane deductible. Storm-surge flooding requires flood insurance.

Do I need flood insurance in Rhode Island?

If you're in a high-risk flood zone with a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require it. Elsewhere it's optional but worth pricing, because homeowners policies exclude flood.

More answers: Rhode Island homeowners insurance guide Rhode Island renters insurance and security deposit guide Rhode Island small business insurance requirements Rhode Island life insurance consumer guide Rhode Island flood risk and NFIP guide

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