Rhode Island Driver’s License Requirements
To get a full Rhode Island driver’s license, you must be over the age of 18, pass a knowledge exam, and pass a road test.
Written by Andrea Barrett
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
If you’re looking to get a Rhode Island driver’s license, drivers 16 to 18 can qualify for a limited instruction permit as long as they have completed a 33-hour driver education course certified by the Community College of Rhode Island. If you’re over 18, you can apply for a full license by completing an application, passing a knowledge exam, and taking your final road test.
Getting a driver’s license is a big step for a lot of people and something to get excited about. But the process of obtaining that license isn’t standard among states. If you’re not sure how to get one, it can get really confusing.
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What are the requirements for a driver’s license in Rhode Island?
To get your driver’s license in Rhode Island, you must be 16 years or older. For anyone between the ages of 16 and 18, you are eligible to apply for a Limited Instruction Permit as long as you have completed a 33-hour driver education course certified by the
Community College of Rhode Island
. If you need more information, you can call the CCRI at (401) 825-1214.For drivers over the age of 18—or 17 and a half with a provisional license—you can apply to get a full, unrestricted driver’s license through your
local DMV
. For international applicants, before you can be issued an F1 or F2 driver’s license, you’ll need to collect the following documents:- I-20
- I-94 (you no longer needed an I-94 to be attached to your passport)
- Passport
- Social Security number
- Formal letter showing proof of enrollment in school or university on letterhead
- School ID
- Two proofs of residency
What are the requirements for young drivers?
For applicants under the age of 18, there are two separate licenses needed before an application for a full license can be submitted:
- Limited Instruction Permit—This permit is for drivers over the age of 16. It allows you to drive supervised at all times by a licensed driver over the age of 21 with a minimum of five years of driving experience.
- Provisional License — This permit is for people between the ages of 16 and 18. Prior to applying for your provisional license, you must complete a 33-hour driver education course. This permit allows you to drive at all times, however, you must be with a licensed driver over the age of 21 at all times. For the first 12 months, you are prohibited from having more than one passenger under 21 at one time unless they are your immediate family or household members.
In order to obtain a limited instruction permit, you must complete a 33-hour driver education course certified by the Community College of Rhode Island. Teenagers can enroll as early as 15, but you must be at least 15 years and 10 months before you can start the course. You can learn more about driver education for teens on the
Community College of Rhode Island
website. What are the requirements for out-of-state drivers?
If you’re an out-of-state driver wanting to drive in Rhode Island, you don’t need to apply for a Rhode Island driver’s license. However, if you want to transfer an out-of-state license to a Rhode Island license, you’ll need the following:
- One of:
- Your current valid driver’s licenseA license expired for less than five yearsA certified driving record from your state showing the issue date, license number, your personal information, and expiration date of your out of state license (if the other two options are unavailable)
- Social Security number (listed on application)
- Two documents proving Rhode Island residency (utility bill, telephone, cable) with the address of residence clearly stated in the applicant’s name
Before a driver’s license can be issued, you are required to complete and sign the License/ID/Permit Application. The fee for a transfer license (out of state) is $44.50.
State law (RIGL 31-10-1) requires that people coming to Rhode Island from out of state and establishing residency must obtain a Rhode Island Operator's License within 30 days of taking residency.
If your current license has been expired for more than five years, you will be required to apply for the Instructional Permit by completing the knowledge exam at the Cranston DMV headquarters and a road test. This license will be valid for up to two years and expires on your birthday.
MORE: Title transfer in Rhode Island
How to get a driver’s license in Rhode Island
Applying for a limited instruction Permit
If you’re a first-time driver between the ages of 16 and 18 and it’s your first time getting a license, you’re required to have a limited instruction permit. Before being issued a permit, you must complete a 33-hour driver education course certified by the Community College of Rhode Island.
The limited instruction permit allows you to drive supervised at all times accompanied by a licensed driver over the age of 21 with at least five years of driving experience.
Here are the steps you’ll need to follow for your permit:
- Enroll in aCommunity College of Rhode Islandcertified 33-hour driver’s education course. You can apply at 15 years old but you must be 15 years and 10 months before starting the course.
- Pass your driver’s education course and obtain a green CCRI certificate. A knowledge test consisting of 40 questions is required to get this certificate.
- Apply for your limited instruction permit at your local DMV office.
