How to get a driver's license in Rhode Island

How it works

• Who does what

  In Rhode Island, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a state agency within the Department of Revenue, handles the testing and licensing of motor vehicle operators. The DMV publishes the Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, which helps you prepare for the written permit test and the road test. The DMV also offers an online version of the manual, divided into chapters.

  Source: [1] [19]

• Reservations

  The computerized knowledge exam is available by reservation only. The DMV headquarters in Cranston and the open branches work Monday to Friday by reservation only. The At the DMV office section has more.

  Source: [2] [17]

• Where you take the tests

  The computerized knowledge exam is given at the DMV headquarters in Cranston. Applicants who take the 33-hour driver education course with the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) can take the permit test through CCRI. Road tests can be scheduled online or at any DMV branch during normal business hours. The DMV’s Locations & Hours page lists the Cranston headquarters as the non-commercial road test site. The Tests section explains both tests.

  Source: [1] [3] [6] [17]

• Under 18 and 18 or older

  If you are under 18, you follow Rhode Island’s graduated licensing system. The manual mostly calls its three levels the Limited Learner Permit, the Learner Provisional License and the Full Operator’s License. The DMV web pages call the first two the Limited Instruction Permit and the Limited Provisional License. You cannot get a Limited Learner Permit from the DMV until you are 16. If you are 18 or older and have never had a Rhode Island license, you apply for a learner’s permit by taking the computerized knowledge exam, and a driver education course is not required. The Under 18 section explains the steps in order, and the Age 18 and older section covers adults.

  Source: [1] [3]

Under 18: the steps to a license

1. Step 1: take the 33-hour driver education course

   Between the ages of 16 and 18, there are two requirements before you can get your Limited Learner Permit. The first is to pass an accredited 33-hour classroom driver education class. The DMV’s New License Permits page lists the driving schools authorized to offer the course; they include AAA Driving School and CCRI. CCRI students must be at least 15 years and 10 months old on the first day of class. The CCRI course is classroom instruction only, so you complete behind-the-wheel practice separately with a qualified supervising driver or a Rhode Island licensed driving school. Online driver education courses are not accepted in Rhode Island.

   Source: [1] [3] [24]

2. Step 2: pass the knowledge exam and the vision test

   The second requirement is to pass the computerized knowledge exam administered by the DMV. Applicants who take the CCRI course can take the permit test through CCRI. Applicants under 18 who completed an approved driver education class at a driving school other than CCRI go to the DMV headquarters in Cranston with the class completion certificate to take the computerized exam. All applicants also take a vision test or submit a Vision Examination Card signed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The Tests section explains the exam.

   Source: [1] [3] [5]

3. Step 3: apply for the permit

   Bring the original Driver’s Education Certificate for the 33-hour classroom course; photocopies are not accepted. A parent, legal guardian, licensed foster parent or adult spouse who lives in Rhode Island signs your permit application. Bring that person with you (a parent, legal guardian or foster parent shows identification); the Permits & Tests page and the document checklist also accept the signature notarized on the LI-1 form. A parent who does not hold a valid Rhode Island license can sign the application of a child under 18 but must be seated in the back seat during practice driving. If no parent, guardian or licensed foster parent qualifies, another responsible adult who is willing to assume the obligation may sign the application. The Documents to bring section lists the other documents.

   Source: [1] [2] [3] [20]

4. Step 4: practice with a supervising driver

   With a Limited Learner Permit, you can practice driving under the supervision of a properly licensed driver who has held a license for at least five years. The supervising driver must be seated beside you at all times and be ready to take control of the vehicle in an emergency, and is legally responsible for any driving violation you commit. No person other than the supervising driver is in the front seat. All passengers must wear a safety belt or be in a child restraint system as required by law. You must properly wear a safety belt too, and drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while driving, except in an emergency.

   Source: [1]

5. Step 5: log 50 hours of supervised driving

   Before the road test, you need at least 50 hours of supervised practice driving, with at least 10 of those hours at night. The hours can be completed with a commercial driving school or any other supervising driver. A parent or guardian signs an affidavit stating that you completed the hours. The DMV’s Preparing for Your Test page and the road-test checklist call for a notarized affidavit, so have it notarized; DMV staff can notarize it if a birth certificate is provided and a parent is present. The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program is a guide that helps parents and teens get the most out of the supervised driving requirement. A copy is given to all parents through CCRI as part of the required 33-hour course, and the free RoadReady app lets you log the supervised driving time.

