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Rhode Island Hired and Non-Owned Auto Coverage

Rhode Island can treat a permissive driver as the vehicle owner’s agent after a crash unless that driver had proof of financial responsibility before the accident. For a rental, the statute generally makes the rental vehicle's liability insurance primary up to statutory minimums unless the rental agreement clearly states otherwise. 1,2

What Is Hired And Non-Owned Auto?

Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) liability protects the business when rented cars or employees’ own cars are used for work. It does not pay for damage to those vehicles, and it is not a substitute for commercial auto on vehicles the business owns. Read the national Hired and non-owned auto guide.

What to Watch for in Rhode Island

  • Permission can create an owner-agent presumption

    Section 31-33-6 treats a driver using a vehicle with express or implied consent as the owner’s agent in an accident unless the driver furnished specified proof of financial responsibility before the accident. Clarify employee authorization and make sure the employee and employer know which policies may respond. 1

  • Rhode Island rental liability is generally primary

    Under § 31-34-4(b), collectible rental-vehicle liability insurance is primary for the lessor and permissive operator up to statutory minimums unless the rental agreement states otherwise in at least 10-point type. Review the actual rental terms and ask where employer HNOA attaches. 2

  • Primary rental coverage may stop at the statutory floor

    The rental statute limits its primary status to required minimum limits. Ask whether your HNOA covers the excess exposure and whether the employee’s personal policy is collectible for the rented vehicle. 2

Who Regulates Insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division

The DBR Insurance Division provides an online public verification service for producers, adjusters, surplus-lines brokers, and other licensees, and accepts insurance complaints online. Contact the Division for help determining whether it has authority over a particular policy or dispute. 3,4,5

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 4% of net taxable premium; 2018 filing guide excludes listed broker, carrier and inspection fees Rhode Island’s 2024 return applies 4% to net taxable premium (gross premium less returned premium); its 2018 filing guide excludes broker, carrier, and inspection fees from the base. Confirm fee treatment with the Division of Taxation if your bill separates those charges, because no newer official fee-base guidance was located. 6,7

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Hired and non-owned auto; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Rhode Island. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 10

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Rhode Island

  1. Does the rental agreement change the default primary position under § 31-34-4?
  2. What policy responds above Rhode Island rental minimums if a third party sues the company?
  3. What evidence of financial responsibility should an employee carry before driving a borrowed vehicle?

Hired And Non-Owned Auto in Rhode Island: FAQ

Can a Rhode Island owner be responsible when someone drives with permission? 1

Yes. Section 31-33-6 treats a permissive driver as the owner’s agent after an accident unless the driver furnished the specified proof of financial responsibility before the crash. 1

Is rental-car liability insurance primary in Rhode Island? 2

Generally yes, up to required minimum limits, unless the rental agreement states otherwise in the required type size under § 31-34-4(b). 2

Hired And Non-Owned Auto in Other States

Other Coverage in Rhode Island

Sources

  1. Owner’s liability for acts of others. Rhode Island General Assembly; R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-33-6. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. Liability of owner for negligence of operator. Rhode Island General Assembly; R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-34-4(a)–(c). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  3. rhode-island insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; DBR Insurance Division overview links to complaint, license lookup, statutes, and regulations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. DBR License Status Verification. State insurance regulator; Official page identifies online NAIC-partnered status checks for producers, adjusters, motor vehicle appraisers, surplus-lines brokers, and reinsurance intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. DBR Insurance Consumers. State insurance regulator; Official consumer page explains the division's regulated insurance lines and online complaint route. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. 2025 T-71A Surplus Line Broker Return of Gross Premiums. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2025 return, p. 1, lines 1–4: net taxable premium is gross premium less returned premiums; 4% tax; filing due April 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Guide to Tax Filings for Surplus Lines. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2018 Guide to tax filings, surplus-lines section: gross premium for tax purposes excludes carrier, broker, and inspection fees; no newer official fee-base instruction located as of 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  9. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  10. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  12. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  13. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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