RI · Drivers education
Rhode Island drivers ed guide
In Rhode Island, a new driver under 18 starts in a classroom: the 33 hour course certified by CCRI comes before any limited instruction permit, and online versions do not count. Drivers 18 and older skip the course and can road test 30 days after getting a permit. Tickets work differently than in most states. You cannot choose a traffic school, because defensive driving is a court sanction, but a clean three year record can let the Traffic Tribunal dismiss an eligible ticket.
Checked against Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles on 2026-10-23.
Rhode Island Teen Drivers Ed, Explained for Parents
This page is for families with a Rhode Island teen around 15 who want to know what to do first. The answer is the classroom course. Nobody under 18 gets a limited instruction permit until they have finished the 33 hour d...
- Is a course mandatory?Yes, for anyone under 18
- Course format33 classroom hours
- Online course allowedNo (since July 1, 2022)
Rhode Island Driver's License for Adults 18 and Older
This page is for anyone 18 or older in Rhode Island who has never been licensed, or whose license lapsed long ago, and is wondering whether a class is needed. It is not. You book a computer knowledge exam at DMV headquar...
- Course needed at 18 or olderNo
- Minimum time on the permit30 days before the road test
- Adult instruction permit$8.50 (as of October 2026)
Defensive Driving and Ticket Options in Rhode Island
This page is for Rhode Island drivers holding a summons and hoping a class will make it disappear. In this state, it will not. Defensive driving is a sanction a Traffic Tribunal or municipal court judge imposes; you pay ...
- Traffic school you choose yourselfNot available
- Good driving record dismissalRequires no moving violations in the prior 3 years
- Open to CDL holders?No