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

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

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