Rhode Island DMV To Reopen First Satellite Office

MIDDLETOWN, RI — Rhode Island will reopen its first Division of Motor Vehicles satellite office starting next week. All locations except the headquarters in Cranston have been shuttered since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in the state, with deadlines extended and most services offered online.

The Middletown branch will reopen Monday by appointment only, with extended hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reservations can be made on the DMV's website.

"The Division has continued serving customers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with a reservation service at our Cranston headquarters," DMV Administrator Walter Craddock said. "The reservation service, coupled with adherence to the COVID-19 procedures recommended by the R.I. Department of Health, will allow us to return service to one of our busiest locations. We Aquidneck Islanders and others will appreciate the return of in-person DMV services to their part of the state."

According to Paul Grimaldi, a spokesperson for the division, road tests will continue to be suspended until further notice.

"We do not have a timeline for beginning those," Grimaldi said in a statement. "We'll make an announcement once we can develop a testing protocol that aligns with guidance on COVID-19 from the R.I. Department of Health."

All Rhode Island licenses set to expire in March, April and May were extended 90 days by a previous executive order from Gov. Gina Raimondo. Many transactions can also be completed online or by mail and do not require an in-person appointment. These include renewing licenses and registrations, submitting medical certification for CDLs, ordering custom plates, requesting driving records and changing addresses.

"The decision to reopen the Middletown branch recognizes the importance of minimizing personal interactions during the COVID-19 crisis while acknowledging the need for some individuals to continue traveling in support of essential businesses and organizations, or personal needs such as food shopping and pharmacy visits," the division said in a statement.