Taking Preorders

Special Design Charity Plates

Must meet the minimum pre-paid orders per plate type before plate can be produced

The Charity plates listed below are now taking pre-orders. Please visit the charity's website (link provided within their description) to obtain their RI plate order form and to learn more about the charity and the causes they support.

All plate pre-orders are $42.50 and are handled through the charity and not the RI DMV.  Of the $42.50, $20 goes to the charity, and $22.50 goes towards the production of the license plate.

By submitting a charity plate application, applicant consents to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles sharing the information provided with the charitable organization selected. Such information includes, but is not limited to, the applicant’s name, address, telephone number, and/or email address.

Atlantic Shark Institute

The Atlantic Shark Institute is a Rhode Island-based non-profit shark research organization dedicated to answering the most important questions about shark biology, survival, and sustainability. Impressively, 100% of the people involved in ASI and our research projects do so on a volunteer basis. As a result, every dollar we collect - from sponsorships to donations to these incredibly cool new license plates - goes towards this critical research. 

More than 100 million sharks are killed each year, having a profound impact on our ocean environment, ocean health, and the balance of our ocean food chain. That has led to more sharks being listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. Even the iconic Mako is now considered endangered worldwide and can no longer be taken commercially or for sport. 

But you can help. Having a Mako shark license plate from the Atlantic Shark Institute will not only make your car one of the coolest on the road, but it will also help support this critical research! Motorcycle plate types are still in the preorder phase and must be ordered through the charity website.

Every year when you renew your license plate, there will be a $10 registration renewal surcharge, all of which will continue to benefit the Atlantic Shark Institute.

To get started, click Atlantic Shark Institute and begin supporting this critical research, help save our ocean environment and these critical apex predators, and start driving one of the coolest cars on the road! RIGL 31-3-126 (2022)

Autism Awareness

Support The Autism Project by purchasing the theautismproject.org plate and helping the parents, families and individuals in RI with Autism! This plate will benefit the Autism community of RI by providing scholarships and camperships for their social skills programs and Camp WANNAGOAGAIN. (Design approved and pending the sale of a minimum of 600 sets of plates per plate type with a maximum of 6 characters.) RIGL 31-3-98 (2013)

RI Day of Portugal

Order a RI Day of Portugal License Plate and support the RI Day of Portugal organization and its mission through numerous events held throughout the year to benefit the Portuguese and greater Rhode Island community. The RI Day of Portugal is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to celebrate the annual Day of Portugal holiday in the State of Rhode Island; preserve the traditions of the Portuguese culture for future generations; and promote the contribution of the Portuguese people, language, and culture within the rich fabric of the State of Rhode Island. There will be a $10.00 registration renewal surcharge that goes to this organization to help support its mission. . (Design approved and pending the sale of a minimum of 600 sets of plates per plate type with a maximum of 5 characters.) RIGL 31-3-118 (2018)

Charity Plate Legislation

RIGL 31-3-94. Expiration of authorization of issuance of special motor vehicle plates.

(a) The statutory authorization of the issuance of any special motor vehicle registration plates after January 1, 2022, shall expire if any statutorily mandated minimum number of prepaid orders of such plates has not been satisfied within five (5) years following the enactment of such authorization.

(b) The statutory authorization of the issuance of any special motor vehicle registration plates enacted prior to January 1, 2022, shall expire on June 30, 2023, if any statutorily mandated minimum number of prepaid orders of such plates has not been satisfied prior to that date.

RIGL 31-3-117. Minimum prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate orders.

(a) As to any special motor vehicle registration plates that have been authorized pursuant to this chapter but that have not been issued or printed as of July 2, 2018, because the minimum number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached, the minimum number of plates that must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and issued shall be deemed to be six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type. If the minimum number of prepaid plates provided pursuant to any other section of this chapter is a higher number, that number shall be deemed reduced to six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type.

(b) As to any special plates that are authorized pursuant to this chapter after July 2, 2018, the minimum number of plates that must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and issued shall be six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type.

(c)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the minimum number of prepaid orders for special motor vehicle registration plates that either have been authorized pursuant to this chapter, but have not been issued or printed as of the effective date of this subsection; because the minimum number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached or are authorized pursuant to this chapter after the effective date of this subsection, may be reduced to one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type if the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity delivers to the division of motor vehicles:

    (i) Orders for a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type; and

    (ii) A nonrefundable payment to compensate for the amount of special plate orders fewer than six hundred (600).  The payment shall be calculated as follows: six hundred (600) orders, less the number of orders placed, multiplied by thirty dollars ($30.00).

  (2) The portion of the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity's issuance surcharge that is to be allocated to the general fund shall be deemed paid for the first six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type issued by the payment in an amount as determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section.

  (3) The division of motor vehicles shall make available plates eligible for issuance pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section, no later than six (6) months after receipt of the orders and the nonrefundable payment in the amount determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section; provided, however, that if multiple orders and payments in amounts pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section are received from different sponsoring nonprofit entities, the division of motor vehicles shall be afforded no more than six (6) months for each separate plate that becomes eligible for issuance and may complete the work necessary for the issuance of one order at a time in the order of receipt.

  (4) The ability of applicable sponsoring nonprofit entities to reduce the minimum number of prepaid orders to one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section shall expire on December 31, 2025.  The division of motor vehicles shall complete the work necessary for issuance of all plates for which it receives the required orders and nonrefundable payments in the amount determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section on or before December 31, 2025, in accordance with subsection (c)(3) of this section.