Paperwork When Selling a Car in Rhode Island

Selling Requirements

To sell a car, you need to:

• Fill out a bill of sale and provide the buyer with a receipt.

• Transfer the title to the new owner.

Selling Without Paperwork

You can sell a car in Rhode Island without registration papers, but if the vehicle is newer than 10 years old, the seller is required to provide the buyer with a title to complete the transaction.

If you want to sell a vehicle to which you've lost the title, first apply for a duplicate title. Once you have that in hand, you can proceed with the sale.

Notice of Transfer and Liability Release

You must bring the vehicle's plates and registration card to a DMV office. There, you'll receive a signed cancellation form, indicating the date the plates were canceled. Be sure to keep this receipt for your records.

Bill of Sale

You will need to provide the buyer with a bill of sale. You can download a copy of this form from our Bill of Sale page.

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