Rhode Island Beginning Issuing New License Plates

CRANSTON, RI — The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will begin issuing new license plates on Sunday, according to a news release the DMV issued Friday.

The new "Ocean" design replaces the "Wave" design that's been in circulation for 25 years. The new license plate, depicting five waves, each representing a Rhode Island county, was selected during a contest in April.

A DMV spokesperson said the new plate is a flat design and is digitally printed, Issuing it to all Rhode Island drivers is expected to take about two years.

"Starting with the January 2023 renewal cycle, any customer with a 'Wave' design renewing their registration online or through the mail will receive the new 'Ocean' plates by mail," the DMV said in a news release.

According to the DMV, drivers should keep everything in the envelope they receive, including the new plates, registration expiration stickers, instructions and a new registration certificate.

Anyone who renews their registration in person will keep their old plates until their new plates arrive in the mail.

Also, the DMV is not collecting the old plates. They should be folded and recycled.

If you have a special design charity plate (i.e., Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, Gloria
Gemma, Ribbon of Hope), the RI sailboat plate, veteran plates, electric/hybrid plates or any other non-blue wave plates, you are exempt from the re-issuance program and will
not be issued the new "Ocean" plates.

State officials said the new plates are coming to improve safety. Some of the old ones became damaged or are no longer visible in low light.