   Source: [1] [3] [4] [7] [21]

6. Step 6: hold the permit for at least six months

   You must hold the permit for at least six months before you can take the road test. A road test appointment can be scheduled at the time you receive the permit. A permit can be renewed, by mail, by drop box, or in person with a reservation; it cannot be renewed online. After a permit runs out, you may have to take the knowledge exam again, so check the DMV’s New License Permits page.

   Source: [1] [3] [7]

7. Step 7: pass the road test

   Bring your original permit, a completed LI-1 form (it must be notarized if your parent or guardian is not present or has a different last name than yours) and the signed, notarized affidavit of 50 hours of driving experience. If you are under 18, you bring a qualified supervising driver, and the manual asks you to bring the supervising driver’s license (an out-of-state license is acceptable). Any coaching or intervention during the test means an immediate failure. The Tests section explains the road test.

   Source: [1] [21] [22] [23]

8. Step 8: get the Learner Provisional License

   After you have passed your driving skills test, you must go to the DMV to get your Learner Provisional License, before your Limited Learner Permit expires. The DMV’s modified skills-testing guide says applicants who pass the test may upgrade their permit to a first license at the test location. To qualify, you must have held the Limited Learner Permit for at least six months and passed the road test. The manual and the DMV page also set a clean-record condition for the recent months before you apply; they word it differently, so check the DMV’s New License Permits page. A parent, guardian, licensed foster parent or adult spouse must go with you, unless that person’s signature is notarized on the application. The Learner Provisional License expires on your 18th birthday.

   Source: [1] [3] [23]

9. Step 9: get the Full Operator’s License

   Before your 18th birthday, you can get the Full Operator’s License once you have held the Learner Provisional License for at least 12 months and meet age and clean-record conditions that the manual and the DMV page word differently (check the New License Permits page). The DMV page says all provisional license holders may get a full operator’s license when they renew the provisional license as it expires on their 18th birthday. If you are under 18 when you apply, go with a parent, guardian, adult spouse or licensed foster parent. With a full operator’s license, you may drive without restrictions concerning time of driving, supervision and a passenger limitation.

   Source: [1] [3]

Rules for young drivers

• Driving alone at night with a provisional license

  With a Learner Provisional License, you cannot drive by yourself between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. You may drive with supervision at any time, and the supervising driver must be seated beside you in the front seat while the vehicle is in motion. The manual and the DMV page both allow driving without supervision to or from work, and to or from an activity of a volunteer fire department, rescue squad or emergency medical service if you are a member; both also allow 4:00-5:00 a.m. driving between your home and a school-sponsored athletic activity for which the school provides no transportation. You must have the license in your possession.

  Source: [1] [3]

• Passengers

  During the first 12 months of the license, no more than one passenger younger than 21 is allowed in the vehicle. Immediate family and household members are excepted. Everyone in the vehicle must be properly fastened by a safety belt or child restraint system at all times.

  Source: [1] [3]

• Cell phones and safety belts

  Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. The only time a minor may use a cell phone is in an emergency. Any operator of a motor vehicle under 18 must properly wear a safety belt and/or shoulder harness.

  Source: [1]

• Alcohol and your license

  Any person under 21 with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02% but less than .08% is impaired and will be charged with Driving While Impaired (DWI). The manual lists a 6 to 12 month license suspension for a first DWI violation under age 18 with a BAC of 0.02% to 0.08%. If you refuse to take a chemical test, your license will be suspended for a minimum of six months.

  Source: [1]

Age 18 and older

• Your learner’s permit

  If you are 18 or older and have never been issued a Rhode Island driver’s license, or your license has been expired for more than five years, you must apply for a driving instruction permit by taking the computerized knowledge exam. A driver education course is not required. Bring the License/ID/Permit Application to the DMV headquarters in Cranston, where you take and pass the computerized knowledge exam. The Documents to bring and Tests sections explain the details.

  Source: [1] [3]

• Learner’s permit rules for adults

  A resident who is 18 or older and has a learner’s permit is eligible to take the road test after holding the permit for 30 days. The DMV’s New License Permits page says that, between getting the permit and taking the road test, the resident may drive alone and does not require supervision. A learner’s permit can be renewed, by mail, by drop box or in person with a reservation, but not online. After it runs out, you may have to pass the knowledge exam again if you have not obtained a full operator’s license. The 50 hours of supervised driving are not required by law for adults, but the DMV’s skills-test brochure highly recommends them before the skills test.

