Vehicle registration plates of Rhode Island

The U.S. state of Rhode Island first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1904. Plates are currently issued by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Rhode Island
Current series
SloganOcean State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatAB-123
123-456
1AB234
1A234
Introduced2023 (2023)
Availability
Issued byRhode Island Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedApril 13, 1904 (1904-04-13)

Passenger baseplates

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1904 to 1960

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In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Rhode Island license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1904–08 White serial on black porcelain plate; "REGISTERED IN R.I." at top none 1234 1 to approximately 3300
  1908–12 White serial on black porcelain plate; "RI" at right none 1234 3301 to approximately 8700
  1912–17 Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "RI" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 35000
  1918 White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1918" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 30000 First dated plate.
  1919 Black serial on white flat metal plate; "R.I. 1919" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 32000
  1920 White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1920" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 37000
  1921 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1921" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 43000 First embossed plate.
  1922 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1922" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 50000
  1923 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1923" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 62-000
  1924 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1924" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 86-000
  1925 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1925" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 85-000
  1926 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1926" centered at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 90-000
  1927 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "27 R.I." centered at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 97-000
  1928 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1928" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 108-000
  1929 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "29–R.I." centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 109-000
  1930 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1930" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 115-000 First use of the full state name.
  1931 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "31 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 116-000
  1932 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1932" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 113-000
  1933 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "33 RHODE ISLAND" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 117-000
  1934 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1934 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 125-000
  1935 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 35" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 130-000
  1936 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1636 RHODE ISLAND 1936" centered at top "300TH YEAR" centered at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 140-000 Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Rhode Island.
  1937 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "1937 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 148-000
  1938 Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 1938" at bottom none A1234 B1 to approximately P9000
  1939 Embossed black serial on white plate; "R.I. 39" at top none A-1234 B-1 to approximately R-5000
  1940 Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 40" at bottom none A-1234 B-1 to approximately T-4000
  1941 As 1939 base, but with "R.I. 41" at top none A-1234 B-1 to approximately W-9000
  1942–43 As 1940 base, but with "R.I. 42" at bottom none A-1234 B-1 to approximately W-8000 Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
      1944–46 Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I." at bottom, offset to left, with tab slots to right none A-1234 B-1 to approximately W-5000 Validated for 1944 with orange tabs, for 1945 with green tabs, and until July 31, 1946 with red tabs.
    1946–47 Embossed black serial on silver plate; "RHODE ISLAND" at bottom, with tab box between the two words none A1234 B1 to approximately Y9999 Validated until December 31, 1946 with silver tabs, then for 1947 with white tabs.
      1948–50 Embossed black serial on white plate; "RHODE ISLAND" at bottom, with tab slots between the two words none A1234 B1 to Z9999 Tab-slot plates validated each year with white tabs. All-numeric serials from 1 through 10000 were reserved, while 10001 through 19999 were used on replacement plates.
12345 30001 to approximately 59000
  1950 As above, but with "50" instead of tab slots 59001 to approximately 71000
  1951 Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 51 ISLAND" at bottom none A1234
12345
1951 plates revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers. 1952 plates issued only to new registrants.
  1952 As above, but with "52" instead of "51"
 
 
1953–54 Embossed black serial on white plate; "RHODE 53 ISLAND" at bottom none A1234 B1 to Z9999 Revalidated for 1954 with black tabs.
12345 30001 to approximately 85000
    1955–56 Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 55 ISLAND" at bottom none A1234 B1 to Z9999 Revalidated for 1956 with white tabs.
12345 30001 to 99999
    1957–58 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 57" at top none AB123 AA1 to
WW999
Letters I, Q and U not used in serials, and X, Y and Z used only on replacement plates.[2] Revalidated for 1958 with black tabs.
 

 

1959–60 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 59" at top none AB123 AA1 to
WW999
Unused and replacement serial letters same as on 1957–58 base. Revalidated for 1960 with white tabs.

1961 to present

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Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1961–66 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" at top, offset to left none AB123 AA1 to
WW999;
AI1 to approximately KX500
Validated each year with stickers, placed to the right of the state name. Letters I, Q, U, X, Y and Z used in standard serials from 1965 after the original allocation was exhausted.[2]
  1967–71 Embossed black serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom "DISCOVER" centered at top AB·123 AA·100 to
ZZ·999 (see right)
Revalidated with stickers until 1980. After serial KZ·999 was issued, the letters I, Q, U, X, Y and Z were not used until WW·999 was reached in 1969, after which all serials with Q, U, X, Y and Z as the first letter were issued.[2]
  1972–79 As 1967–71 base, but reflective "OCEAN STATE" centered at top AB-123 Unused and reissued 1967–71 serials Issued only to new registrants. During 1977, some plates were manufactured in New York, using that state's serial dies (with the letters taller than the digits) and omitting the slogan.
  1980–86 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" embossed in blue centered at bottom; blue anchor embossed at top left and last two digits of year of issue at top right "OCEAN STATE" embossed in blue centered at top AB-123 AA-100 to ZZ-999 (see right) On all variants of this base, serials were issued and reissued in random order, as existing registrants generally retained the serials from their previous plates (including 1967–79 plates) when receiving new ones. During 1992, plates were manufactured in Massachusetts, using that state's serial dies.
  1986 As above, but with "Rhode Island" screened in blue centered at bottom "Ocean State" screened in blue centered at top
  1987–93 As 1980–86 all-embossed plates, but without year of issue "OCEAN STATE" as on 1980–86 all-embossed plates
  1993–95 As above, but with state name (still all upper case) and anchor screened "OCEAN STATE" as above, but screened
  1995–96 As 1987–93 plates "OCEAN STATE" as on 1987–93 plates
 

