The Rhode Island “wave” license plate. Wikimedia Commons Image.

By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News

Rhode Islanders will soon be waving goodbye to the “wave” license plate.

The Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says the white plate with the blue wave and navy lettering will be retired next year, and replaced with a new design.

The proposed new design includes what the DMV describes as an “historic Newport blue background” with white letters. The new design follows Governor Lincoln Chafee’s “Discover Beautiful Rhode Island” theme and resembles the signs that have been placed on major highways into the state. The new plates will also include an image of the Reliance, the winner of the 1903 America’s Cup.

The design is still in its early stages, and it’s unclear when it will be finished. The DMV says it’s possible the design will change with the new administration.

The DMV says the change is mandated by law. Every ten years the state is supposed to change its plate, something that was scheduled to happen in 2007, but a DMV technology overhaul pushed the change back. But by next September, the wave will be replaced by the new blue plate, and by 2017, no wave plates will be in use.

Rhode Islanders will still be able to get the special gray sailboat plate by request.

Before the wave plate Rhode Island license plates were white with navy blue lettering with an anchor.