  Source: [3] [6] [22]

• The road test and the full license

  All first-time applicants must take the driving skills test. After you pass the road test, holders of Rhode Island learner’s permits may apply for a full operator’s license. A driving test is also required if you have never been licensed in any state, if you hold a foreign country license, if your Rhode Island or out-of-state license has been expired for more than 5 years, or if you have a physical condition (other than corrective lenses) for which the DMV imposes a restriction or you ask to remove a restriction.

  Source: [1] [3] [6]

• If you had a Rhode Island license before

  If you have previously held a Rhode Island license and it has been expired for less than five years, you are not required to take a computerized knowledge exam or a driving skills test. If it has been expired for more than five years, you take the learner’s permit test and then schedule a road test.

  Source: [1] [6] [11]

Moving to Rhode Island

New Resident Guide →

• The 30-day deadline

  The DMV’s Out of State Transfers page says that, within 30 days of moving to Rhode Island and establishing residency, you must obtain a Rhode Island operator’s license, as required by state law. Insurance is mandatory in Rhode Island: you must carry liability at the minimum, and your insurance company must be licensed to do business in the state.

  Source: [9] [10]

• Transferring a valid license

  If you have a valid driver’s license from another state and have just moved to Rhode Island, you can apply to have it transferred to a Rhode Island license. If your license is suspended in any other state, you must address this with that state before you apply for a Rhode Island license. If you are 18 or older and your out-of-state license is valid or has been expired for less than five years, you do not have to take the computerized knowledge exam or the driving skills test. If it has been expired for more than five years, you take the learner’s permit test and then schedule a road test; the learner’s permit test is given at the Cranston location only, and reservations are required. Upon applying for the transfer, you must present and surrender your out-of-state license.

  Source: [1] [9]

• What to bring for a transfer

  Bring your current out-of-state license or, if that is unavailable, a certified driving record from your state showing the issue date, license number, your personal information and the expiration date. Your Social Security number must be listed on the application, or you bring a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you are not eligible to receive one. Bring two proofs of Rhode Island residency in your name (the checklist lists who else is accepted). Complete and sign the License/ID/Permit Application. A fee applies; see the DMV’s fee pages in the links below.

  Source: [9] [20]

• Restrictions and endorsements

  Restrictions on your out-of-state license and a motorcycle endorsement are transferred to your Rhode Island license with an equivalent restriction or endorsement. For other endorsements, see the DMV’s Out of State Transfers page.

  Source: [1] [9]

• Your first Rhode Island license

  The first Rhode Island license you get after a transfer is valid for up to two years. A transfer can be done at a DMV branch, except for licenses from U.S. territories and from other countries.

  Source: [1] [9] [10] [17]

• Licenses from other countries and U.S. territories

  All Out-of-Country and U.S. Territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) driver’s license transactions must be done at the DMV Cranston headquarters. New residents from another country who are 18 or older must apply for an instruction permit. A driving test is required if you hold a foreign country license. New residents transferring from a U.S. territory must bring a certified driving record as well as their current driver’s license.

  Source: [3] [6] [10]

• Driver education from another state

  If you took driver education in another state, you can ask CCRI for credit by submitting the required documentation for review; approval is subject to Rhode Island requirements.

  Source: [24]

Documents to bring

• The checklist and the application

  The DMV’s application for a license, identification card or permit is the LI-1 form. The third page of the License/ID/Permit Application is the Checklist for Licenses / IDs / Permits, with the full list of accepted documents, and the checklist is also available as a separate document (see the links below). Identity documents must be originals; photocopies are not accepted.

  Source: [2] [20] [21]

• Proof of identity

  Bring one proof of identity document, such as a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or an equivalent agency (Rhode Island city or town halls) in your state of birth, or an unexpired passport. For non-REAL ID licenses and ID cards, the document must bear your legal name and date of birth. The documents named in the manual include:

  • a certified birth certificate;
  • a valid, unexpired U.S. passport;
  • a Rhode Island or other government identification card;
  • a resident alien card; or
  • a Native American Tribal ID card.

  Source: [1] [2]

• If your name changed

  If your name differs from the name listed on your identity document, you need proof of the name change, such as a government-issued marriage license.

