Car Registration in Rhode Island

SUMMARY: How to Register Your Vehicle in Rhode Island

Rhode Island vehicle registration requires a trip to your local DMV with your vehicle's title, your driver's license, proof of emissions inspection (if applicable), proof of insurance, and payment for your registration fee, plus any bills of sale and sales tax documents if your vehicle was purchased from a private party. New Rhode Island residents must also have a VIN check completed.

New car? New resident? If so, you'll need to register your vehicle(s) with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.

If you already have a registered vehicle in Rhode Island and wish to renew its registration, please visit our Registration Renewal page.

New to Rhode Island?

After moving to Rhode Island, you have 30 days to register your vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Visit your local DMV office with:

A completed Application for Registration and Certificate of Title (Form TR-1).
Proof of auto insurance.
Vehicle title.
- If the car has a lien, the DMV will accept a photocopy of the title provided the lienholder is listed on it.
- All owners listed on title must be present when registering. If not, the absent parties must be notarized on the registration application.
Proof of a vehicle identification number (VIN) check. This only applies to vehicles that are model year 2001 or newer with an out-of-state title or registration.
- For VIN check locations, contact your local police department.
A Rhode Island driver's license or ID card.
- If you present an out-of-state license, you'll need to also provide proof of residency.
Power of Attorney and Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate (Form T-333-1), if the vehicle is leased.
- The leasing company must be listed as the purchaser.
Payment to cover your registration fee (see Vehicle Registration Fees below).

After obtaining a Rhode Island car registration certificate, you must have your vehicle inspected within 5 days of the registration date.

Your registration is valid for 2 years.

How to Register a Car in Rhode Island

There are different requirements and processes for vehicle registration based on whether you purchased your vehicle from a dealer or it was purchased/gifted from a private individual.

Additionally, there are certain stipulations for vehicles being transferred from Canada into Rhode Island. See below for details on all three.

Make sure you have an active car insurance policy when registering your vehicle.

Compare rates and buy your policy online: Visit the Insurance Center >>

Vehicles Purchased from a Dealer

If you purchase a vehicle from a dealer, the dealership may submit your registration documents for you to the DMV. If they do not you will have to submit this information to the RI DMV:

A completed Application for Registration and Title Certificate (Form TR-1)

All owners must sign the registration application. If all owners cannot be present when the vehicle is registered then their signature must be notarized.

Out-of-state require a Dealers RI Use Tax form (Form T-334-2).

Bill of Sale.
Leased vehicles require a Power of Attorney.
Payment for the sales tax and registration fees.

Title (if model year of vehicle is 2001 or newer) or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO).
RI driver's license or ID card.
Proof of valid RI insurance.
The Dealer Sales Tax form.

If the vehicle is 2001 or newer and the title is from out-of-state or was registered out-of-state, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check is required before you register the car.

Vehicles Purchased from a Private Party

Bring to your local Rhode Island DMV office:

A completed Application for Registration and Certificate of Title (Form TR-1).
Proof of auto insurance.
A completed Use Tax form (Form T-334-2).
The car's signed-over title if the vehicle is 2001 or newer.
A Bill of Sale.
- The title or bill of sale should list the vehicle's gross vehicle weight.
A Rhode Island driver's license or ID card.
Proof of previous owner, if applicable (for non-title vehicles only).
- All owners listed on title must be present when registering. If not, the absent parties must be notarized on the registration application.
Proof of a vehicle identification number (VIN) check.
- This only applies to vehicles that are 2001 or newer with an out-of-state title or registration. For VIN check locations, contact your local police department.
Payment for RI vehicle registration fees, which also includes sales tax (see “Vehicle Registration Fees" below).

Your RI car registration is good for 2 years.

Leased Vehicles

If the vehicle you are purchasing is leased, it's important to note that the DMV does not request titles from leasing companies. You will be required to submit the original title or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin assigned to your lessor.

You must also provide (in addition to the above documents):

A Power of Attorney from the leasing company.
Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate (Form T-333-1), with the leasing company listed as the purchaser.

Vehicles Transferred from Canada

Canadian vehicles must register through Rhode Island's DMV headquarters in Cranston.

