Photo: Roger Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When you pass the road test in Rhode Island as a teen, you get a limited provisional license. You can drive without a supervisor, but you may carry no more than one passenger under 21 who is not from your household, and you cannot drive by yourself between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. This guide explains those Rhode Island rules for new drivers and parents.
Rhode Island provisional license rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Passengers | No more than one passenger under 21 who is not a member of your household |
| Night driving | No driving by yourself between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. |
| Seat belt | You must be properly belted |
| License | Carry it whenever you drive |
| Insurance | You must hold at least liability insurance |
The CCRI licensing road map points to Rhode Island General Laws section 31-10-6 for these rules.
Who counts as a passenger under the Rhode Island limit?
- Counts: friends, classmates, teammates or cousins under 21 who do not live with you. Only one at a time.
- Does not count: people from your own household, such as siblings who live with you.
- 21 or older: passengers aged 21 and over are outside the under-21 limit.
Scenario
You want to drive two friends, both 17, home from practice. That is two non-household passengers under 21, so only one can ride with you. Your 14-year-old brother who lives with you can come along as well.
What does “by yourself” mean for the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. rule?
Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. you may drive only with a supervising driver (licensed at least 5 years and 21 or older) beside you, unless one of these applies:
- you are driving to or from work
- you are driving to or from an activity of a volunteer fire department, rescue squad or emergency medical service you belong to
- between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., you are driving between home and a school-sponsored athletic activity for which the school gives no transport
Everyone in the car must be belted or in a child restraint at all times.
How long the limits last and when you get a full license
The one-passenger limit applies for the first 12 months of the provisional license. The license itself expires on your 18th birthday. You can get a full operator’s license once you are at least 17 years and 6 months old, have held the provisional license for 12 months and have had no moving violation or seat belt conviction in the previous 6 months. A parent, guardian, adult spouse or licensed foster parent comes with you to apply.
Phone use
Under 18 you may not use a cell phone at all while driving, including hands-free or speakerphone, except to call for help in an emergency, after pulling over safely. Fines are $100, then $150, then $250, and a third offense also takes your license until 18. Texting is banned at every age. See hands-free and texting laws by state.
Common questions
Can I drive my friends on a Rhode Island provisional license?
One friend under 21 at a time, unless they are from your household.
Can my brother or sister ride with me?
Yes, if they are members of your household. They do not count toward the one-passenger limit.
What time can provisional drivers drive in Rhode Island?
Any time except 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., when you cannot drive by yourself.
Do I need my own insurance?
You must be covered by at least liability insurance. See car insurance for new drivers.
What happens if I break the provisional rules?
A moving violation or seat belt conviction delays your full license, because you need 6 clean months before you apply. Phone and alcohol offenses carry their own fines and suspensions. Ask the Rhode Island DMV about penalties for breaking the passenger or night rules. See how points and suspensions work.
Back to the Rhode Island learner driver guide. Related: the Rhode Island road test, zero tolerance under 21 and GDL laws compared.
Sources
- Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, “Rhode Island Driver’s Manual” (April 2024) (dmv.ri.gov)
- Community College of Rhode Island, “Graduated Driver License: Road Map To Get Your License” (ccri.edu)