  Source: [2]

• Social Security number

  Your Social Security number must be listed on the application (it is written on the LI-1 form), or you bring a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you are not eligible to receive one. The DMV is required by law to record Social Security numbers for all applicants for a driver’s license. The DMV’s Permits & Tests page links to information for applicants who need a Social Security card.

  Source: [1] [2] [20]

• Proof of Rhode Island residency

  Bring two proofs of Rhode Island residency. P.O. Box addresses will not be accepted. The documents must be in your name (the checklist lists who else is accepted). The checklist accepts, among others:

  • a utility bill (gas, electric, telephone, cable, oil, water, sewer, satellite, heat or cell phone) with your address of residence, dated within the past 60 days;
  • a personal check or bank statement with your name and address of residence, dated within the past 60 days;
  • a lease agreement currently in effect (handwritten lease agreements are not accepted);
  • a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy for your home or apartment that is currently in effect;
  • a property tax bill for your residence from the immediately preceding year;
  • a jury duty summons dated within the past 60 days;
  • a W-2 form with your name and address of residence from the immediately preceding year;
  • a current Social Security Administration statement with your name and address of residence; or
  • a valid Rhode Island driver’s license or identification card.

  Source: [1] [2] [20]

• If you are under 18

  Applicants under 18 bring the original Driver’s Education Certificate for the mandatory 33-hour classroom course (photocopies are not accepted), and a parent or guardian with them or the parent’s signature notarized on the LI-1 form. For proof of residency, a minor can also use a school record from the current school year (a report card, diploma, transcript or ID card stating the student’s address of residence) or the Rhode Island driver’s license or identification card of the person signing the minor’s application.

  Source: [1] [2]

• If you are not a U.S. citizen

  Non-U.S. citizens must bring all their supporting documents to be reviewed. F1 and F2 visa holders must bring additional documents, which the DMV’s Permits & Tests page lists. Applicants with visa status must bring all current immigration documents when applying for a license, license renewal, duplicate license or Rhode Island Identification Card. The DMV does not accept an ITIN as a form of identity.

  Source: [2] [11] [15] [20]

REAL ID

• What it is

  REAL ID is an optional program. A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card is a credential that can be used for activities such as boarding a domestic flight or entering certain federal facilities. You don’t need a REAL ID credential if you have a valid passport, and a REAL ID-compliant credential is not required to drive any type of motor vehicle.

  Source: [14]

• How to recognize it

  A REAL ID-compliant credential is marked with a white star on a gold circle in the upper-right corner. A non-compliant driver’s license or identification card is marked with the legend “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”. The LI-1 application has a box where you choose a REAL ID credential or a non-REAL ID credential.

  Source: [14] [21]

• Where and how to apply

  If you choose to obtain a REAL ID, you must complete the transaction in a DMV office. AAA members who are U.S. citizens may also obtain a REAL ID at AAA’s Rhode Island branch offices. Federal law requires that your first application for a REAL ID-compliant credential be made in person with all original required documents, and a license or ID cannot be upgraded from non-REAL ID to REAL ID online. A REAL ID arrives in the mail several weeks after you apply in person.

  Source: [14] [18]

• Documents for a REAL ID

  You need one proof of identity document, such as a certified copy of a birth certificate, your Social Security number, and two proofs of Rhode Island residency in your name (the checklist lists who else is accepted). All REAL ID license and ID transactions require a completed LI-1 form and the correct number of documents. If you have obtained or renewed your passport within the last 6 months, bring an additional identity document, because your passport may not verify with the national database. If your name no longer matches your birth certificate or other proof of identity, you must prove the change with a marriage certificate, adoption decree or other document issued by an authorized government agency. Non-citizens can present documents such as a permanent resident card (“green card”) or an employment authorization card (work permit) to prove their identity.

  Source: [1] [2] [14] [20]

• If you have a REAL ID from another state

  REAL IDs from other states do not automatically transfer from state to state. The documents for a Rhode Island REAL ID must be submitted at the time of the transfer application, and REAL ID-compliant credentials issued from another state cannot be converted into a Rhode Island REAL ID-compliant credential.

  Source: [9] [14]

• Renewing

  A license with a gold star already has REAL ID and can be renewed by any method. A standard (non-REAL ID) license can be renewed online every other renewal cycle without going to the DMV.

