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 vehicles delivered with a front license plate mounting bracket from the factory, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles, trailers and vehicles delivered from the factory without a front license plate mounting bracket.

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 in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Rhode Island license plate that complied with these standards. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesWhite serial on black porcelain plate; "REGISTERED IN R.I." at topnone12341 to approximately 33001908–12White serial on black porcelain plate; "RI" at rightnone12343301 to approximately 87001912–17Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "RI" at leftnone123451 to approximately 350001918White 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 320001920White serial on black flat metal plate; "R.I. 1920" centered at bottomnone123451 to approximately 370001921Embossed 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 500001923Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1923" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 62-0001924Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1924" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 86-0001925Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "R.I. 1925" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 85-0001926Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1926" centered at topnone12-3451 to approximately 90-0001927Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "27 R.I." centered at topnone12-3451 to approximately 97-0001928Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "R.I. 1928" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 108-0001929Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "29–R.I." centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 109-0001930Embossed 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 116-0001932Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 1932" centered at topnone1 to approximately 113-0001933Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "33 RHODE ISLAND" centered at topnone1 to approximately 117-0001934Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "1934 RHODE ISLAND" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 125-0001935Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 35" centered at bottomnone1 to approximately 130-0001936Embossed 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 148-0001938Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 1938" at bottomnoneA1234B1 to approximately P90001939Embossed black serial on white plate; "R.I. 39" at topnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately R-50001940Embossed white serial on black plate; "R.I. 40" at bottomnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately T-40001941As 1939 base, but with "R.I. 41" at topnoneA-1234B-1 to approximately W-90001942–43As 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 590001950As above, but with "50" instead of tab slots59001 to approximately 710001951Embossed white serial on black plate; "RHODE 51 ISLAND" at bottomnoneA1234123451951 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 toWW999Letters I, Q and U not used in serials, and X, Y and Z used only on replacement plates. Revalidated for 1958 with black tabs.1959–60Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND 59" at topnoneAB123AA1 toWW999Unused and replacement serial letters same as on 1957–58 base. Revalidated for 1960 with white tabs.

1961 to present ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesEmbossed black serial on white plate with border line; "RHODE ISLAND" at top, offset to leftnoneAB123AA1 toWW999;AI1 to approximately KX500Validated 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 toZZ·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 top1987–93As 1980–86 all-embossed plates, but without year of issue"OCEAN STATE" as on 1980–86 all-embossed plates1993–95As above, but with state name (still all upper case) and anchor screened"OCEAN STATE" as above, but screened1995–96As 1987–93 plates"OCEAN STATE" as on 1987–93 plates1996–2023Embossed 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 2341 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 1ZF 266 Referred to as the Ocean Plate.

Optional plates ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1992–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: 12345AB-12AB-1232023–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.

Non-passenger plates