You will need:

A completed U.S. Customs and Border Protection form (Form 7501).
Proof of a vehicle identification number (VIN) check.
- This only applies to vehicles that are 2001 or newer.
A National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) inspection from the DMV Enforcement Division, also located in Cranston. It can be reached at (401) 462-5736.
The car's Canadian registration. It must be in the name of the person registering the vehicle in Rhode Island.

Military & Non-Resident Vehicle Registration

Military Members

If you are a Rhode Island military resident currently in state, the registration process is the same as for civilians. Use the methods described above to register your vehicle.

If you are deployed or stationed out of state and wish to register a vehicle back in Rhode Island, contact the DMV at (401) 462-4368 for information on registering by mail.

Non-resident military personnel stationed in Rhode Island are allowed to keep their out-of-state license plates. If you decide to claim residency in Rhode Island, follow the steps above in “New to Rhode Island?" to register your vehicle.

Transferring a Foreign Vehicle

If you've purchased a vehicle while on active duty overseas, you'll need to visit the DMV's headquarters in Cranston.

Be prepared to submit:

The original out-of-country registration or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin.
If the vehicle has a lien, you may submit a photocopy from the lienholder.
The original bill of sale, invoice, or proof of transfer.
Proof of inspection by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Proof of VIN inspection.
A completed U.S. Customs and Border Protection form (Form 7501).
A completed Military EPA Declaration form (Form 3520).

Non-Residents

If you're an out-of-state student enrolled in a Rhode Island college, you do not have to obtain Rhode Island license plates. The state allows you to keep your out-of-state plates during the duration of your studies.

Vehicle Registration Fees

Vehicle registration fees are based on a vehicle's weight. See the vehicle registration fee chart to determine your vehicle's fee.

Other important fees:

Duplicate RI car registration certificate: $19.50.
Updated RI vehicle registration certificate: $7.50.
Technology fee (added to registration): $1.55.

Obtain a Duplicate Registration Certificate

If your registration has been lost, damaged, or stolen, it's important to replace it as soon as possible. You may do so by mail or in person at the DMV.

You'll need to:

Complete an Application for Registration and Certificate of Title (Form TR-1).
Provide a copy of your vehicle insurance.
Provide proof of ownership (e.g. vehicle title).
Submit your license plate number.
Submit a power of attorney, if the vehicle is leased.

Bring the documents to your local DMV, or send them to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Registration Duplicate
600 New London Ave
Cranston, RI 02920

Vehicle Inspection Requirements

Safety and emission checks are required on registered vehicles every 2 years. The safety inspection ensures that your car is in good operating condition and poses no threat to you or other drivers, while the emissions check ensures that your vehicle is putting out the least amount of emissions and toxicity as possible.

To learn more about the process, visit our Smog & Emission Checks page.

Rhode Island License Plates

The state gives you plenty of specialized license plate options to choose from when applying for a Rhode Island vehicle registration certificate.

For information on plate options, visit our License Plates & Placards page.

Replace Your License Plate

If your plates have gone missing, you need to provide your local Rhode Island DMV office with either a police report or a completed Affidavit for Cancellation of Registration for Lost Plates.

If only one plate is missing, you must return the other remaining plate and obtain new plates. You'll then be issued new numbers.

You may re-order the same license plate number, but must wait a mandatory 90 days for the plates to be issued.

When applying for replacement plates through your local DMV office, bring with you:

Proof of auto insurance.
Your Rhode Island driver's license.
Power of Attorney, if the vehicle is leased.

Replace Damaged RI License Plates

To replace, gather:

A completed Application for Registration and Certificate of Title (Form TR-1).
A completed Application for Remake of License Plates.
Payment for license plates (fees listed on application).

Mail the documents and payment to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Plates
600 New London Ave.
Cranston, RI 02920

Forms

TR-1: Application for Registration and Title Certificate; Title and register your vehicle with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Can also be used to request a renewal, duplicate, or transfer of vehicle registration.

7501: Entry Summary; Submit to the Department of Homeland Security when importing a vehicle to the U.S. from another country.

T-333-1: Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate Motor Vehicles; Submit this form to claim exemption from paying RI sales and use tax on a vehicle if you meet the criteria listed on the form.

T-334-2: Use Tax Return; Request a refund for use tax paid on a vehicle you registered in Rhode Island.

3520: EPA Form 3520; Submit this form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection if you bought a vehicle while stationed in another country unless the vehicle already has an Environmental Protection Agency certificate of conformity and control label.