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What to do with Rhode Island plates after moving to Hawaii

The answer can be return, cancel, destroy, recycle, or keep. Follow the reviewed Rhode Island instruction only after the Hawaii registration and insurance handoff are safe.

Hawaii comes first

Complete the replacement record

Vehicle transactions are county-administered. In Hawaii County, obtain an out-of-state permit within 30 days after the vehicle arrives or switch to Hawaii plates; the permanent-registration path and timing vary by island.

Arrange Hawaii coverage before the safety-check and registration sequence. County instructions require a Hawaii insurance card for the inspection transaction.

Rhode Island closeout

Cancel the Rhode Island registration before ending its insurance

After the destination registration is active, cancel the Rhode Island registration online or through an accepted mail or drop-box method and keep the confirmation or receipt. Then end the Rhode Island policy and destroy or recycle plates canceled online.

Open the official Rhode Island instructionReviewed 2026-07-31
  1. 1. Activate acceptable destination coverage

    Confirm the effective date with the new insurer.

  2. 2. Register in Hawaii

    Keep the issued registration or official receipt.

  3. 3. Complete the Rhode Island plate action

    Keep the surrender, cancellation, mailing, destruction, or retention record the state provides.

  4. 4. End or rewrite the old policy

    Ask the insurer to use dates that do not create an uncovered active registration.

Sources for this closeout sequence

Open the complete routeCheck the insurance handoff