     

1996–2023 Embossed navy blue serial on reflective white plate with gray wave graphic; "Rhode Island" screened in navy blue centered at top; navy blue anchor screened at top left "Ocean State" screened in navy blue centered at bottom 12345 (variable number of digits)


AB-12 and AB-123



123-456


1AB234 / 1AB 234

1 to 99999


AA-00 to ZZ-999
(1996–07, 2015–20)

710-001 to 399-999
(leading number progresses in reverse)
(2007–15)


1AA 100 to 1KV 999 (2020–23)

Colloquially referred to as the "wave plate".


Serials in the 1AL to 1BQ series of the latest format did not contain a space after the letters.

  2023-present Screened navy blue serial on reflective light blue plate with five-wave graphic; "Rhode Island" screened in navy blue centered at top; navy blue anchor screened at top left "Ocean State" script screened in navy blue centered at bottom 1AB 234 (plus remakes of previously-issued serials) 1LE 100 to 1UK 540 (as of April 10, 2024) Referred to as the Ocean Plate.

Optional plates

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Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1992–present Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; gray sailboat graphic screened in the center; "RHODE ISLAND" screened in red centered at top, with five red stripes to left and right; blue bar screened at bottom containing thirteen white stars "Ocean State" screened in blue centered between sailboat and blue bar as requested by registrant: 12345
AB-12
AB-123
2023–present Embossed navy blue serial on graphic of a Mako Shark in water; "Rhode Island" screened in dark blue centered at top between two dark blue sharks; white border "Atlantic Shark Institute" screened in dark blue below state name. Remakes of any standard format Registrants transferring plates keep existing combination.[3]

Non-passenger plates

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Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Commercial 1996–2000 Similar to wave passenger base but with "COMMERCIAL" in leui of Ocean State 123456 1 to 260089, plus reissues of dormant serials
  2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
  Combination 1996–2023 Similar to wave passenger base but with "COMBINATION" in leui of Ocean State 123456 1 to 260089, plus reissues of dormant serials
  2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
  Fire (Municipal) ####–present White Background with red embossing, Fire on top, Rhode Island on bottom 123 Used for fire apparatus and non-private recuses
  Jitney 1996–2023 Similar to wave passenger base but with "JITNEY" in leui of Ocean State 1234 Used by Rhode Island Public transit authority buses
  2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
  Motorcycle 1996–2000 Similar to wave passenger base but with border line; "MOTORCYCLE" embossed at top and "RI" at bottom left 12345 1 to 99999, plus reissues of dormant serials
  2023–present As above, but with "MOTORCYCLE" and "RI" screened, and with anchor at top left
  Municipal ####–present White background, embossed with "TOWN" or "CITY" with RHODE ISLAND at the bottom 123 Used for town and city vehicles
  Police (Municipal) ####–present Blue Background with Ocean State with anchor on top, "Police" diagonally descending (left justified), with Rhode Island on bottom 123 used by town or city police vehicles
  Public 1996–2023 Similar to wave passenger base but with "PUBLIC" in leui of Ocean State 1234 used by Rhode Island Transit Authority vehicles and vehicles for hire (i.e. chauffeur)
  2023–present As above, but with Ocean Wave background
  Radio Operator 1996–2000 Indistinguishable from the private passenger registration type AB#BBB, AB#BB, where A=(A,K,N,W), B=(A-Z), #=(0-9)
  2023–present As above, but with RADIO OPERATOR in leui of Ocean State
  State ####–present White or Yellow background, state seal with RHODE ISLAND in alternate sailboat style 123 Used by state vehicles and Publicly owned utilities (i.e. Kent County Water Authority, Narragansett Bay Commission, etc)
  State Police ####–present Black background white text, Ocean State with anchor on top, State Police double line left justified, with Rhode Island on bottom 123

Trivia

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License plates with low serial numbers have been distributed by politicians, as a way of rewarding supporters or associates, since the state first issued plates in 1904. Such plates have become a status symbol, similar to Delaware's low-numbered plates.[4]

Additionally, an official lottery for so-called "preferred plates" was implemented in 1995 through the Governor's Office.[5] Passenger plates with serials consisting of two letters and up to two digits, one letter and up to three digits, or all-numeric with up to five digits, are considered "preferred plates", as are commercial, motorcycle and combination plates with serials up to four digits, war veterans' plates with serials up to three digits, and National Guard plates with serials up to two digits.

Rhode Island is also one of the few states that allows plate owners to transfer their plates to other family members in their will.[6]

Rhode Island reissues plate numbers to new owners if that plate number is a inactive plate not registered in several years.

References

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  1. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. ^ a b c Tanner, Eric N. "Rhode Island Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "Get your Atlantic Shark Institute license plate today!". Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. ^ Irazabal, Jordan. "The Delaware 3000". TheDelaware3000.org. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  5. ^ "Plates: Overview". RI Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Transfer at Death". RI Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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