Vehicle registration exemptions - Rhode Island

Exemptions [Effective thru July 1, 2024]

Exemptions [Effective thru July 1, 2024] Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, motorized camper, tent trailer, travel trailer, pick-up coach, and pick-up camper, owned by a resident of Rhode Island when operated or drawn upon a highway for a period of 30 days, is subject to the registration requirements, except:

• Any vehicle operated upon a highway in conformance with the provisions relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, lien holders, or nonresidents;
• Any vehicle that is operated upon a highway only for the purpose of crossing the highway but not along the highway from one property to another;
• Any farm vehicle, whether of a type otherwise subject to registration under this chapter, that is only incidentally operated on a highway. The phrase “incidentally operated upon a highway” means the operation upon a highway of a “slow-moving motor vehicle” that is designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry, between agricultural operations owned or managed by the owner of the motor vehicle. Unless the incidental operation is only for purposes of crossing the highway but not traveling along it, the farm vehicle engaged in the incidental operation must display a “Slow Moving Vehicle” emblem in a manner that complies with requirements established by the division of motor vehicles;
• Any special mobile equipment as defined in § 31-1-9;
• Any vehicle propelled exclusively by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, though not operated on rails.

“Mobile equipment” means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved over a highway, including but not limited to: ditch digging apparatus, well boring apparatus, and road construction or maintenance machinery such as asphalt spreaders, bituminous mixers, bucket loaders, tractors other than truck tractors, ditchers, leveling graders, finishing machines, motor graders, road rollers, scarifiers, earth moving carry-alls and scrapers, power shovels and drag lines, and self-propelled cranes and earth moving equipment. The term does not include house trailers, dump trucks, truck mounted transit mixers, cranes, or shovels, or other vehicles designed for the transportation of persons or property to which machinery has been attached.

Exemptions [Effective July 1, 2024]

Exemptions [Effective July 1, 2024] Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, pole trailer, motorized camper, tent trailer, travel trailer, pick-up coach, and pick-up camper, owned by a resident of Rhode Island when operated or drawn upon a highway for a period of 30 days is subject to the registration provisions, except:

• Any vehicle operated upon a highway in conformance with the provisions relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, lien holders, or nonresidents;
• Any vehicle that is operated upon a highway only for the purpose of crossing the highway but not along the highway from one property to another;
• Any farm vehicle, whether of a type otherwise subject to registration, that is only incidentally operated on a highway. The phrase “incidentally operated upon a highway” means the operation upon a highway of a “slow-moving motor vehicle” that is designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry, between agricultural operations owned or managed by the owner of the motor vehicle. Unless the incidental operation is only for purposes of crossing the highway but not traveling along it, the farm vehicle engaged in the incidental operation must display a “Slow Moving Vehicle” emblem in a manner that complies with requirements established by the division of motor vehicles;
• Any special mobile equipment (defined below) as defined in § 31-1-9;
• Any vehicle that is propelled exclusively by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, though not operated upon rails;
• Any low-speed motor vehicle or low-speed vehicle (defined below) as defined in § 31-1-3.

“Mobile equipment” means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved over a highway, including but not limited to: ditch digging apparatus, well boring apparatus, and road construction or maintenance machinery such as asphalt spreaders, bituminous mixers, bucket loaders, tractors other than truck tractors, ditchers, leveling graders, finishing machines, motor graders, road rollers, scarifiers, earth moving carry-alls and scrapers, power shovels and drag lines, and self-propelled cranes and earth moving equipment. The term does not include house trailers, dump trucks, truck mounted transit mixers, cranes, or shovels, or other vehicles designed for the transportation of persons or property to which machinery has been attached.

“Low-speed motor vehicle” or “low-speed vehicle” means a motor vehicle defined in 49 C.F.R. 571.3 as a vehicle that is four (4) wheeled, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than 20 mph and not more than 25 mph on a paved level surface, is electric, and whose gross vehicle weight rating is less than 3,000 pounds. All low-speed motor vehicles shall comply with the standards established in 49 C.F.R. 571.500, as amended, and pursuant thereto, shall be equipped with headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, an exterior mirror mounted on the driver’s side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger’s side of the vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield that conforms to the federal standards on glazing materials, a vehicle identification number that conforms to the requirements of 49 C.F.R. pt. 565 for such numbers, a Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to 49 C.F.R. 571.209, installed at each designated seating position, and reflex reflectors; provided, that one reflector is red on each side as far to the rear as practicable and one reflector is red on the rear. A low-speed motor vehicle that meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 571.500, as amended, and is equipped as herein provided, may be registered in this state, subject to inspection and insurance requirements.

Citations

• R.I. Gen. Laws 31-3-2 Vehicles subject to registration [Effective until July 1, 2024]
• R.I. Gen. Laws 31-3-2 Vehicles subject to registration [Effective July 1, 2024]