Rhode Island is the 13^th most expensive state for auto insurance! Rhode Island has an average premium of $1,595.97. It is crazy to think that our little state is in the top 15 for most expensive auto insurance. This information was found recently on the NY Times Bucks blog, which came from Insure.com based on a study that Quadrant Information Services preformed for them. The data was comprised from average auto insurance rates of more than 2,400 vehicles across 10 zip codes in each state. They surveyed the rates from six large insurance carriers in each state.

Now, you may be wondering why are rates are so high. Well, there are a few things that drivers in Rhode Island are required to have when it comes to auto insurance. In Rhode Island you must carry liability insurance coverage on all registered vehicles. The minimum coverage for injuries sustained by one person in an accident is $25,000, for all injuries in an accident is $50,000. Aside from purchasing liability insurance, Rhode Island drivers must also purchase uninsured motorist coverage. This helps when you are involved in an accident where someone does not have auto insurance.

Figuring out if your auto insurance is too high or if it is the right insurance for your needs can be tricky. That is why Bucci Insurance Group is here waiting for your call to help you out with all your auto insurance questions. We will make sure that you are covered with all the basics and requirements for auto insurance in our state, as well as customizing your policy for your specific auto needs. We can help to give you discounts, maximum benefits and an unmatched service that will make this 13^th most expensive auto insurance worth it!

Rhode Islanders make sure that you are always maintaining the insurance coverage required and that you have proof of it in your car. Wondering if your car is too expensive to insure? Insure.com has posted a list of the most to least expensive cars to insure, check it out!

Car accidents are something that no one whats to hear about or see, especially when they involve a teen or young adult. Car accidents are even worse when they hit close to home and you know someone involved. One of our insurance professionals at Bucci Insurance Group, Gloria Rubio, has a connection to a young man who passed away early Saturday morning after a car accident.

The young man’s name was Jason Fontes of Pawtucket, RI. Early Saturday morning, Fontes was driving south on Route 146 when he lost control of his vehicle and veered off the highway into the woods. Police found Fontes, pronounced dead at the scene, in his car 135 feet from the road. According to the police, speed and wet conditions were a factor in the accident. Fontes was only 21 years old.

Gloria’s daughter was a friend of Fontes and says that her daughter is taking the tragic accident hard. Just a week earlier, her daughter and Fontes were making plans to get together in the coming weeks. Having one of your friends suddenly pass away without having a chance to say goodbye is something that no one ever wants to do. However, it is a reality that it might happen one time in your life.

We can only do so much to try to prevent these accidents. At Bucci Insurance, we can help you with your auto insurance policy to make sure that you are protected in times of an accident. We will fit your policy to the specific needs of you and your family. The next step after setting up an auto insurance policy, is to talk to the young drivers in your family about driving safety. Here are some tips and topics to talk to your young driver about from the RI Department of Health:

• Don’t rely on simply driver education. Talk to your new driver about the responsibility of driving.
• Learn about teen driving restrictions in the state
• Do not let them drive at night
• Restrict passengers in the car
• Help teach your teen how to drive
• Be a role model to your teen
• Tell them to ALWAYS wear their seat belt
• Prohibit drinking
• Choose safe cars for your teen, not a car solely based on the brand
• Talk about drowsy driving (A topic we recently covered in the blog.)

Those are just some steps to take to make sure that your teen is driving safe. Accidents are happening all over the state: early last week two 16-year-old boys from North Providence were critically injured, last year in February a car accident in Cranston left three young adults dead and four injured, and at the same time I was involved in an accident that left my friend almost without an arm resulting from not wearing her seat belt.  Each year 5,000 teens and young adults die and 400,000 are seriously injured as a result of a car accident. The accidents we discussed are only four accidents involving teens and young adults within the last year, think of how many more have occurred in our state alone.

Make sure to talk to your young driver about the dangers of driving. It is important and could save their life one day. Please come to Bucci Insurance with any questions you may have about your auto insurance and how we can get you the best policy for you and your family. Our thoughts go out to Jason Fontes family and friends, along with any other families that have lost someone close to them this year as a result of a car accident. Please drive safe!