Rhode Island § 31-3-53 - Registration of Vehicles
Full text of Rhode Island Rhode Island General Laws § 31-3-53 — Registration of Vehicles, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 31-3-53. Registration of Vehicles
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-53
§ 31-3-53. Veterans’ plates.
(a) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile, or for any motorcycle eligible for registration as a motorcycle, or for a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, plates designated as “Veteran” upon application on proper forms furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to veterans.
(b) The special plate designated “Veteran” shall be designed as follows:
(1) Letters and numbers shall be blue in a white background with the words “Rhode Island” clearly visible at the top center of the plate and the word “Veteran” visible at the bottom center of the plate.
(2) The background will be a red, white, and blue waving American Flag.
(3) On the top right corner will be a decal with the military branch of the service in which the Veteran served (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, and Merchant Marines).
(4) For war veterans, a white decal with blue letters with the words “War Veteran” placed under the military branch decal on the right side of the plate above the validation sticker.
(c) The applicant shall not be required to pay a service charge or a transfer charge for each plate.
(d)(1) The applicant shall be entitled to a plate for each vehicle owned by the applicant.
(2) The applicant shall also be entitled to a plate for one vehicle owned by an entity the applicant owns. The entity must be registered and authorized to conduct business in the state of Rhode Island. The applicant must provide to the division of motor vehicles documentation demonstrating the applicant’s ownership of the entity.
(e) The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle and having a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less who is issued veteran plates shall continue to pay the appropriate commercial registration fee for those plates.
(f)(1) For the purposes of this section, a “veteran” shall be defined as any person who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. The term “veteran” shall also include members of the National Guard and Reserves: (i) Called to active duty authorized by the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense; or (ii) Who have twenty (20) years of service with a letter and record of separation of service.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “War Veteran” shall be defined as any veteran of any conflict or undeclared war who has earned a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal for service in either a declared or undeclared war as noted on the war veteran’s DD-214. Upon the death of the holder of any veteran plates, the plates shall be transferred to the surviving spouse for the spouse’s lifetime until the spouse remarries.
(g) The “veteran” or “war veteran” described in subdivisions (f)(1)(i) or (ii) and (f)(2) must have been honorably discharged from the armed forces of this nation in order to receive plates pursuant to this section and, for purposes of this section, a medical discharge or a general discharge shall be deemed an honorable discharge.
(h) [Deleted by P.L. 2021, ch. 119, § 1 and P.L. 2021, ch. 120, § 1.]
(i) A person shall be eligible for a veterans’ plate if the person’s deceased spouse was eligible for a veterans’ plate, notwithstanding the fact that the eligible, deceased spouse died prior to the enactment of this section in 1988.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 458, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 354, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 1990,
ch. 402, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 426, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 454, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 30,
§ 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 156, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 334, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 411, § 1; P.L.
1995, ch. 305, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 323, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch.
460, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 428, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 212, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 343, §
1; P.L. 2006, ch. 642, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 59, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 68, § 1; P.L. 2008,
ch. 10, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 11, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 152, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 510,
§ 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 142, art. 9, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 119, § 1, effective July 2, 2021;
P.L. 2021, ch. 120, § 1, effective July 2, 2021; P.L. 2025, ch. 165, § 14, effective
June 24, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 166, § 14, effective June 24, 2025.
Source: official Rhode Island text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Rhode Island § 31-3-53
What does Rhode Island General Laws § 31-3-53 cover?
Section 31-3-53 ("Registration of Vehicles") is part of the Rhode Island General Laws, the codified statutory law of Rhode Island. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Rhode Island § 31-3-53?
A common citation format is "Rhode Island General Laws § 31-3-53" (Rhode Island). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Rhode Island law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Rhode Island official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
How does Rhode Island § 31-3-53 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Rhode Island can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.