RHODE ISLAND’S TITLE LAW HAS CHANGED ***Effective March 1, 2024*** The Rhode Island DMV will no longer be accepting photocopies, images, or electronic copies of titles. All new registration and/or new title transactions will now REQUIRE THE ORIGINAL TITLE to be submitted to the RI DMV at the time the transaction takes place. Your lienholder or leasing company can send the original title to the RI DMV, ATTN: Research Office, 600 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920 or to you directly. We highly recommend that the title and other documents are sent with tracking information to enable customers and lienholders to know when the title was received. As long as your contact information (name, address, phone and e-mail) is included with the title, the RI DMV will contact you once your original title has been received so you can complete your transaction. Be advised that this process can take several weeks for the original title to be sent to the RI DMV. Please also be advised that the RI DMV cannot request a title from a lienholder or lease company. A VIN check is required for all transactions involving an Out-of-State title/vehicle. Reservations are required for all visits. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY. For more information on RI’s new title laws, and new requirements for registration and title transactions, CLICK HERE and scroll down.
Drivers’ Privilege Permit, Drivers’ Privilege Card & Identification Privilege Card FAQs Who is eligible for a Drivers’ Privilege Card or Identification Privilege Card in Rhode Island? You may be eligible for a Drivers' Privilege Card(DPC) or Identification Privilege Card(IDPC) if you are unable to establish legal presence in the United States, but you are a Rhode Island resident who has either filed a Rhode Island personal income tax return in the prior tax year or has been claimed as a dependent on one. In order to be eligible for a DPC or IDPC you must present the required documents listed in the Drivers’ Privilege Permit, Drivers’ Privilege Card & Identification Privilege Card Checklist: DPC/IDPC Document Checklist English DPC/IDPC Document Checklist Spanish Have everything you need? Make a reservation here. What if I have a valid license/DPC from another state? Applicants for a DPC who have a valid state or U.S. territory-issued driver's license (or one expired less than five years), whose driving records are accessible through the Problem Driver Pointer System maintained by the National Driver Register or who can provide a certified driving record issued less than thirty (30) days prior to application, will not have to take a written knowledge test or Road Skills Test in Rhode Island. *Applicants will still need to provide all other required documents. What if I had a license or state identification card in Rhode Island before? The DMV is familiar with cases like this in our present business practices. DMV Enforcement staff will work with applicants on a case-by-case basis. Do I need to make an appointment to get a Drivers’ Privilege Card or Identification Privilege Card? As of March 2020, the DMV is reservation or appointment only. As such, DPC or IDPC appointments will be offered using the same schedule as all other types of DMV transactions. Having reservation-only operations allows the DMV to eliminate long wait times and continue providing superior customer service to all Rhode Islanders. How will the DMV ensure that applicants' private information isn't shared? The DMV currently protects customers’ private information in accordance with federal and state law and will continue to do so in compliance with RI DPC/IDPC laws. Can a RI resident with a DPC apply for other types of licenses, like a CDL or a motorcycle license, for example? Per Federal Law: All CDL drivers must provide Proof of Status as a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, as well as proof of Rhode Island residency, when renewing a CDL, applying for a CDL, updating a CDL or transferring a CDL from another state. Applicants who obtain Driver Privilege Cards may be able to obtain other types of licenses if they meet the necessary requirements. Please refer to our website here: https://dmv.ri.gov/licenses-permits-ids for individual license requirements. Will the DMV have interpreters available to assist applicants? The DMV has employees fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Creole, and Vietnamese who may interpret in-house. We also utilize a translation service for oral translation available in 220 languages, using portable phone devices available at customer service stations throughout the building. The DMV’s website can be translated into several languages with a Google Translate integration, as well. We encourage applicants to bring a translator to the DMV, if they can, to make the process more efficient and help applicants feel more comfortable, especially during the Road Skills Test. What if the applicant can’t read or write in any language? How will they take a permit test? If it is determined that a customer may not be able to read or write, they will be given the opportunity to schedule an oral exam in their requested language, utilizing a translation services device and the examiner’s assistance to record their answers, if necessary. This means that someone who cannot read or write will require more than one appointment. Are applicants required to provide proof of car insurance to obtain a Drivers’ Privilege Card? You do not need to have insurance in order to obtain a drivers’ license or drivers’ privilege card in the State of Rhode Island. However, insurance is required for all registered vehicles in Rhode Island and proof of active insurance will be required when taking the Road Skills Test at the DMV. Additionally, proof of insurance must be carried while driving. There are penalties for failing to comply with these insurance requirements, including fines and/or suspension of one’s license and registration. Helpful Resources The Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island: https://www.immigrantcoalitionri.org/ Tax Verification Information - RI Division of Taxation: https://tax.ri.gov/guidance/special-programs/driver-privilege-cards RI DBR Insurance Division: https://dbr.ri.gov/insurance-banking-securities-and-charitable-organizations/insurance/consumers Rhode Island Law: P.L. 2022, ch. 241 and P.L. 2022, ch. 242