Inspection and maintenance - Rhode Island

Rhode Island has adopted Part 396 of the Federal Regulations.

Part 396 applies to any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in intrastate and interstate commerce when the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more, or is of any size transporting a placardable amount of hazardous materials.

The Safety and Emission Control Section of the Division of Motor Vehicles administers an official mandatory periodic vehicle inspection program. All motor vehicles registered in this state are required to be inspected at time of registration and annually thereafter. Vehicles must display an official inspection sticker certifying the vehicle has been inspected at an officially designated inspection station.

Fleet operators may maintain their own inspection stations, but may not issue inspection certificates for any vehicle other than their own.

This mandatory inspection program is considered equivalent to the Federal annual inspection requirement in Part 396.