Rhode Island License Plate Lookup

Check License Plate Now GoodCar's license plate lookup provides interested parties with the right information on their vehicles.

Table of Content

How To Lookup Rhode Island License Plates
Why Run a License Plate Search in Rhode Island?
What Can You Get Out of a Rhode Island License Plate Lookup?
Why Choose GoodCar for Rhode Island Plate Lookups?
Rhode Island License Plates
How to Get a License Plate in Rhode Island
Frequently Asked Questions about Rhode Island License Plate Lookups

How To Lookup Rhode Island License Plates

The Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Revenue maintains motor vehicle records in Rhode Island. Hence, requests for vehicle information in the state can be directed to the DMV. However, the DMV requires that requesters meet strict eligibility criteria due to privacy reasons. Some of the individuals or entities eligible to request vehicle information from the Rhode Island DMV include attorneys, insurance companies, towing companies, and private investigators. Except for individuals requesting their own personal records, others are unlikely to be able to obtain plate information for a private search.

However, you can perform a Rhode Island license plate lookup using third-party online services. GoodCar, an online third-party vehicle data provider, allows users to obtain vehicle information using a license plate number or VIN. To do so you must visit the license plate lookup tab, input the plate number, and select the state the vehicle is registered in to execute the search.

License Plates

A Rhode Island license plate typically contains a 6-character serial number. This serial number provides an option to perform a license plate lookup. On the GoodCar website, provide the 6-character serial number, choose Rhode Island in the state field option, and click submit. Consequently, you will get a matching result, providing information about the vehicle registered to the license plate.

VIN

You can also find information about a vehicle using its VIN number instead of the license plate serial. The VIN is a 17-character serial that can be found in multiple places in the vehicle. If you are unable to find the VIN, refer to the owner’s manual. On the GoodCar site, switch to the VIN search option. Afterward, input the 17-character serial in the search field and select the search button. Since a VIN is longer than a plate number and more difficult to locate, VIN lookups are less common overall.

Why Run a License Plate Search in Rhode Island?

Reasons to Run License Plate Search in Rhode Island

You can run a Rhode Island license plate for several reasons. One of the practical reasons for a license plate number lookup is to check the records of a vehicle that is about to be purchased. If you want to purchase a used vehicle, you can look up its license plate to learn more about the car. A license plate lookup will help find vehicle information, such as accident history, registration status, and other information that may be useful in determining the general status of the car.

Many people prefer a license plate search to a VIN search because it is easier to identify license plate numbers. The VIN is a longer serial number than the license plate serial number and is typically stamped in concealed locations that vary from car to car.

What Can You Get Out of a Rhode Island License Plate Lookup?

A wealth of information awaits anyone who performs a license plate lookup. You can find vehicle title information, manufacturer specifications (tank capacity, model, year of manufacture, trim, make), and accident history. You can verify if a car has safety issues from a license plate lookup. Therefore, performing a license plate lookup is a great resource for individuals looking to buy used vehicles.

Vehicle Records

Potential car buyers can get a lot of information to help decide whether a vehicle is a good buy. License plate lookup has assisted many Rhode Island residents buying used vehicles to review the history of the vehicles, including accident history, recall information, and odometer history. Hence, they gain an advantage during the negotiation processes to agree with sellers on a fair price for cars. However, while free license plate lookup resources provide useful vehicle reports, detailed reports typically require that you pay a token.

Title Brands and Problem Checks

Some cars have a problematic history of damage and issues that make them of little to no value for people looking to buy a good car. If you are buying a car, any title status other than a clean title poses a significant risk. If a car’s title brand status reads salvage, flood, hail damage, or reconstructed, you will end up paying more than the car’s actual worth when avoiding such a vehicle would have been the right option. By performing a license plate check before purchase, you can avoid title-washing scams and identify issues that the seller may not have reported.

Tracing a Vehicle’s History for Used Car Purchases with Rhode Island Plate Checks

It is important to know the history of a used car prior to purchase, as this can help protect the buyer from future hassles. If you buy a stolen car without being aware, you may lose the money you paid for the vehicle and also have the car returned to the rightful owner by law enforcement. In addition, you may face legal consequences and be unable to obtain compensation from your insurance company. Therefore, doing a license plate lookup can prevent you from falling victim to dubious sellers and help you verify the history of the car you are buying.

Why Choose GoodCar for Rhode Island Plate Lookups?

Requesters can benefit from extensive vehicle records and reports as they obtain information from accredited data providers like the NMVTIS. GoodCar also illustrates theft checks, collision records, recalls, flood, hail, or fire damage, and pricing.

Rhode Island License Plates

Rhode Island license plates are issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Revenue. They are rectangular and made of aluminum. Most motor vehicles registered in the state are required to have two license plates, one affixed to the rear and another to the front. Trailers and motorcycles are only required to have rear license plates. Rhode Island license plates are 12 inches in length and 6 inches in height.

State License Plates

The state plate is the official Rhode Island state plate. On the background of the design of the wave plate is a five-wave graphic with waves representative of each of the five counties in Rhode Island. The words "ocean state" are printed in cursive navy blue-colored fonts at the bottom center of the design. On the top of the design are the words "Rhode Island," also screened in navy blue fonts. An anchor icon is printed on the left of "Rhode Island." Rhode Island wave plates can be issued to passenger, commercial, combination, public, suburban, motorcycle, trailer, camper, radio operator, jitney, farm, taxi, and racer tow vehicles.

Military/Veteran License Plates

The veteran license plate is issued to any vehicle, excluding trailers, leased or owned by a veteran, with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of up to 12,000 pounds. The veteran must present a DD 214 showing honorable discharge to the Rhode Island DMV to be issued a veteran plate. Upon the veteran's death, the license plate is only transferable to the veteran's spouse unless the spouse remarries.

