Does Rhode Island Allow UM/UIM Stacking? What 27-7-2.1 Says

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Yes, where you paid separate premiums. Section 27-7-2.1(i) lets you collect the aggregate UM coverage for all insured vehicles when you paid two or more separate premiums with the same insurer, regardless of policy language.

The stacking rule

Section 27-7-2.1(i) says whenever an insured has paid two or more separate premiums for uninsured motorists' coverage in a single policy or under several policies with the same insurance company, the insured may collect up to the aggregate amount of coverage for all of the vehicles insured, regardless of any language in the policy to the contrary.

Required coverage

Subsection (a) requires UM in every auto liability policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Rhode Island, equal to your bodily injury liability limits. A named insured may select lower limits in writing, never below the compulsory minimum, and may reduce it to zero only when buying just the minimum liability coverage, after signing an advisory notice.

Underinsured drivers

Subsection (g) says uninsured motorist includes an underinsured motorist: one who carries liability coverage in an amount less than the limits or damages that insured persons are legally entitled to recover. Subsection (h) says you need not first sue the underinsured driver, and releasing that driver with the UIM insurer's consent does not bar your UIM claim; the insurer is then subrogated.

What it leaves open

The statute does not say how the UIM payment is calculated against the other driver's payment. We did not read court decisions; check your policy and ask an attorney.

How to use this

Compare the results in the Rhode Island UM/UIM stacking calculator, start with the plain-English stacked versus single-limit explainer, and read how Rhode Island UM covers underinsured drivers.

This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how Rhode Island's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed Rhode Island attorney.