You have most likely watched the catchy advertisements from auto insurance companies like Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and Nationwide guaranteeing big savings, so drivers should just choose the one with the most memorable commercial, right?
Regrettably, it’s not quite that easy, as there are many unknowns such as whether you are single or married, your credit score, the liability limit you need, and your date of birth, that help determine the price you have to pay. This article goes into detail about the best ways to find cheap car insurance and hopefully give you enough understanding to have a good start in finding the cheapest car insurance in Rhode Island.
The car, truck, or SUV to be insured is one of the main factors when quoting the best cheap auto insurance for college graduates in Rhode Island. Vehicles with economical engines, an excellent safety record, or a track record of few liability claims will cost much less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The list below outlines car insurance premiums for a selection of the most economical automobiles to buy insurance for.
Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
---|---|
Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $1,440 |
Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,479 |
Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $1,486 |
Toyota Camry LE | $1,556 |
Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $1,563 |
Dodge Grand Caravan Crew | $1,590 |
Subaru Outback 2.5I Limited | $1,598 |
Hyundai Tucson GLS 2WD | $1,612 |
Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $1,617 |
Chevrolet Traverse LT AWD | $1,624 |
Toyota Prius | $1,629 |
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $1,653 |
Subaru Forester X Premium AWP AWD | $1,661 |
Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $1,668 |
Toyota Sienna CE | $1,678 |
Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $1,707 |
Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,713 |
Kia Forte SX 4-Dr Sedan | $1,746 |
Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $1,751 |
Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2-Dr Coupe | $1,785 |
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Prices based on single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Rhode Island minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-vehicle, homeowner, multi-policy, and safe-driver. Premium costs do not factor in specific garaging location which can impact premium rates noticeably.
Based upon these rates, you can assume that cars like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry are likely to be some of the cheaper vehicles to insure for college grads.
When buying insurance for college grads, one of the key components that impact car insurance rates is where you normally keep your vehicle in Rhode Island. More populated areas like Providence, Pawtucket, and East Providence are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with less congestion profit from lower rates.
The illustration below rates the priciest cities in Rhode Island for college graduates in which to purchase auto insurance.
Rank | City | Average Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | Providence | $2,231 |
2 | Cranston | $2,181 |
3 | Pawtucket | $1,951 |
4 | Central Falls | $1,837 |
5 | East Providence | $1,815 |
6 | Valley Falls | $1,758 |
7 | Warwick | $1,749 |
8 | Greenville | $1,734 |
9 | Harmony | $1,691 |
10 | Chepachet | $1,637 |
11 | Pascoag | $1,607 |
12 | Cumberland Hill | $1,594 |
13 | Harrisville | $1,593 |
14 | Woonsocket | $1,555 |
15 | Bradford | $1,506 |
16 | Westerly | $1,478 |
17 | Narragansett Pier | $1,475 |
18 | Kingston | $1,471 |
19 | Hope Valley | $1,462 |
20 | Wakefield-Peacedale | $1,454 |
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Information shown are estimated as vehicle location can modify rates considerably.
Comparing quotes for affordable auto insurance is confusing at best, and determining which company quotes the most affordable auto insurance rates for college graduates will take even more perseverance. Every insurance company uses a little different formula for filing rates in each state, so first we will examine the most competitive auto insurance companies in Rhode Island.
Keep in mind that Rhode Island auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially decrease or increase the price you pay for coverage. Events such as a birthday, buying a higher-value vehicle, or getting a couple of tickets can trigger changes in premium resulting in some rates now being way too expensive in comparison to the competition.
Best Car Insurance Prices for Grads
Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
---|---|---|
1 | USAA | $705 |
2 | State Farm | $1,106 |
3 | Travelers | $1,222 |
4 | Amica | $1,467 |
5 | Progressive | $1,529 |
6 | Quincy Mutual | $1,595 |
7 | Peerless | $1,768 |
8 | National Grange Mutual | $2,094 |
9 | GEICO | $2,493 |
10 | MetLife | $2,504 |
11 | Nationwide | $2,707 |
12 | Encompass | $2,869 |
13 | Liberty Mutual | $2,953 |
14 | California Casualty | $3,057 |
15 | Allstate | $3,151 |
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USAA normally has some of the best car insurance rates in Rhode Island at around $705 each year. State Farm, Travelers, Amica, and Progressive also qualify as some of the more affordable Rhode Island car insurance companies.
