PROVIDENCE, RI – June 27, 2006 – Rhode Island online DMV services just keep getting better. The Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles recently announced the launch of the online vanity plate service. Residents of Rhode Island can now search for and reserve a personalized vanity plate online by visiting the state’s official Web site at www.RI.gov. Since the service launched on May 22, residents have conducted more than 31,000 searches and purchased over 500 vanity plates via the Internet.
“Rhode Islanders take their license plates very seriously,” said Charles F. “Ted” Dolan, Administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles. “The online vanity plate search and reservation system is going to be very popular and we’re pleased to be able to provide the citizens of Rhode Island a fun and easy way to personalize their vehicles.”
Unlike most states, the number of letters and numbers that appear on a license plate is considered by many Rhode Islanders to be a status symbol. The online Vanity plate service allows users to search for that special message of your choice to personalize a passenger car, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle weighing less than 9000 lbs. All that is needed to use the service is a valid credit card and a great idea for a vanity plate. With just a few clicks, users can see how the vanity plate will appear and check to see if it is available.
If a vanity plate is available, reservations are accepted through the online system. The system, which is available 24 hours a day, also screens for inappropriate language. The Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles reserves the right to deny a plate based on the letter or number combination selected. Postcards will be sent to customers when vanity plates are complete and orders are ready for pickup.
“Rhode Islanders order approximately 5,400 vanity plates per year,” said Brian Peterson, Associate Director of the Department of Administration. “This number is expected to increase due to the entertaining nature and ease of use of the online service.”
The Division of Motor Vehicles Online Vanity Plate service was created at no taxpayer expense in partnership with RI.gov, which also built and maintains the state’s Web portal at www.RI.gov.