The Cost of License Plates in Rhode Island
Rhode Island license plates range from $32.50 to $82.50 depending on which type of plate you choose. Here are the types of passenger license plates Rhode Island offers:- Standard passenger plates
- Vanity plates
- Specialty plates
- Military plates
- Disability plates
How much are RI vehicle tags?
How Much are Standard License Plates in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires a front and rear plate, with standard passenger plates costing $32.50. A standard Rhode Island license plates is issued in any of the following scenarios:- For new vehicles being registered in the state for the first time
- When purchasing a used car in Rhode Island
- For replacing damaged, lost or stolen plates
How much are personalized plates?
How Much are Personalized Plates in Rhode Island?
Want to make a statement? Personalized plates, also referred to as vanity plates, let you customize your ride with a unique letter and number combo in Rhode Island. You can choose between two designs:- Ocean plate: $68.50 initial fee
- Sailboat plate: $82.50 initial fee
- You are limited to 6 total characters and spaces
- No special characters or punctuation can be used
- Offensive or inappropriate words and phrases are prohibited
How much are specialty plates?
How Much are Rhode Island Specialty Plates?
Show some team spirit or support a cause with specialty plates available in Rhode Island. Choices include college mascots, military service plates, and various organizations. The cost for all Rhode Island specialty license plates is $42.50, plus additional registration fees. Here are some of the available designs:- Breast Cancer Awareness
- Conservation: Osprey
- Audubon Society
- Firefighter
- National Guard
- New England Patriots
- Plum Beach Lighthouse
- Purple Heart
- Boston Red Sox
- Rhode Island Community Food Bank
- Wildlife Conservation
- Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation
How Much are Rhode Island Military License Plates?
Rhode Island offers several military license plates to honor service.
Some key options and fees include:
- Disabled veteran plates: No fee for eligible disabled veterans
- National guard: $32.50 initial fee for active members
- Prisoner of War: No fee for verified POWs
- Purple Heart: No fee for verified recipients
- Veteran: No fee for verified veterans
- Gold star family: No fee for eligible family members
Rhode Island provides free military license plates to disabled veterans, POWs, Purple Heart recipients, general veterans, and Gold Star families. National Guard plates cost $32.50 initially.
How much are handicap car tags?
How Much are Rhode Island Handicap License Plates and Placards?
Rhode Island offers disability license plates and placards to accommodate individuals with disabilities. These plates and placards provide designated parking access and other privileges to better serve disabled residents. In Rhode Island, handicap placards are free.
The main options include:
- Temporary disability placards are red in color and are issued for a period of 2-12 months.
- Long-Term disability placards are blue in color and are issued for 1-3 years.
- Permanent disability placards are also blue in color and are issued for a period of 6 years.
How much are commercial plates?
How Much are Commercial Vehicle License Plates in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, commercial vehicle license plates cost $60 annually. This fee applies to all commercial vehicles including trucks, tractors, trailers, and other vehicles used for business purposes.
How much are motorcycle plates?
How Much are Motorcycle License Plates in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, standard motorcycle license plates cost $32.50 per year on top of registration. Personalized motorcycle plates cost $42.50 after registration.
How much are RV plates?
How Much are Motor Home (RV) Plates In Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, recreational vehicle license plates cost $60.
Do I need a front license plate in RI?
Does Rhode Island Require a Front License Plate?
In Rhode Island, your vehicle must have two license plates: one on the front and one on the back. This two-plate requirement applies to the majority of vehicle types, including passenger vehicles, trucks, vans, and motorcycles.
License plate renewal fee
What Do I Do With Old License Plates in Rhode Island?
When you receive new Rhode Island license plates, either during renewal or for a new vehicle registration, you will need to properly dispose of your old license plates.
Here are your main options:
- Return: Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices will take back your old plates when issuing new ones and properly dispose of them. This is the recommended option.
- Recycle: you can remove any registration stickers and recycle the aluminum plates through your local recycling program, if available in your area.
- Keep: some people opt to keep old registration plates as souvenirs or decorations. Just be sure to invalidate any active registration stickers.
- Transfer: in Rhode Island, you can legally transfer license plates from one vehicle to another with proper paperwork through the DMV.
It’s always a good idea to deface your old license plates before returning or recycling it. This prevents someone else from illegally using it. Always remove registration stickers before disposing of your plate.
See our state-by-state guide to license plates to learn which states require removal from the vehicle and which states allow the plates to remain with the vehicle when it’s sold.
Steps to get RI plates?
How to Get RI License Plates?