- Bring your required documents to the DMV office:
- Proof of legal status/identity (birth certificate, US passport, permanent residence card, immigration documents)Social Security numberTwo documents showing proof of your Rhode Island residence (lease agreement, school record, pay stub, credit card bill)Proof of name change (if applicable)
- Complete a vision test. You are required to have 20/40 vision or better with corrected lenses if required.
- Pay the $12.50 fee.
- Get your instructional permit. This will allow you to drive supervised and is valid for one year or until you turn 18. A learner’s permit must be held for a minimum of six months before you can take the road test. If your permit expires before you pass a driving test, you will have to retake the knowledge exam or be re-certified by CCRI before you can be issued a new permit.
For drivers 18+: learner’s permit
If you're over 18 and have never been issued a driver’s license in Rhode Island or if the license has been expired for more than five years, you can apply for a driving instruction permit by taking the computerized knowledge exam.
Anyone over 18 holding a learner’s permit for 30 days is eligible to take the road test. Once you pass the road test, you are able to drive alone without supervision.
New residents from outside of the United States who are over 18 can apply for an instruction permit, however, a driver’s education course is not required to obtain this permit.
Here’s how you can get your license:
- Review the Rhode Island Driver's Manual
- Bring your completed License/ID/Permit Application to the Cranston DMV headquarters
- Pass the Rhode Island computerized knowledge exam
The fee to obtain a limited instruction permit for drivers over 18 is $7.50.
Get a provisional license
You can apply for a provisional license if you have held the limited instruction permit for at least six months, passed a road test, and have not been convicted of a motor vehicle violation during that period.
You are also required to present a document signed by a parent or guardian stating that you have completed a minimum of 50 hours of supervised driving experience, 10 hours of which were at night.
People with a limited provisional license can drive under the following conditions:
- You must have your license at all times
- Unsupervised between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. if:
- Driving to or from workDriving to or from involvement with a volunteer fire department, rescue agency, or volunteer EMS positionBetween the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. if driving between the license holder's home and a school-sponsored athletic activity where transportation is not provided by the school
- No more than one passenger below the age of 21 is allowed in the vehicle for the first 12 months of holding the license, with the exception of immediate family or household members
- All persons in the vehicle must be wearing a seatbelt
Before you can get your provisional license, you must first pass a driving test. This test will test your ability to drive in normal traffic conditions and must be completed with your own car. If you fail the driving test, you must wait at least 30 days before you can retake it.
Be sure to schedule your road test before your limited instructional permit expires. To schedule, call 401-462-5808 or visit your local DMV office.
Provisional licenses expire when you turn 18. You can apply for a full operator’s driver's license as soon as you are 17 years and 6 months old and have held your provisional license for at least 12 months.
The fee to obtain a provisional license is $24.50.
Road test
Once you’re eligible to take a road test, you can schedule it online or at your local DMV. You must hold a driving permit for at least 30 days before you can take a road test. Bring a completed
LI-1 application form
with you.The road test will check your ability to drive safely under normal traffic conditions along with your knowledge of the rules of the road and pre-driving procedures. Your driving instructor will pay attention to the following:
- Steering
- Acceleration and braking
- Clutch/gears (if testing on a manual)
- Speed
- Following distance in poor weather or visibility
- Obeying traffic signs, signals, and markings
- Stopping position
- Selecting lanes and positioning
- Communication with other drivers and pedestrians
- Observing the road
- Anticipating and reacting to potential mistakes from other drivers
The fee for the road test is $27.50.
Apply for a full operator’s driving license
If you’ve never had a driver’s license, you can apply for a regular driver's license once you turn 18, which will allow you to drive unsupervised with no restrictions.
If you currently hold a limited provisional license, you can apply for your full license at 17 and a half.
In that case, you must apply for a road test that can be scheduled
online
or at any DMV. You also must complete the LI-1 application
and bring it to a DMV office.Upon passing the roast test, you will be given a full Rhode Island driver's license.
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FAQs
What do I need for a Rhode Island driver’s license?
To get a Rhode Island driver’s license, you will need to show proof of legal presence/identity (birth certificate, US passport, permanent residence card, immigration documents), your Social Security number, and two documents showing proof of your Rhode Island residence address (lease agreement, school record, pay stub, credit card bill).
How much does it cost to get a Rhode Island driver’s license?
The fees for a non-commercial Rhode Island driver’s license are as follows:
Instructional permit (over 18): $7.50
Limited permit (under 18): $12.50
First license (over 18): $39.50
Limited provisional license (under 18): $24.50
Transfer license (out of state): $44.50
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