Rhode Island § 27-7-6 § 27-7-6. Rental vehicle coverage.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 27-7-6 — § 27-7-6. Rental vehicle coverage.

Rhode Island § 27-7-6

Title 27Insurance

Ch. 27-7Liability Insurance

This text of Rhode Island § 27-7-6 (§ 27-7-6. Rental vehicle coverage.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-6 (2026).

Text

§ 27-7-6. Rental vehicle coverage.
(a)(1) For liability assumed under a written contract, coverage shall be provided under the
            property damage liability section of an insured's private passenger automobile insurance
            policy. Property damage coverage shall extend to a rented motor vehicle, under ten
            thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.), without regard to negligence for a period not to exceed
            sixty (60) consecutive days.
         
(2) Coverage under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall apply to the named insured
            and driver(s) on the private passenger automobile insurance policy and/or their designee(s),
            unless 

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§ 27-7-6. Rental vehicle coverage.

(a)(1) For liability assumed under a written contract, coverage shall be provided under the property damage liability section of an insured's private passenger automobile insurance policy. Property damage coverage shall extend to a rented motor vehicle, under ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.), without regard to negligence for a period not to exceed sixty (60) consecutive days.

(2) Coverage under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall apply to the named insured and driver(s) on the private passenger automobile insurance policy and/or their designee(s), unless the designee driver is specifically excluded from the policy.

(b) Coverage pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply to all collision and comprehensive type losses.

(c) Whenever liability is accepted by an insurance company involving an accident that results in their insured's causing a total loss of the other party's vehicle, the at-fault carrier shall extend coverage for a rental vehicle for not less than an additional seven (7) days after the aggrieved party receives the total loss property damage check.

(d) Coverage shall be provided for loss of use of the rental motor vehicle; provided, that a claim for loss of use of a rental vehicle shall be limited to the reasonable time to repair or replace the rental vehicle, and shall be no less than the daily rental rate set forth in the rental agreement. To establish loss of use, the rental car company shall demonstrate that the rental vehicle sustained damage, regardless of fault, requires repair, and will be out of service for the period of time determined by a Rhode Island licensed auto appraiser or adjuster. In the case of a total loss, loss of use payments shall be made up until the time the vehicle owner receives the property damage payment for the total loss. Coverage for loss of use of a rented motor vehicle shall be provided regardless of fleet utilization.

(e) Whenever a claimant's vehicle is damaged in an accident, the at-fault insurance company shall provide at its expense, a rental vehicle that is reasonably comparable in quality to the claimant's damaged vehicle, and rental charges to be paid shall be based on the local retail prices reasonably available to consumers at the date and time a claimant rents a vehicle.

Legislative History

P.L. 2004, ch. 54, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 260, § 1, effective July 14, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 265, § 1, effective July 14, 2021; P.L. 2023, ch. 369, § 1, effective June 27, 2023; P.L. 2023, ch. 370, § 1, effective June 27, 2023; P.L. 2025, ch. 469, § 1, effective July 5, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 469, § 1, effective July 5, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 471, § 1, effective July 5, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 471, § 1, effective July 5, 2025.