In the above example, if you have coverage with State Farm and switched to USAA, you may see a yearly savings of around $401. Policyholders with Travelers may save as much as $517 a year, and Amica customers might cut rates by $762 a year.
Be aware that those estimates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration a rate discount for college graduates. So the auto insurance company that can offer you the lowest price may not even be featured in the list above. That emphasizes why you need to get quotes using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
Ending up with the right auto insurance company is hard considering how many companies are available to choose from in Rhode Island. The ranking data listed below can help you choose which companies to look at when insurance shopping for college graduates. These rankings are for companies that write coverage in many states, so companies that have a smaller presence are not taken into consideration for these rankings.
Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The General | 96 | 100 | 92 | 91% | A- | 95 |
The Hartford | 88 | 96 | 91 | 93% | A+ | 92.6 |
Progressive | 84 | 94 | 99 | 90% | A+ | 92.4 |
Travelers | 84 | 93 | 100 | 87% | A++ | 92.3 |
State Farm | 84 | 93 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 91 |
Farmers Insurance | 87 | 92 | 90 | 85% | A | 90.6 |
Safeco Insurance | 85 | 91 | 87 | 86% | A | 88.4 |
USAA | 71 | 93 | 98 | 87% | A++ | 88 |
GEICO | 73 | 93 | 95 | 85% | A++ | 87.1 |
21st Century | 85 | 85 | 91 | 89% | A | 86.9 |
Liberty Mutual | 72 | 91 | 97 | 83% | A | 86.4 |
AAA Insurance | 85 | 85 | 88 | 86% | A | 85.8 |
Nationwide | 71 | 90 | 93 | 83% | A+ | 84.9 |
Allstate | 69 | 92 | 92 | 83% | A+ | 84.4 |
American Family | 77 | 96 | 80 | 85% | A | 83.8 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
When shopping around for auto insurance for college grads in Rhode Island, some of the largest companies to start with are Allstate, Geico, Progressive, and State Farm. The table below ranks some of the ratings and options shoppers can find with each company.
Allstate | Geico | Progressive | State Farm | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Customer Satisfaction | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 4th |
Claims Handling | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 2nd |
Price Ranking | 4th | 1st | 3rd | 2nd |
Discounts Available | 1st | 2nd | 4th | 3rd |
Amount of market share | 10% | 11.4% | 8.8% | 18.3% |
Percent of customers who recommend | 86% | 87% | 88% | 88% |
A.M. Best financial rating | A+ | A++ | A+ | A++ |
Mechnical breakdown | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Uber and Lyft insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Accident forgiveness | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
New car replacement coverage | Yes | No | No | No |
Usage-based rating | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Available in Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Insurance Agents | Allstate-only agents | Online or through a Geico agent | Online or from independent agents | Can only buy from State Farm agents |
Number of agents | 11,000+ | 150+ | 30,000+ | 18,000+ |
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Consumers have many ways to purchase auto insurance in Rhode Island, but the most common are from an independent insurance agent, a captive (or exclusive) agency such as Liberty Mutual or Allstate, or from a direct company like Progressive.
All three ways can provide auto insurance quotes, but it’s important to point out the distinctions in how they provide price quotes.
Independent agencies have contracts with multiple insurance companies and can compare rates with each one. They do not work for one specific company and can get prices from more than one company, which may provide you with a better overall rate comparison. If they find a lower price, they simply move your policy to a different company which prevents you from having to switch agents.
An exclusive ageny is only able to place business with one company such as a Liberty Mutual or State Farm agent. These agents are unable to shop your coverage around, so if the price isn’t competitive there isn’t much they can do.
Auto insurance from a direct company means you do not use an exlusive or independent agent and buy direct from companies such as Progressive or Geico. Buying direct is good for consumers who have lower risk management needs and know what limits they need.
What is the best method for finding the best cheap auto insurance for college graduates in Rhode Island? The obvious answer would be buying from a direct company results in the best prices since that eliminates agent commissions, but that generally is not the case. A valid argument could also be made that going through an independent agent guarantees the best prices due to increased selection, but again, it’s not a sure thing. And occasionally, the exclusive agents may have very competitive prices that are the cheapest in Rhode Island.
Since auto insurance companies use so many rating factors, the only real way to get the lowest rate is to compare, compare, and compare some more. In a perfect world, youll get quotes from all three in order to have the best selection to choose from. For a list of companies offering online discounts, click here to view.