  Source: [11] [14]

At the DMV office

• Reservations

  The DMV headquarters in Cranston and the open branches work Monday to Friday by reservation only; the Locations & Hours page lists the branches and their hours. The DMV has separate reservation links for road tests, for CDL tests and for all other reservations, which include license, State ID, REAL ID, registration and permit exam. The road test link is for people who already hold a learner’s permit. Customers who have an incorrect reservation are turned away and must make the appropriate reservation. Many routine transactions, such as an address update, a license renewal or a duplicate, can be done online without a visit.

  Source: [5] [17] [18]

• What you can do at a branch

  At any DMV branch you can do these license transactions: address change, name change, duplicate, first license (after passing the road exam), renewal, out-of-state transfer and motorcycle. Road exams can be scheduled and changed at a branch. A limited permit for people under 18 can be issued at a branch with a CCRI 33-hour certificate if the class was attended in Rhode Island. All other transactions must be processed at the Cranston headquarters, and the computerized knowledge exam is available at the Cranston headquarters only.

  Source: [17]

• AAA offices

  Appointments are required at all AAA locations that offer DMV services. At AAA branch offices (members only), you can update a license (excluding CDLs) with the DMV’s LI-1 form.

  Source: [11] [17]

• Fees

  Fees apply, for example for the road test. This guide does not give amounts, because they change. The DMV lists them on its Permit Fees and License Fees pages (see the links below).

  Source: [6] [9] [13]

The tests

• Which tests you take

  If you have never held a driver’s license, you pass the computerized knowledge exam for a permit, a vision test, and then a road test, also called the driving skills test.

  Source: [1] [3]

• The computerized knowledge exam

  The computerized knowledge exam has 40 multiple-choice questions and a 90-minute maximum. The questions are based on the motor vehicle laws and the rules of the road, so study the entire Rhode Island Driver’s Manual. Bring a completed License/ID/Permit Application and all required documents.

  Source: [1] [5]

• Where you take the knowledge exam

  Applicants 18 and older come to the DMV headquarters in Cranston to take the computerized knowledge exam before a learner’s permit is issued. Applicants under 18 who completed an approved driver education class at a driving school other than CCRI take it at the Cranston headquarters with the class completion certificate. Applicants who completed the CCRI class can take the test through CCRI. CCRI says the final exam of its course serves as the Rhode Island DMV Knowledge Test, and students who pass it may apply for a permit through the DMV. If you fail the knowledge exam through CCRI, you take the computerized exam at the main DMV office in Cranston. The exam is given by reservation only.

  Source: [1] [3] [5] [24]

• Test languages

  Computerized knowledge exams are administered in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For other languages, applicants may request to take the knowledge exam in a printed format in a foreign language. These exams are scheduled in advance, so the DMV has time to prepare the test. First you obtain a reservation for the appropriate category, then you request the foreign language exam online with your reservation confirmation number. The exam is given at the Cranston DMV facility. You must be accompanied by someone who can translate for you before and after the test, and arrive at least one hour before the scheduled time with your appointment sheet, permit application and all other required documents for approval at the Enforcement Office on the first floor. Only the applicant is allowed inside the exam room.

  Source: [5]

• If you fail the knowledge exam

  Applicants who fail to pass the knowledge exam must wait at least 8 days before retaking it.

  Source: [5]

• The vision test

  All applicants must take a vision test or submit a Vision Examination Card signed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. If you normally wear contact lenses or corrective lenses to see at a distance, you must wear them at the time of your vision test. The manual says your vision must be at least 20/40 with corrected lenses. The DMV says a vision test is given at the time of the knowledge exam.

  Source: [1] [2]

• The road test: scheduling

  You can schedule or reschedule a road test at any time online or at any DMV branch during normal business hours. For the best selection of locations, dates and times, the DMV recommends that you schedule your appointment as far in advance as possible. To schedule online, you need your valid learner’s permit. You can reschedule or review your appointment online, even if it was first made in person. Mandatory waiting periods apply, but you can move your appointment to a sooner date at no charge when one becomes available.

  Source: [6] [8]

• The road test: cancelling, weather and fees

  A fee applies to the road test (see the fee pages in the links below). A road test must be cancelled or rescheduled at least 48 hours before the scheduled test to avoid paying another road test fee. Road tests are automatically cancelled when the Governor declares a state of emergency for the entire state, announces that all State Offices are closed, or weather conditions are considered unsafe. You may reschedule at no additional fee if the weather cancelled your road test.

