The U.S. state of Rhode Island first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1904.

Plates are currently issued by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue through its Division of Motor Vehicles.

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.

[1] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Rhode Island license plate that complied with these standards.

[4] Additionally, an official lottery for so-called "preferred plates" was implemented in 1995 through the Governor's Office.