Here are the steps for getting new license plates in Rhode Island:
- Gather the required documents. You’ll need your certificate of title, valid Rhode Island car insurance, driver’s license or ID, and vehicle information.
- Visit your local DMV branch office.
- Fill out and submit the Rhode Island registration application form.
- Pay applicable fees. This includes the passenger car registration fee, title transfer fee, and license plate fees.
- Get your plates and registration. You’ll receive your new plates and registration certificate from the DMV office once they’re approved.
- Attach your new plates. Rhode Island requires front and rear license plates.
How do I transfer a title in Rhode Island?
How Much Does Title Transfer Cost?
The following are the standard vehicle title transfer fees in Rhode Island:
- Vehicle title transfer fee: $52.50
- Filing fee: $11
- Security interest assignment: $1
- Per lien recordation fee: $2
- Vehicle transfer tax: $10
- Public safety vehicle fee: $3.50
Check out our comprehensive guide to transferring a car title in Rhode Island for more information.
How to Transfer an Out-of-State Title?
Those who have an out-of-state car in Rhode Island will need to submit the following paperwork to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles:
- Proof of identification (government-issued ID)
- The original out-of-state vehicle title
- Proof of a valid RI auto insurance policy
- Completed application for a certificate of ownership
- Completed RI vehicle registration application (Form TR-1)
Rhode Island vehicle registration
How Much Does RI Vehicle Registration Cost?
The registration fee for passenger vehicles is based on the weight of the vehicle. Registration fees range from $30 to $48, plus a $15 DOT annual surcharge.
To register your vehicle, you will need to submit the following to your local DMV office:
- Proof of ownership
- Completed application for registration
- Proof of valid RI insurance
- Driver’s license or ID
- Payment for registration fees: $30 to $48
- Payment for the DOT surcharge: $15
- Payment for the Rhode Island sales tax: 7%
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RI License Plates FAQ
Do you need a VIN check in RI?
In Rhode Island, you’re required to have a VIN check when you register your vehicle unless you meet the following criteria:
1. A VIN check is required if the title is from another state, regardless of model year.
2. A VIN check is required if the vehicle was previously registered in another state, for model years 2001 or newer.
Does Rhode Island require emissions inspections?
In order to complete a title transfer in Rhode Island, you will need to perform emission testing.
In the state of Rhode Island, all gas passenger cars weighing less than 8500 lbs must pass emissions testing. The Rhode Island emissions testing fee is $55.
If your car falls under one of the following categories, you are exempt from emissions testing:
– A newly purchased car is exempt for its first two years or until 24,000 miles
– Fully electric cars
– Cars 25 years or older and registered as an antique
Failure to comply may result in registration suspension.
How much is Rhode Island registration renewal?
The cost to renew a vehicle registration in Rhode Island depends on the vehicle’s model year and value.
Here are the key details:
– Passenger vehicle registration renewals range from $30 to $48.
– There is also a $15 DOT surcharge applied to all registration renewals.
– Renewals can be done online, by mail, or at DMV branches.
The specific fee is determined by the vehicle’s model year and value according to rate tables provided by the RI Division of Motor Vehicles.
Renewals by mail
Send the Registration Renewal notice to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Registration Renewal
600 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
If you did not receive a notice in the mail, use the registration renewal form.
Online renewals
To renew your vehicle registration online, visit this link. Check this table to see if you can renew your vehicle’s registration online.
Drop box renewal
You can use the drop boxes at any Department of Motor Vehicles office to submit your Registration Renewal notice or Registration Renewal form.
Please note that the drop box is only available during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm).
What is the most popular license plate design in Rhode Island?
– The “Wave” plate is the most popular license plate design in Rhode Island. It features a white background with blue and green ocean waves.
– The Rhode Island Bluefish conservation license plate is another hot item. Over 97,000 Bluefish plates had been produced as of 2016.
– Brown University, Boston Red Sox, radio operators, and breast cancer research are popular special interest plates.
Which vehicle inspections does RI DMV require to register a vehicle?
To register a vehicle, it will have to undergo the following inspections:
– All non-exempt vehicles must pass an annual safety and emissions inspection performed by a licensed inspection station. This ensures that the vehicle meets all safety and environmental regulations.
– All vehicles that were previously titled or registered in another state must get a VIN verification done before being titled and registered in Rhode Island for the first time. This confirms that the VIN number matches the vehicle.
– For salvage title and other designated vehicles, an inspection by an insurance company is required to check for stolen parts before the vehicle can be registered.
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Brad Parker
Contributing Author
Brad Parker is the CEO and co-founder of PrivateAuto, where his dynamic entrepreneurial spirit and visionary leadership are driving the transformation of the automotive industry….