  Source: [6]

• The road test: what it covers

  DMV examiners proctor non-commercial skills tests on a closed course and from outside the vehicle. The test includes a maneuverability test, parallel parking, a three-point turnabout and a backing maneuver. All instructions during the road test are given in English, and a translated vocabulary list (Spanish and Portuguese only) of common words and instructions used during the test is available. The DMV’s example video does not show the actual test.

  Source: [1] [6] [7] [23]

• The road test: what to bring

  Bring your original permit; photocopies are not acceptable. Bring a completed License/ID/Permit Application (LI-1), which is required for first license issuance, and proof of insurance. If you are under 18, you also need the signed and notarized affidavit of 50 hours of driving experience, and the LI-1 form must be notarized if your parent or guardian is not present or has a different last name than yours. If you do not bring all required documents, or the vehicle is unsafe, you must reschedule; you may not leave the driving skills test area to get missing documents and return. The DMV’s Preparing for Your Test page and the Road Test Checklist list all requirements and the documents needed.

  Source: [1] [7] [21] [22]

• The road test: if you are under 18

  If you are under 18, you bring a qualified supervising driver, and the manual’s road-test document list names the license of the supervising driver (an out-of-state license is acceptable). Any coaching or intervention during the test is an automatic failure.

  Source: [1] [22] [23]

• The road test: your vehicle

  The vehicle must have a valid Rhode Island registration; one exception is a vehicle registered to a military person, or a family member of a military person, stationed in Rhode Island (valid military ID is required). The DMV’s Road Tests page lists a valid Rhode Island registration and inspection sticker among the items the examiner checks, and that page and the manual both list directional lights, headlights, brake lights, hazard lights, tires, windows (which must roll down) and window tint. The vehicle must be insured and have a valid inspection sticker unless it is new enough to be exempt (the Road Tests page gives the rule). Drive a car you are familiar with and know where the controls are. No rental vehicles, pets, or cameras and recording devices are allowed, and no tests are permitted in antique vehicles or low-speed vehicles.

  Source: [1] [6]

• The road test: what fails or ends it

  The manual lists these reasons for immediate failure of a driving test:

  • a seat belt violation (driver and/or passenger);
  • a stop sign violation;
  • running over a curb or cone with one or more wheels;
  • intervention by a passenger (verbal or physical);
  • a collision with a barrier; or
  • any dangerous action.

  Source: [1]

• The road test: terminated tests

  All terminated road tests are considered a failed test, and a road test fee is due for the next scheduled retest. Causes of termination include any motor vehicle violation as defined in Title 31 of the Motor Vehicle Code, a collision, dangerous actions, leaving the designated roadway, dangerously inexperienced drivers, lack of cooperation with the license examiner, equipment failure and erratic operation of the vehicle.

  Source: [7]

• If you fail the road test

  If you fail the driving skills test, you must reschedule your test and take it again. You must wait at least 30 days before your next appointment.

  Source: [1] [21]

After you pass

• Your first license

  Applicants who pass the road test may upgrade their permit to a first license at the scheduled testing location. For the first license, bring your original permit, a completed LI-1 form, an identity document, a Social Security document, proof of address (2 different documents) and payment. If you are under 18, you also need the affidavit of 50 hours of driving experience; if your parent or guardian is not present, the documents must be notarized before you arrive. A first license can also be issued at a DMV branch after you pass the road exam.

  Source: [17] [23]

• Under 18: the Learner Provisional License

  If you are under 18, you receive the Learner Provisional License first, and you must get it before your Limited Learner Permit expires. The Rules for young drivers section lists its limits.

  Source: [1]

Keeping your license

• Renewing

  You can renew your Rhode Island driver’s license up to 90 days before its expiration date. You can renew online, at any DMV branch location or at an AAA branch office (members only). You can also renew by mail with a check, money order or a completed credit card by mail form, or leave the renewal in the DMV drop box. To renew in person, bring your current license and a completed Driver’s License Renewal form or the License/ID/Permit Application. A license lasts up to five years; older drivers get shorter terms (see the DMV’s License Renewal page). A fee applies.

  Source: [1] [11] [18]

• Your temporary license

  Your temporary license is valid for 90 days from the date of renewal. If you renew online, you will not receive a temporary license: online renewals and duplicates do not generate a paper temporary copy with a photo, so make a reservation if you need one.

  Source: [11] [18]

• If your license has expired

  If your driver’s license has been expired for more than five years, you must take the learner’s permit test and then schedule a road test. The learner’s permit test is given at the Cranston location only, and reservations are required.

