What to Bring to the Rhode Island DMV for Your Permit Test

Proof of Identity (Primary Document)

• ✓Valid U.S. Passport or Passport Card
• ✓Certified U.S. Birth Certificate (issued by a state or county vital records office)
• ✓Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• ✓Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
• ✓Valid Foreign Passport with a valid U.S. Visa and I-94 form
• ✓Rhode Island State ID Card (if already held)

You must bring the original document; photocopies or laminated copies are not accepted. For a REAL ID, ensure your birth certificate has a raised seal or is certified.

Proof of Social Security Number

• ✓Social Security Card (original)
• ✓W-2 Form with full SSN
• ✓Pay stub with full SSN
• ✓SSA-1099 Form
• ✓Non-SSA-1099 Form

If you do not have a Social Security Number, you must bring a letter from the Social Security Administration stating you are ineligible for one. Rhode Island does not waive this requirement; you must prove ineligibility.

Proof of Rhode Island Residency

Bring 2 of these:

• ✓Utility bill (electric, gas, water, sewer) dated within the last 60 days
• ✓Bank statement or credit card statement dated within the last 60 days
• ✓Parent's lease or mortgage statement (if living with parents)
• ✓Rhode Island vehicle registration or title
• ✓School report card or transcript with current address
• ✓Official mail from a government agency

For a REAL ID, you generally need two different documents proving your RI address. The name on these documents must match your legal name or be accompanied by a name change document.

Parental / Guardian Consent (applicants under 18)

• ✓Parent or legal guardian must sign the application form in person at the DMV
• ✓Parent/guardian must present their own valid photo ID
• ✓If parents are divorced, the custodial parent must sign (bring custody papers if contested)
• ✓Legal guardians must bring court-appointed guardianship papers
• ✓Foster parents must bring specific agency authorization forms

Both parents do not need to appear if one has legal custody, but the signing parent must prove they have the legal right to consent. If a parent cannot appear, a notarized consent form is sometimes accepted, but appearing in person is the safest route to avoid delays.