Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 280 - Department of Revenue
Chapter 30 - Division of Motor Vehicles
Subchapter 15 - Safety and Emissions
Part 1 - Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Safety and Emission Control Regulation No.1
Section 280-RICR-30-15-1.5 - Exemptions

Universal Citation: 280 RI Code of Rules 30 15 1.5

Current through September 18, 2024

A. The following vehicles shall be exempt from the emissions inspection portion of these regulations:

1. any model year vehicle 25 years old or older from the requirement to obtain repairs in order to comply, but such vehicles must undergo an emissions inspection;

2. a new motor vehicle until twenty-four (24) months after its date of initial purchase or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first;

3. tactical military vehicles;

4. electric powered vehicles;

5. competition and off-road vehicles used solely for off-highway activities;

6. motorized wheelchairs;

7. motorcycles, motor driven cycles, motorized bicycles, motorized tricycles;

8. farm tractors;

9. special mobile equipment which is not required to be registered per R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-38-14(2).

10. vehicles which may not be available for inspection when temporarily out of state. A temporary exemption from safety and emissions inspection does not extend the registration deadline of a vehicle. The operator must obtain a safety and emissions inspection within five (5) days of returning to the state;

11. a motor vehicle owned or controlled by a dealer for the first five (5) days after the vehicle is owned or controlled by the dealer, or
a. a motor vehicle owned or controlled by a dealer if the vehicle is in compliance for emissions inspection and displays a valid Rhode Island inspection sticker, or

b. a motor vehicle owned or controlled by a dealer if the vehicle is without a valid emissions inspection sticker but is not operated on the highways of Rhode Island; and,

12. other vehicles at the discretion of the Department for portions of an inspection cycle to advance or delay inspection in order to match registration and inspection cycles.

B. The following vehicles shall be exempt from the safety inspection portion of these regulations:

1. a new motor vehicle until twenty-four (24) months after its date of initial purchase or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first;

2. motorized wheelchairs;

3. tactical military vehicles;

4. farm tractors;

5. special mobile equipment which is not required to be registered per R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-38-14(2).

6. vehicles which may not be available for inspection when temporarily out of state. A temporary exemption from safety and emissions inspection does not extend the registration deadline of a vehicle. The operator must obtain a safety and emissions inspection within five (5) days of returning to the state;

7. a motor vehicle owned or controlled by a dealer for the first five (5) days after the vehicle is owned or controlled by the dealer, or
a. a motor vehicle owned or controlled by a dealer if the vehicle is in compliance for safety inspection and displays a valid Rhode Island inspection sticker, or

b. a motor vehicle owned or controlled by a dealer if the vehicle is without a valid safety inspection sticker but is not operated on the highways of Rhode Island; and,

8. other vehicles at the discretion of the Department for portions of an inspection cycle to advance or delay inspection in order to match registration and inspection cycles;

9. vehicles that are properly registered with plates identified as in- transit, 40 and 8, shriner, racer-tow, temporary registrations, transporter, bailee;

10. vehicles registered with Antique Plates are also exempt, however, some antique registered vehicles may be presented for inspection in order to comply with the State law that allows the unlimited use of such a vehicle if it passes an official inspection; and,

11. any vehicle while it is stored off the public highways.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.