Rhode Island is one of the states where teens wait until 16 for a learner permit, and the path runs through a required driver education course. Rules and fees change, so as of 2026 treat this guide as a starting point and confirm everything with the official agency, the Rhode Island DMV at dmv.ri.gov. The Rhode Island Driver's Manual is the study guide.
Age, course and exam
Applicants under 18 must be at least 16 and must have completed the 33-hour driver education course certified by the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Adults 18 and older do not need the course for a learner's permit.
- The computerized knowledge exam is given at DMV headquarters, 600 New London Ave, Cranston, by reservation only. Book online at ridmvreservations.ri.gov.
- It is offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
- If you fail, you must wait at least 8 days before retaking it.
- The DMV's knowledge exam page says the exam is required for applicants 18 and older and for under-18 applicants who took driver education somewhere other than CCRI.
Practice hours and supervision
- You need at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 of them at night.
- You must hold the permit at least 6 months before you can take the road test.
- The supervising driver must sit beside you in the front seat.
- A parent or legal guardian must be present, with identification, when a minor applies.
Rhode Island's night requirement is 10 of the 50 hours. Schedule night drives early in the permit period so winter dark does not squeeze them into the last weeks.
Limited provisional license rules
Teens aged 16 to 18 move into a limited provisional license after the road test, and the rules are tighter than for adults.
- You may drive unsupervised from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., with exceptions for work or volunteer activities.
- You may drive with supervision at any hour.
- During the first 12 months, no more than one passenger younger than 21, with immediate family excepted.
For adults, the hold period is 30 days instead of 6 months, and an adult permit is valid for one year and renewable for one additional year.
How to prepare
Read the Rhode Island Driver's Manual a chapter at a time and keep a list of numbers, including ages, hours and time windows,, and do not rely on notes from another state. If you took the CCRI course, use practice questions to review what you covered in class. Explain each mistake out loud and revisit the weak topics.
What to bring
- The completed License/ID/Permit Application (LI-1 form)
- The documents on the DMV checklist, found on the third page of the application
- Proof of driver education completion, if applicable
- A parent or legal guardian with identification if you are a minor
Fees are listed in the DMV Permit Fee Table. Confirm current fees, documents and reservation times with the Rhode Island DMV before you go. DMVZone practice questions are for study only and are not the real test questions.