Rhode Island learner’s permit requirements

Everything here comes from Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles pages, handbooks or state law, and each fact links to its source. Where Rhode Island doesn’t publish something, we say so rather than guess.

Last checked September 22, 2026.

At a glance

Minimum age
16 years
Fees
$13.50 total
Supervised driving
50 hours (10 at night)

The knowledge test and your permit

Test format
40 questionsSources 123
Passing score
Not publishedSources 123
Time limit
90 minutesSources 123
Permit and test fees
$13.50 totalTeens pay $13.50 for the limited learner's permit and adults pay $8.50 for the instructional permit (both include a $3.50 technology surcharge); RI DMV lists no separate knowledge-test fee, and CCRI driver-education tuition is not included.Sources 123
Minimum age for a permit
16 yearsLimited Learner (Instructional) Permit at 16 (under 18) after completing the 33-hour driver education course; adults 18+ get an instructional permit after the knowledge exam. Driver ed may be started at 15 years 10 months.Sources 156
Supervised driving
50 hours (10 at night)Sources 156
Hold your permit
6 months minimumSources 156
Test languages
3 languagesEnglish, Spanish, PortugueseSources 123
Take it online
No, in personSources 123
If you fail
Applicants that fail to pass the knowledge exam must wait at least 8 days before retaking the examSources 123
Vision standard
At least 20/40 with corrective lensesSources 156

From permit to full license

  • Limited Learner Permit at 16 with 33-hour driver ed (no online courses accepted): supervised by a licensed driver 21+ licensed 5+ years.
  • After holding the permit 6 months, 6 months violation-free, passing the road test and a parent affidavit of 50 hours (10 at night), a Limited Provisional License is issued: first 12 months no more than one passenger under 21, and no driving alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. except to or from work, a volunteer fire/rescue/EMS activity, or (4-5 a.m.) between home and a school-sponsored athletic activity with no school transport Full operator's license at 18, or from 17 after holding the provisional license 12 months with no moving violation or seat-belt infraction in the preceding 6 months (17 1/2 at the earliest in practice, as the manual states).

Before you go

Rules and fees change. Confirm appointments, documents and current fees on the official Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles website: dmv.ri.gov.

Sources

  1. dmv.ri.gov: download
  2. dmv.ri.gov: knowledge exams
  3. ccri.edu: DriverEd
  4. dmv.ri.gov: permit fees
  5. dmv.ri.gov: new license permits
  6. webserver.rilegislature.gov: 31 10 6

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