Important Fee Changes Effective January 1, 2026 Beginning January 1, 2026, several motor vehicle fees required by Rhode Island law will change. These updates include:Increased Highway Maintenance (DOT) surcharge amounts on most vehicle registrations and driver licenses, as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-18.1-4.New electric and hybrid vehicle registration fees enacted in the FY 2026 state budget (amendments to R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-6-1).All updated fees will be calculated automatically in the DMV system and will be applied automatically to all affected transactions. Learn more here.