  Source: [6] [11]

• Replacing a lost or damaged license

  A lost or damaged Rhode Island driver’s license can be replaced online, at any DMV branch location or at an AAA branch office (members only). When you apply for the duplicate license, you must show one identity document (legal name and date of birth). The third page of the License/ID/Permit Application lists the documents needed. A fee applies.

  Source: [1] [13]

• Changing your name

  You can update your Rhode Island driver’s license at any DMV branch location or at an AAA branch office (members only; middle name updates and address changes only). For a name change, bring one document showing your correct name (the third page of the LI-1 form lists them). You must change your name with the Social Security Administration first, and changes at Social Security take 24 hours to become effective for the DMV to process your transaction.

  Source: [1] [12]

• Changing your address

  License holders are required by law to notify the DMV within ten days of any change in address. You can change your address online or by mail with the Change of Address form; this does not generate a new credential, and there is no fee for the address change by mail. To get a new photo license with your new address, appear in person at any DMV branch office during regular business hours with your current license and proof of residency.

  Source: [1] [11] [12]

• If your license is suspended

  You cannot legally drive a motor vehicle in Rhode Island or any other state for any reason during the suspension period. You are not required to turn in your license to the DMV if it is suspended.

  Source: [1]

ID card

• State ID

  You must be a Rhode Island resident to get a State ID, and you cannot have a valid license in Rhode Island or any other state. The State ID page lists what to bring for a first State ID: an identity document, your Social Security number or a letter from the Social Security Administration, and two proofs of Rhode Island residency. Identification cards from U.S. territories and other states do not transfer into Rhode Island. At a DMV branch you can get a new State ID, renew, reissue or duplicate it, and change its address or name.

  Source: [15] [17]

• Drivers’ Privilege Card

  A Drivers’ Privilege Card or Identification Privilege Card may be available if you are unable to establish legal presence in the United States but are a Rhode Island resident who has either filed a Rhode Island personal income tax return in the prior tax year or has been claimed as a dependent on one. Applicants present the documents listed in the DPC/IDPC Document Checklist (in English and Spanish), and a Social Security number or Social Security Denial Letter is not required for a Driver Privilege Card. DPC and IDPC appointments are offered on the same schedule as all other types of DMV transactions. The DMV’s Drivers’ Privilege Card FAQ page has the details.

  Source: [1] [16]

Official links

• Permits & Tests (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• New License Permits: graduated licensing and permits for 18 and older (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Parent’s Supervised Driving Program (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Knowledge Exams (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Road Tests (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Preparing for Your Test (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Road test online scheduling (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Operator Manuals and the Driver’s Manual (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Permit fees (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• License fees (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Out of State Transfers (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• New to Rhode Island (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• License Renewal (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Name & Address Change (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Lost or Damaged Licenses (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• REAL ID (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• State ID (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Drivers’ Privilege Card FAQs (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Locations & Hours (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Make a Reservation (RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Checklist for Licenses / IDs / Permits (PDF, RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• License/ID/Permit Application, form LI-1 (PDF, RI DMV) (dmv.ri.gov)
• Rhode Island Driver Education & Traffic Safety (CCRI) (ccri.edu)

Sources

1. Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024) (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
2. Permits & Tests (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
3. New License Permits (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
4. Parent’s Supervised Driving Program (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
5. Knowledge Exams (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
6. Road Tests (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
7. Preparing for Your Test (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
8. Online Scheduling (road test self-scheduling) (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
9. Out of State Transfers (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
10. New to Rhode Island (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
11. License Renewal (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
12. Name & Address Change (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
13. Lost or Damaged Licenses (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
14. REAL ID (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
15. State ID (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
16. Drivers’ Privilege Permit, Drivers’ Privilege Card & Identification Privilege Card FAQs (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
17. Locations & Hours (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
18. Make a Reservation (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
19. Operator Manuals (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
20. Rhode Island DMV Document Checklist: REAL ID and Non REAL ID licenses and ID cards (Rev. 05/15/2024) (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
21. Application for License, Identification Card and Permit (LI-1, rev. 10/31/22) with the Road Test Document Checklist (rev. 7/24) (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
22. Skills Test: Information and Requirements (brochure, Rev. 7/23) (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
23. Modified Driver Skills Testing: a guide to non-commercial operator’s license road test preparation (May 2023) (dmv.ri.gov) — Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
24. Rhode Island Driver Education & Traffic Safety (CCRI) (ccri.edu) — Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)