New License Permits

Permit tests are offered at the DMV office in Cranston by appointment. To find available times, visit www.dmv.ri.gov and look for the blue reservation bar on the home page.

The learner's permit may be renewed two times and may be renewed by mail, by drop box, or in person with a reservation.  Learner's permits may not be renewed online.  If your permit has been renewed two times, you need to retake the learner's permit test.  If your permit is expired two years or more, you need to retake the learner's permit test.  Reservations are required.

Graduated Licensing for Persons Under the Age of 18

1. Limited Instruction Permit (age 16 to 18):

A Rhode Island drivers permit can be issued to any Rhode Island resident who is 16 but less than 18 years of age, and has completed the 33 hour driver education course certified by the Community College of Rhode Island. For more information call CCRI (401) 825-1214.

Effective July 1, 2022, No Online Driver Education Courses are accepted, nor are they an approved curriculum in the state of Rhode Island.

The following Driving Schools are authorized to offer the R.I. Driver's Education course:  

AAA Driving School
110 Royal Little Drive
Providence RI 02904
(401) 868-2000 X-2961
northeast.aaa.com/driving-school/ri.html

Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)
1762 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
(401)825-1214
www.ccri.edu/workforce/transportation/DriverEd.html
Applicants who completed the driver-education class offered by CCRI have the option of taking the test through the college. Those applicants may visit https://ccriworkforce.augusoft.net to schedule a test at CCRI.

Labonte's Auto School
65 North Washington Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760
(877) 374-8333
www.labontesautoschool.com/

Newport County Driving School
1148 Stafford Road
Tiverton RI 02878
(401) 612-6237
newportcountydrivingschool.com

The MET Driving School
48 S Angell Street
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 401-378-0270
www.themetdrivingschool.com

 

Applicants who have completed a driver education class with an approved curriculum at a driving school other than CCRI must come to the DMV headquarters in Cranston with the class completion certificate to take a computerized knowledge exam.



A parent, legal guardian, licensed foster parent or adult spouse must be present to sign the permit application. A parent, legal guardian or foster parent must show identification. Legal guardian or licensed foster parent must show documentation to verify their authorization.



This permit is valid for one year or until the applicant turns 18, whichever is greater. A road test may not be given until the permit is held for six months; however, a road test appointment may be scheduled at the time a permit is received.



Parents Supervised Driving Program: When it comes to influencing safe teen driving behavior, studies find that parents play a critical role. Review the Parent's Supervised Driving Program.

2. Limited Provisional License:

You must have held the Limited Instructional Permit for at least 6 months, passed a road test and not been convicted of a motor vehicle violation during that period. You must also present an affidavit signed by a parent or guardian stating that you have completed a minimum of 50 hours of driving experience with a supervising driver with 10 of those hours at night.

A limited provisional license authorizes the license holder to drive a motor vehicle only under the following conditions:

  • The license holder must be in possession of the license.
  • The license holder may drive without supervision in any of the following circumstances:
    • From 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.;
    • When driving to or from work;
    • When driving to or from an activity of a volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad, or volunteer emergency medical service, if the driver is a member of one of these organizations;
    • From 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. when driving between the license holder's home and a school-sponsored athletic activity for which no transportation is provided by the school.
  • During the first twelve (12) months of a limited provisional license no more than one passenger younger than twenty-one (21) years of age is allowed in the vehicle. Immediate family/household members are excepted from this subsection.
  • Every person occupying the vehicle being driven by the license holder must have a safety belt properly fastened about his or her body or be restrained by a child safety passenger restraint system as provided in RIGL 31-22-22 when the vehicle is in motion.
  • The license holder may drive with supervision at any time. When the license holder is driving with supervision, the supervising driver must be seated beside the license holder in the front seat of the vehicle when it is in motion.
  • Costs are listed in the DMV Permit Fee Table

3. Full Operator's License:

All applicants holding provisional licenses may obtain a full operator's license when they renew their Provisional License when it expires on their eighteenth birthday. Applicants may also obtain a full license prior to that date if they are at least 17 years old but less than 18 years old AND have held a Limited Provisional License for at least 12 months, and not been convicted of a motor vehicle violation during the preceding 6 months.

Licensing for Persons Age 18 and Older

1. Learner's Permits for Persons Age 18 and Older:

Any Rhode Island resident 18 years of age or older who has never been issued a Rhode Island driver's license or if the license has been expired for more than five years, must apply for a driving instruction permit by taking the computerized knowledge exam.

Any Rhode Island resident with a learner’s permit who is 18 years or older is eligible to take the road test after holding the learner’s permit for 30 days.  During the period between obtaining the learner’s permit and taking the road test, the resident may drive alone and does not require supervision

  • New residents from Out-of-Country who are 18 or older, must apply for an Instruction Permit.
  • A drivers education course is not required to obtain an instruction permit.
  • Review the Rhode Island Driver's Manual
  • Bring the License/ID/Permit Application to the Cranston DMV headquarters.
  • You will be required to take and pass the RI computerized knowledge exam given at the Cranston DMV headquarters.
  • Refer to the third page of the License/ID/Permit Application for a list of documents needed to perform this transaction.
  • Costs are listed in the DMV Permit Fee Table.
  • Permit Renewals: Learner's permits for persons age 18 and older are valid for a period of one year.  Learner's permits may be renewed for two (2) additional one-year periods after which the permit holder shall be required to pass the knowledge exam again, if the permit holder has not obtained a full operator's license. 

 

2. Full Operator's License:

All applicants holding RI Learner's Permits may apply for a full operator's license after successfully passing a Road Test.