When will vanity plates be allowed again? | Ask the DMV
Q: When will vanity plates be allowed again?
— Anonymous
A: I don’t have any new news. Vanity plate ordering is still on hold for now.
An announcement will be made when vanity plate ordering will be allowed again.
Q: When will the recently approved Bronze Star license plates be available for purchase?
— Paul W.
A: The Bronze Star plates should be available in a couple of months. There is software development that needs to take place, and this will take several months to get done.
The design of the plate and the production of material for these plates will also take several months.
Both of these things will be done simultaneously. I’m sure there will be a press release that will notify the public when they are ready. However, I will keep your email and name handy so that when they are available, I will reach out to you.
Thank you for your service to our country and the sacrifices that you and your family have made.
Q: Why does my recently renewed auto registration state "wave" on the paperwork that I received a few weeks ago? I have had sailboat plates for many years and wish to keep them for my new registration.
— Jean K.
A: I have mentioned this before: There was an issue with the sailboat plate design transferring over into our new computer system. Most, if not all, transferred over as the wave design. Little by little, we are changing them to note the correct design when we are notified.
I have changed the plate design for you, and a new registration certificate with the sailboat plate design on it is being mailed to you.
I have also mentioned that it is important that we have the correct plate design on registration certificates because, during the reissuance project, only the blue wave plates will be replaced.
All other plate designs (charity plates, veteran plates, antique plates, etc.) will not be issued the new “ocean” plate. The ocean plate will be replacing all passenger, commercial, trailer, motorcycle, public service, camper, suburban, jitney, radio operator, farm, taxi, racer tow, and combination plates that have the blue wave.
It's also important that we have your correct physical and mailing addresses on file. You can change your address online on our website (www.dmv.ri.gov) in the Online Services area or by mailing in a change of address form. The change of address form can be downloaded from our website and should be mailed to the Cranston DMV, 600 New London Ave., Cranston, RI 02920.
Chuck Hollis is assistant administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to cars@providencejournal.com with “Ask the DMV” in the subject field.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: When will vanity plates be allowed again? | Ask the RI DMV
