Best Car Insurance in Rhode Island

Gap insurance in Rhode Island works the same way as gap insurance in the rest of the U.S., by paying the balance remaining on a car loan or lease contract after a liability, comprehensive, or collision policy pays out the actual cash value of a totaled vehicle. The state of Rhode Island doesn't require any driver to carry gap insurance. However, certain lenders in Rhode Island may require customers to carry gap insurance – short for guaranteed asset (or auto) protection insurance – if they get a car loan or lease.

Dozens of companies, including banks and dealerships, offer gap insurance in Rhode Island. While you should take your time deciding which one is right for you, you can also have confidence in the fact that gap insurance works the same way in Rhode Island as in the rest of the country.

Best Gap Insurance Companies in Rhode Island

• Esurance
• PURE Insurance Company
• Nationwide
• The Hartford
• Progressive

It's worth noting that gap coverage is usually cheaper to purchase from an insurance company than a dealership. For more information, check out WalletHub's complete guide to gap insurance.

No, you do not need uninsured motorist property damage insurance in Rhode Island – it is optional. Rhode Island law requires car insurance companies to offer you $25,000 in uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage, but you can reject it.

Even though it's not required, UMPD is a good investment for drivers who want to avoid paying out of pocket to fix their car after an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. However, UMPD is similar to collision insurance, which pays to fix your car after any accident you're in. So, if you already have collision coverage, you do not need UMPD.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to uninsured motorist insurance.

Insurance companies in Rhode Island have 55 business days to settle a claim after it is filed. Rhode Island insurance companies also have specific timeframes in which they must acknowledge the claim and then decide whether or not to accept it, before paying out the final settlement.

Insurance Claim Timeline in Rhode Island

• 10 business days to acknowledge the claim and send the policyholder instructions and paperwork. This includes proof-of-loss forms, which serve as a sworn statement from the policyholder about the scope of the damage or injuries.
• 15 business days to make a decision on the claim after receiving completed proof-of-loss forms.
• 30 business days to make the final payment if the claim is approved.

There are several factors that can affect exactly how long it takes for an insurance company to settle a claim. For example, claims involving serious or multiple injuries take longer to settle. Additionally, poor communication between the driver, insurance company, and insurance adjuster can slow down the process.

Still, you are entitled to an efficient settlement. If you think that your insurance company is violating the law or operating unethically, you can file a “bad faith” lawsuit, which may award you the original settlement amount with added interest and penalties.

No, you cannot insure a car with a salvage title in Rhode Island. Salvage vehicles are cars that have been declared a total loss, meaning they're too damaged to be worth repairing and cannot be driven legally. As a result, no legitimate car insurance company writes policies for them.

Although insurance companies in Rhode Island won't insure a car with a current salvage title, you can get coverage if you have the vehicle repaired and inspected by a state-certified mechanic. If it's declared safe to drive, the DMV will issue the car a reconstructed title. Several insurance companies, including Allstate and Geico, sell policies to vehicles with a reconstructed title.

Keep in mind that some insurers will only sell liability insurance for reconstructed cars, meaning that they won't pay for any physical damage to the vehicle. Even if you are able to get collision and comprehensive insurance, your policy may not cover the full value of the car if it's totaled again.

You can get car insurance discounts in Rhode Island based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company. In Rhode Island, car insurance companies are allowed to consider factors like employment, residential, and marital status when setting premiums. That means there are also discounts available for being married, owning a home, or being affiliated with certain employers or educational institutions.

Almost anyone can get a discount on car insurance in Rhode Island because most insurance companies make it easy to qualify for a variety of savings. Rhode Island insurers typically offer discounts that fall into one of three categories—policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.

Policy discounts typically reward customer behavior that is desirable to the insurance company. For example, most Rhode Island drivers can save by registering for paperless billing or getting both home and auto policies from the same company. Driver discounts are available to Rhode Island residents who are lower-risk to insure, like those with clean driving records. And vehicle discounts help drivers save if their car has certain safety features or anti-theft systems.

Car Insurance Discounts in Rhode Island

Remember, discounts vary among different insurance companies, so it's always best to contact the provider directly to determine which discounts you qualify for.