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Rhode Island emissions test: the official wording
Everything in quotation marks here is from 4 sources and was matched to them on November 11, 2026. The quotes are the sources’ words; ours only label them.
About these quotes.
The Rhode Island DMV website refused our reader, so the quotes are from the General Laws and the DMV’s regulation in the Rhode Island Code of Regulations. The statute’s and the regulation’s lines on older vehicles are shown together.
On this page: where · how often · fee · new and older vehicles · diesel, electric, hybrid · check a vehicle · sources
What does the text call it?
The purpose of this regulation is to establish the Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance Program.
The page we point to: 280-RICR-30-15-1, Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Safety and Emission Control Regulation No. 1. The agency’s own page, which our reader could not open: Rhode Island DMV website.
Where does it apply?
The lines we quote for Rhode Island name no county or area. These are the lines we hold on who is covered:
These regulations shall apply to all light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks up to and including 8,500 lbs. GVWR.
How often is the test?
All vehicles will be subject to inspection every two years.
Motor vehicles subject to the Rhode Island I/M Program shall be inspected biennially except as described in § 1.4 of this Part.
What does the test cost?
Beginning in fiscal year 2015, a fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected.
What does the text say about new and older vehicles?
Listed under:
The following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
(1) A motor vehicle twenty-five (25) years or older.
Shown with it, so that neither is read alone:
Listed under:
The following vehicles shall be exempt from the emissions inspection portion of these regulations:
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;
What about diesel, electric and hybrid vehicles?
Every current line we hold for Rhode Island that uses the word diesel, electric or hybrid. Some are about one place or one kind of test; each speaks for itself.
Listed under:
The following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
(3) Motor vehicles operated exclusively by electric power.
OBD-equipped diesel vehicles should be tested with OBD.
What about heavier vehicles?
Motor vehicles subject to this chapter shall be determined by regulations, and shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all 1975 and later model year light duty vehicles and light duty trucks up to and including eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) gross vehicle weight rating.
These regulations shall apply to all light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks up to and including 8,500 lbs. GVWR.
What else does the text say?
Listed under:
The following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
(4) New motor vehicles until twenty-four (24) months after their date of purchase or twenty-four thousand (24,000) miles, whichever occurs first.
Model year 1996 and newer vehicles shall undergo an OBD inspection in addition to, a gas cap inspection, and a safety inspection.
Listed under:
The following motor vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
(5) Motor vehicles that are in compliance with an enhanced motor vehicle inspection program operated by another jurisdiction may be exempt upon the owner providing a current written certification of compliance, if the inspection program in that jurisdiction is approved by the United States environmental protection agency.
There shall be no fee charged for one reinspection of a vehicle that failed an initial inspection when the reinspection is conducted at the AIRS that conducted the initial inspection.
Check a vehicle against these quotes
Enter a model year, a fuel and a weight rating. The checker repeats the quotes above and, where a figure can be compared, says where your entry falls against it. It does not decide anything about your vehicle.
Which pages could we not read?
We ask for each page with a plain request that names this site, and we don’t work around a refusal. These pages matter for Rhode Island and did not open for us:
- Rhode Island DMV website (refused our reader on November 11, 2026)
Where do these quotes come from?
- 280-RICR-30-15-1, Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Safety and Emission Control Regulation No. 1 (rules.sos.ri.gov; statute or administrative code; read November 11, 2026)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.1-3, Inspection requirement (webserver.rilegislature.gov; statute or administrative code; read November 11, 2026)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.1-5, Exemptions (webserver.rilegislature.gov; statute or administrative code; read November 11, 2026)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47.1-11, Fees (webserver.rilegislature.gov; statute or administrative code; read November 11, 2026)
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