Rhode Island Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

Rhode Island drivers are getting older. In the last decade, the number of seniors (65 and older) behind the wheel grew by 33%, climbing to make up almost a quarter of all drivers statewide. As the number of older drivers increases, so does the risk of age-related conditions that can affect driving ability.

While seniors tend to be safer drivers than younger people, they're also more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a car accident—and drivers over 70 face an even higher risk.

Rhode Island lawmakers have responded to these risks by enacting specific regulations for seniors. While most rules enforced by the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) apply to drivers of all ages, the state has special license renewal requirements for older drivers—including more frequent renewals.

Read on to learn about Rhode Island's license renewal requirements for older drivers, possible driving restrictions, and how to qualify for disability parking placards.

DMV License Renewal Requirements for Seniors

In Rhode Island, you can renew your license up to 90 days before it expires and up to five years after. The state has a few extra requirements for older drivers when it comes to renewing a driver's license.

How Often Must Seniors Renew Driver's Licenses in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island driver's licenses are valid for up to five years. But after age 72, the DMV shortens the license term so it expires when the driver turns 75. After that, drivers 75 and older must renew every 2 years. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-30.)

Where Can Seniors Renew Their Rhode Island Driver's Licenses?

The Rhode Island DMV allows drivers of all ages to renew their licenses using the method that's most convenient for them:

• online using the DMV's customer portal and a credit or debit card
• by mail to the address listed on your license renewal form, or
• in person at a DMV office or AAA branch office (members only).

Do Older Drivers Need a Vision Test to Renew Their Licenses in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island DMV requires a vision test at in-person renewals and when someone is taking a knowledge permit exam or road test. The DMV publishes forms for recording the results of vision tests performed by outside eye specialists, including an Eye Exam Card.

Do Seniors Need to Take a Written or Road Test at License Renewal?

The State of Rhode Island doesn't require drivers to retake the written or road test at renewal because of age alone. But when there's "good cause" to believe the driver might not be safe to operate a motor vehicle, the DMV can require a knowledge and/or driving skills exam at license renewal.

Drivers whose licenses have been expired for five years or more must pass the written test for a learner's permit and then schedule a road test. Those who've surrendered their licenses must wait six months and then retake both tests.

How to Renew Your Rhode Island Driver's License as a Senior

To renew your Rhode Island driver's license in person, take the following steps:

• Visit your local DMV office (appointments recommended) or AAA branch office (members only).
• Bring your current license and a completed Driver's License Renewal form or the License/ID/Permit Application (LI-1) with you.
• If you don't have your current license, bring one of the acceptable proof of identity documents listed on page three of the application.
• If you're not a U.S. citizen, bring all your current Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) documents.
• Take a vision test or submit your eye exam card (if required).
• Have a new license photo taken.
• Pay the renewal fee.
• Receive your temporary license (valid for 90 days).

Rhode Island Driver's License Restriction Codes for Seniors

The DMV can add restrictions or conditions to your license whenever there's "good cause." The most common restriction for older drivers is the requirement to wear glasses or corrective contact lenses when driving.

In Rhode Island, other common requirements the DMV could impose on older drivers include:

• driving a vehicle equipped with mechanical control devices
• driving only during daylight hours—if a licensed physician or ophthalmologist certifies that daylight-only driving is appropriate, or
• other restrictions "suitable to the licensee's driving ability." (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-28.)

Elderly Driving and Unsafe Driver Investigations in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island DMV has broad authority to suspend a driver's license if it has good evidence to believe the driver "poses an imminent safety risk to the general public."

The state encourages doctors and optometrists to report patients with physical or mental conditions they believe will significantly impair their ability to drive safely. But there's no mandate requiring health care providers to file unsafe driver reports, and doctors can't be held liable when they do. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-44(d), (e).)

Rhode Island has no formal system or special forms for the general public to report potentially unsafe drivers. But family members can contact the DMV's Medical Review Board by calling 401-462-0800 to share their concerns about a driver they suspect is medically unsafe. The board doesn't accept anonymous reports.

How to Get a License Reinstated in Rhode Island

The DMV handles driver's license reinstatements on a case-by-case basis. You can get information regarding your license status, including eligibility for reinstatement, using the RI DMV customer portal.

To learn more about your specific case, including what you need to do to get your license back, contact the Adjudication Office located inside the DMV's Cranston headquarters.

How RI Seniors Can Get and Renew Disabled Parking Placards

The State of Rhode Island issues disability parking privilege placards and motorcycle license plate stickers to drivers with impaired mobility, if a licensed medical practitioner certifies the condition. Seniors and others—even those with permanent disabilities—must occasionally renew their placards and stickers.

The RI DMV issues temporary, long-term, and permanent parking placards, based on your doctor's evaluation of how long you'll need one:

• Temporary (red) placards are valid for 2 to 12 months.
• Long-term disability (blue) placards expire after 1 to 3 years.
• Permanent (blue) placards must be renewed every 6 years.

Your doctor can also issue a preliminary (orange) parking placard valid for 21 days if needed while you wait for the DMV to issue your red or blue placard.

Rhode Island's disability parking privilege placards and stickers are available for those who:

• can't walk and need to use a wheelchair
• have difficulty or feel unsteady when walking or climbing stairs, with or without braces, crutches, or cane
• have an impairment due to amputation, arthritis, or an orthopedic condition
• have a limited ability to walk due to a respiratory, circulatory, or neurological condition, or
• have an impairment due to blindness or are legally blind. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-28-7(h).)

Besides allowing you to park in spaces marked with the International Symbol of Access, a disability parking placard or motorcycle sticker also exempts you from parking meter fees and time limits. (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31‑28‑4, 31‑28‑6.)

To apply for a disabled parking placard or motorcycle sticker from the RI DMV, take the following steps:

• Complete a New/Renewal Disability Parking Placard Application and sign the form. Note that the application must be filed in the name of the person with the disability and not in the name of a parent, spouse, or caretaker.
• Have a licensed physician complete the back of the application.
• Submit your application to the DMV within 30 days of the physician's examination by:
• faxing the form to 401-462-0829, or
• mailing the original application to the address on the form.

The DMV might request additional information and documentation to finish processing your application.

Learn More About Rhode Island Driving Rules

The RI DMV website has a wealth of information for Rhode Island drivers, including how to upgrade your license to a Rhode Island Real ID, as well as licensing and vehicle registration requirements.

Of special interest is the Rhode Island Driver's Manual, which can be accessed online or downloaded. It includes explanations of the laws and regulations that apply to Rhode Island drivers, as well as local rules of the road.