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Rhode Island driving lesson · Getting Your License

Learner's Provisional License

A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Getting Your License
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
12, 14, 15, 16

The provisional license is your first chance to drive alone. It comes with two big limits: no solo driving in the middle of the night, and a cap on young passengers during your first year. Break the rules and you delay your full license.

To get a Learner's Provisional License you must:

  • Have held a Limited Learner Permit for at least 6 months
  • Have no moving violation or safety belt conviction in the previous 6 months
  • Pass the DMV driving skills test
  • Give a parent/guardian-signed statement of 50 hours supervised driving, 10 of them at night
Handbook p. 12 ↗
50 hours

Supervised practice required before the provisional license—at least 10 hours at night

Handbook p. 12 ↗

Know the rule

After passing the skills test, go to the DMV for your provisional license before your permit expires. If you are under 18, a parent, guardian, licensed foster parent or adult spouse must come with you unless their signature on the application is notarized.

Handbook p. 14 ↗

Know the rule

The adult who signs must live in Rhode Island and qualify as a supervising driver (licensed at least 5 years and 21 or older). The summary also allows a driving instructor to accompany you.

Handbook p. 15 ↗

When you may drive on a provisional license

When you may drive on a provisional license
SituationAllowed?
With a supervising driver seated beside youYes, at any time
Alone, 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.Yes
Alone, 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.No, unless an exception below applies
Alone, driving to or from workYes
Alone, volunteer fire, rescue or EMS activity (member)Yes
Alone, 4–5 a.m., home to a school athletic activityYes, if the school provides no transportation
Handbook p. 14 ↗

Know the rule

Everyone in the vehicle must be fastened in a safety belt or child restraint at all times, supervised or not.

Handbook p. 14 ↗
1 passenger

Maximum passengers under 21 during the first 12 months (immediate family and household members exempt)

Handbook p. 14 ↗

Know the rule

The Learner's Provisional License expires on your 18th birthday.

Handbook p. 14 ↗

Put it into practice

You got your provisional license 7 months ago. At 11 p.m. you want to drive two 17-year-old friends home from a movie. Driving alone at 11 p.m. is fine, but in your first 12 months you may carry only one passenger under 21 who isn't family—so one friend needs another ride.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

How many hours of supervised driving must you complete before getting a Learner's Provisional License?
  1. 40 hours, including 5 at night
  2. 50 hours, including 10 at night
  3. 50 hours, including 20 at night
  4. 30 hours, including 10 at night

Answer: 50 hours, including 10 at night

You must present a statement of at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with 10 of those hours at night.

Handbook p. 12 ↗
Which of these is required before a Learner's Provisional License can be issued?
  1. Holding the permit for at least 12 months
  2. Passing the driving skills test
  3. Completing 40 hours of supervised driving
  4. Owning a vehicle registered in your name

Answer: Passing the driving skills test

An applicant must pass the driving skills test administered by the DMV before getting a Learner's Provisional License.

Handbook p. 12 ↗
During the first 12 months of a Learner's Provisional License, how many passengers under 21 (not immediate family or household) may be in the vehicle?
  1. No more than 2
  2. No more than 3
  3. None at all
  4. No more than 1

Answer: No more than 1

During the first 12 months, no more than one passenger younger than 21 is allowed, unless they are immediate family.

Handbook p. 14 ↗
A Learner's Provisional License holder may NOT drive unsupervised during which hours?
  1. 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
  2. 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
  3. 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
  4. 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Answer: 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.

A provisional license holder cannot drive alone between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., though they may drive unsupervised from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Handbook p. 14 ↗
Which of these is an exception allowing a provisional license holder to drive unsupervised at night?
  1. Driving friends to a party
  2. Driving to or from work
  3. Driving to a movie theater
  4. Driving for pleasure on the highway

Answer: Driving to or from work

Provisional holders may drive unsupervised when driving to or from work, among a few other listed exceptions.

Handbook p. 14 ↗
True or False: On a Learner's Provisional License, only front-seat occupants must wear a seat belt.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Everyone in the vehicle must be properly fastened by a safety belt or child restraint at all times, not just front-seat occupants.

Handbook p. 14 ↗
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