Also, the disabled veteran plate can be issued to any veteran with 100% service-disconnected disability on vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 12,000 pounds. The Ex-POW plate is issued to former Prisoners of War of World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict on vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of up to 12,000 pounds. A DD 214 showing former POW must be presented to the DMV to obtain an Ex-POW plate.

The DMV also issues a Purple Heart plate for combat-wounded veterans of Purple Heart Medical, a National Guard license plate for active and retired members of the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard, a Gold Star family plate for anyone eligible to receive a Gold Star Lapel Button as defined by the U.S. government, and a Bronze Star Medal plate for recipients of the Bronze Star Medal.

Year of Manufacture License Plates

Rhode Island Year of Manufacture (YOM) plates are license plates issued to antique vehicles 25 years or older (based on the model year) to allow the owners to register and display license plates from the year in which the vehicle (to be affixed with the plate) was manufactured. Registration of Rhode Island YOM plates can only be completed at the Cranston headquarters of the DMV.

Charity License plates

The Rhode Island DMV issues charity license plates to members of charitable organizations. The funds raised from the sale of such plates are shared between the state and the charitable organizations.

Vanity License Plates

Vanity plates in Rhode Island are license plates customized by customers. The state DMV allows motorists to personally select a combination of 2-6 letters or numbers and letters of no more than 6 characters. However, motorcycles are limited to a combination of 2-5 numbers and letters, while commercial vehicles weighing up to 9,001 can use a combination of 2-6 numbers and letters. Rhode Island vanity plates can be ordered online using the DMV Vanity Plates online service.

How to Get a
License Plate in Rhode Island

You can get a license plate in Rhode Island when you complete a titling and registration process with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. For the titling process, you must pay the applicable fee, and complete a sales tax form, Form TR-1, and a VIN check (if the vehicle is from outside of the state). Mail the payment and completed documents to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

After completing the title, to register the vehicle (purchased from a verified dealer), the following are required:

Valid Rhode Island insurance information
Dealer sales tax form
Bill of sale
Rhode Island license or ID card
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the vehicle
Rhode Island uses tax forms (applicable for out-of-state dealers)
Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, original vehicle title, or proof of previous owner (a registration certificate or paid sales tax form suffices) from a non-titled state
Power of Attorney (if a leased vehicle)
Registration fee

If you purchased the vehicle from a private individual, the following are required:

Insurance Information
Original title or proof of previous owner from a non-titled state, if applicable
The seller must sign the back of the title (if the model year of the vehicle is 2001 or newer)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the vehicle
Bill of Sale
Proof of previous owner (applicable to a non-titled vehicle)
Gift letter (notarized) and a gift affidavit if the vehicle gifted is from a non-immediate family member
Rhode Island license or ID card
Registration fee

Vehicle registrations can be completed at a DMV branch location. Note that the plate fee to be paid depends on the type of license plate requested. For more information on title and registration, visit the vehicle title and vehicle registration pages of the state DMV website.

RI License Plate Renewal

Rhode Island license plates are renewed when you renew your vehicle registrations with the state DMV. Typically, motorists in the state get renewal notices in their mail addresses on file with the DMV. Renewals can be done online, by mail, or via drop boxes.

If your license plate is renewable online, visit the DMV registration renewal website to complete the renewal process. To renew by a drop box option, submit your registration renewal form or registration renewal notice in a drop box at your local DMV address.

For mail submissions, submit the vehicle registration fee and your registration renewal notice to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Registration Renewal
600 New London Avenue
Cranston RI 02920

If your municipality has restricted your account on the DMV website owing to outstanding taxes, you must first pay the property tax and ensure the Tax Collector submits the tax clearance to the DMV before renewing your license plate. Note that AAA (American Automobile Association) members are allowed to renew their license plates at AAA branch offices.

RI License Plate Replacement

are lost, you must make a report to the police or submit an Affidavit for Cancellation of Registration for Lost Plates. If only one plate is lost, you must surrender the other plate to the DMV to obtain replacement plates. When requesting a plate replacement, you can ask for a plate change (with a new serial different from the lost plate) or a plate remake (a new plate but with the same serial as the lost plate).

To request a license plate change:

Schedule an appointment at your local DMV branch
At the meeting, submit:
Police report of Lost Plate Affidavit, if applicable
A completed Form TR-1
Required documents. (Outlined on page 4 of the Form TR-1)
Applicable fees

To request a license plate remake, visit the DMV license plate remake online service to order a remake of the lost plate or a different design. If you prefer a mail application, mail an Application for Remake of Rhode Island License Plates and a check or money order made out to "RI DMV" to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Plates
600 New London Avenue
Cranston RI 02920

Frequently Asked Questions about
Rhode Island License Plate Lookups

Can I Lookup RI License Plates for Free?
You can look up Rhode Island license plates for free if you know the complete license plate serial. You can use GoodCar’s free license plate lookup service to view basic vehicle information such as make, year, model, color, and vehicle identification number.
Can I Use Rhode Island License Plate Lookup Services to Find Out About a Vehicle's Accident History?
Accident history is part of the information available from a license plate lookup result. GoodCar, being an NMVTIS-authorized vehicle data provider, provides accurate vehicle accident history as part of the comprehensive license plate lookup report.
How Can I Register a Vanity License Plate in Rhode Island?
You can order Rhode Island vanity plates online via the DMV Vanity Plates online service. To complete the process, you need a MasterCard, VISA, or Discover credit card to pay the applicable vanity plate fee. The Rhode Island DMV Plates online service can only be used if you intend on affixing the vanity plate to a motorcycle, passenger vehicle, or commercial vehicle under 9001 pounds.