New License Permits

Limited Instruction Permit (age 16 to 18)

A Rhode Island drivers permit can be issued to any Rhode Island resident who is 16 but less than 18 years of age, and has completed the 33 ½ hour driver education course certified by the Community College of Rhode Island. For more information call CCRI (401) 825-1214.

• Applicants who have completed a driver education class outside of Rhode Island must get their course approved by CCRI. Then come to the DMV headquarters in Cranston with the yellow CCRI certificate to take a computerized knowledge exam.
• Applicants who have completed the CCRI course and passed the written exam, will be given a certificate. Bring the certificate along with the Application for License (LI-1) form, a birth document and social security card or a passport to any DMV branch location. All documents must be originals. Please refer to the third page of the LI-1 form for a complete list of documents needed to perform this transaction.
• A parent, legal guardian, licensed foster parent or adult spouse must be present to sign the permit application. A parent, legal guardian or foster parent must show identification. Legal guardian or licensed foster parent must show documentation to verify their authorization.
• This permit is valid for one year or until the applicant turns 18, whichever comes first. A road test may not be given until the permit is held for six months, however a road test appointment may be scheduled at the time a permit is received.
• Limited Provisional License: you must have held the Limited Instructional Permit for at least 6 months and not been convicted of a motor vehicle violation during that period. You must also present an affidavit signed by a parent or guardian stating that you have completed a minimum of 50 hours of driving experience with a supervising driver with 10 of those hours at night.
• Full Operator's License: you must be 17 years old but less than 18 years old, held a Limited Provisional License for at least 12 months, and not been convicted of a motor vehicle violation during the preceding 6 months.
• Costs are listed in the DMV Fee Table

Instruction Permit (age 18 and older)

Any Rhode Island resident 18 years of age or older who has have never been issued a Rhode Island driver's license or if the license has been expired for more than five years, must apply for a driving instruction permit by taking the computerized knowledge exam.

• New residents from Out-of-Country who are 18 or older, must apply for an Instruction Permit.
• A drivers education course is not required to obtain an instruction permit.
• Review the Rhode Island Driving Manual
• Bring the Application for License (LI-1) form to the Cranston DMV headquarters.
• Refer to the third page of the LI-1 form for a list of documents needed to perform this transaction.
• Costs are listed in the DMV Fee Table