Vehicle registration plates of Rhode Island explained

Slogan Label:Slogan
Slogan:Ocean State
Size:12x
Material:Aluminum
Serial Format:AB-123
123-456
1AB234
1A234
Issuer:Rhode Island Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles

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.

Passenger baseplates

1904 to 1960

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 6inches in height by 12inches in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Rhode Island license plate that complied with these standards.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
White serial on black porcelain plate; "REGISTERED IN R.I." at topnone12341 to approximately 3300
1908–12White serial on black porcelain plate; "RI" at rightnone12343301 to approximately 8700
1912–17Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "RI" at leftnone123451 to approximately 35000
1918White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1918" centered at bottomnone123451 to approximately 30000First dated plate.
1919Black serial on white flat metal plate; "R.I. 1919" centered at bottomnone123451 to approximately 32000
1920White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1920" centered at bottomnone123451 to approximately 37000
1921Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1921" centered at bottomnone123451 to approximately 43000First embossed plate.
1922Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1922" centered at bottomnone123451 to approximately 50000
1923Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1923" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 62-000
1924Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1924" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 86-000
1925Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1925" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 85-000
1926Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1926" centered at topnone12-3451 to approximately 90-000
1927Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "27 R.I." centered at topnone12-3451 to approximately 97-000
1928Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1928" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 108-000
1929Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "29–R.I." centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 109-000
1930Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1930" at bottomnone1 to approximately 115-000First use of the full state name.
1931Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "31 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 116-000
1932Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1932" centered at topnone1 to approximately 113-000
1933Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "33 RHODE ISLAND" centered at topnone1 to approximately 117-000
1934Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1934 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 125-000
1935Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 35" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 130-000
1936Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1636 RHODE ISLAND 1936" centered at top"300TH YEAR" centered at bottom1 to approximately 140-000Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Rhode Island.
1937Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "1937 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 148-000
1938Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 1938" at bottomnoneA1234B1 to approximately P9000
1939Embossed black serial on white plate; "R.I. 39" at topnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately R-5000
1940Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 40" at bottomnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately T-4000
1941As 1939 base, but with "R.I. 41" at topnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately W-9000
1942–43As 1940 base, but with "R.I. 42" at bottomnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately W-8000Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944–46Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I." at bottom, offset to left, with tab slots to rightnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately W-5000Validated for 1944 with orange tabs, for 1945 with green tabs, and until July 31, 1946 with red tabs.
1946–47Embossed black serial on silver plate; "RHODE ISLAND" at bottom, with tab box between the two wordsnoneA1234B1 to approximately Y9999Validated until December 31, 1946 with silver tabs, then for 1947 with white tabs.
1948–50Embossed black serial on white plate; "RHODE ISLAND" at bottom, with tab slots between the two wordsnoneA1234B1 to Z9999Tab-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.
1234530001 to approximately 59000
1950As above, but with "50" instead of tab slots59001 to approximately 71000
1951Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 51 ISLAND" at bottomnoneA1234
12345
1951 plates revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers. 1952 plates issued only to new registrants.
1952As above, but with "52" instead of "51"

1953–54Embossed black serial on white plate; "RHODE 53 ISLAND" at bottomnoneA1234B1 to Z9999Revalidated for 1954 with black tabs.
1234530001 to approximately 85000
1955–56Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 55 ISLAND" at bottomnoneA1234B1 to Z9999Revalidated for 1956 with white tabs.
1234530001 to 99999
1957–58Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 57" at topnoneAB123AA1 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.
1959–60Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 59" at topnoneAB123AA1 to
WW999
Unused and replacement serial letters same as on 1957–58 base. Revalidated for 1960 with white tabs.

1961 to present

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" at top, offset to leftnoneAB123AA1 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.
1967–71Embossed black serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottom"DISCOVER" centered at topAB·123AA·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.
1972–79As 1967–71 base, but reflective"OCEAN STATE" centered at topAB-123Unused and reissued 1967–71 serialsIssued 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.
1980–86Embossed 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 topAB-123AA-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.
1986As above, but with "Rhode Island" screened in blue centered at bottom"Ocean State" screened in blue centered at top
1987–93As 1980–86 all-embossed plates, but without year of issue"OCEAN STATE" as on 1980–86 all-embossed plates
1993–95As above, but with state name (still all upper case) and anchor screened"OCEAN STATE" as above, but screened
1995–96As 1987–93 plates"OCEAN STATE" as on 1987–93 plates
1996–2023Embossed 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 bottom12345 (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

(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-presentScreened 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 bottom1AB 234 (plus remakes of previously-issued serials)1LE 100 to 1UK 540 Referred to as the Ocean Plate.

Optional plates

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1992–presentEmbossed 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 baras requested by registrant: 12345
AB-12
AB-123
2023–presentEmbossed 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

ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Commercial1996–2000Similar to wave passenger base but with "COMMERCIAL" in leui of Ocean State1234561 to 260089, plus reissues of dormant serials
2023–presentAs above, but with Ocean Wave background
Combination1996–2023Similar to wave passenger base but with "COMBINATION" in leui of Ocean State1234561 to 260089, plus reissues of dormant serials
2023–presentAs above, but with Ocean Wave background
Fire (Municipal)
        1. –present
White Background with red embossing, Fire on top, Rhode Island on bottom123Used for fire apparatus and non-private recuses
Jitney1996–2023Similar to wave passenger base but with "JITNEY" in leui of Ocean State1234Used by Rhode Island Public transit authority buses
2023–presentAs above, but with Ocean Wave background
Motorcycle1996–2000Similar to wave passenger base but with border line; "MOTORCYCLE" embossed at top and "RI" at bottom left123451 to 99999, plus reissues of dormant serials
2023–presentAs above, but with "MOTORCYCLE" and "RI" screened, and with anchor at top left
Municipal
        1. –present
White background, embossed with "TOWN" or "CITY" with RHODE ISLAND at the bottom123Used for town and city vehicles
Police (Municipal)
        1. –present
Blue Background with Ocean State with anchor on top, "Police" diagonally descending (left justified), with Rhode Island on bottom123used by town or city police vehicles
Public1996–2023Similar to wave passenger base but with "PUBLIC" in leui of Ocean State1234used by Rhode Island Transit Authority vehicles and vehicles for hire (i.e. chauffeur)
2023–presentAs above, but with Ocean Wave background
Radio Operator1996–2000Indistinguishable from the private passenger registration typeAB#BBB, AB#BB, where A=(A,K,N,W), B=(A-Z), #=(0-9)
2023–presentAs above, but with RADIO OPERATOR in leui of Ocean State
State
        1. –present
White or Yellow background, state seal with RHODE ISLAND in alternate sailboat style123Used by state vehicles and Publicly owned utilities (i.e. Kent County Water Authority, Narragansett Bay Commission, etc)
State Police
        1. –present
Black background white text, Ocean State with anchor on top, State Police double line left justified, with Rhode Island on bottom123

Trivia

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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Garrish . Christopher . October 2016 . Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size . Plates . . 62 . 5.
  2. Web site: Tanner . Eric N. . Rhode Island Passenger License Plates . allaboutlicenseplates.com . November 19, 2020.
  3. News: Get your Atlantic Shark Institute license plate today! . 23 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Irazabal . Jordan . The Delaware 3000 . TheDelaware3000.org . November 25, 2014.
  5. Web site: Plates: Overview . RI Division of Motor Vehicles . November 24, 2014.
  6. Web site: Transfer at Death . RI Division of Motor Vehicles . November 24, 2014.