Driver Privilege Cards UPDATE: In accordance with legislation passed in the 2022 Legislative Session, Driver Privilege Cards will be available for issuance beginning in JULY 2023. More information will be provided in the upcoming months.
Plate Types Passenger Plates Available for Sedans (Cars), SUV’s, Wagons, Passenger (not cargo) vans Renewed every two years Renewal month is based on the first letter of a registered owner’s last name, or the first letter of the name of the company to which the vehicle is registered Commercial Plates Pickup trucks, heavy trucks, cargo vans Renewed annually in March Combination Plates Any vehicle that could be registered with commercial plates with a maximum GVWR of 8800 lbs Renewed annually in March RIGL 31-3-64 Trailer Plates Trailers (vehicles without a motor to power them that are used on the public roads) Commercial Trailers – Renewed annually in March Non-Commercial Trailers – Renewed every two years in April RIGL 31-1-5 Motorcycle Plates Motorcycles, Mopeds, Autocycles and Scooters Renewed every two years in June Requires Motorcycle Affidavit RIGL 31-1-3 Antique Plates Any vehicle 25 years old or older used for pleasure only and not the “primary vehicle” of the owner Dual Registration Permitted Renewed every two years in May Requires Antique Affidavit RIGL 31-1-3 (a)(1) Public Plates Vehicles used to transport persons for compensation of any form including buses and most ambulances Requires GU-1338 Insurance, PUC Approval and Special Inspection Renewed every two years in July Camper Plates RV’s and Camper Trailers Renewed every two years in September RIGL 31-3-42 Suburban Plates Wagons, SUV’s, vans, vehicles with a hatch for rear entry Sedans and pickup trucks are NOT eligible for Suburban plates Renewed every two years in September RIGL 31-1-3(bb) Radio Operator Any vehicle owned by a radio amateur licensed by the FCC. The FCC license must be furnished to the DMV for issuance of these plates and the plate number shall be the individual’s call sign Renewed every two years in June Maximum GVWR – 9000 lbs RIGL 31-3-39 Application for Amateur Radio Operator Plates PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Farm Vehicles used for agricultural operations and owned by agricultural organizations that would be ineligible to be registered with passenger plates Requires approval from State Division of Taxation and DMV Enforcement Office for initial issuance of plates Renewed every two years in February RIGL 31-1-8 and RIGL 31-3-31 Application for Farm Plates PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Tax Exempt Certificate (T-333-1) PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Temporary Plates 5-day plates issued at DMV locations for the express purpose of obtaining a VIN Inspection from a local police station prior to an initial registration in Rhode Island All paperwork, including proper proof of Rhode Island insurance, (besides a required VIN check) is required to be submitted before obtaining a 5-day temp plate These cannot be used to transport a vehicle from Rhode Island to another state RIGL 31-3-17.3