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Cancel Plates

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When you sell a vehicle and do not replace it, or when a vehicle is junked, you must cancel the registration and plates. This tells the DMV that you no longer own the vehicle and takes the vehicle off the property tax rolls in your city or town.

  • You must bring in the registration card and both plates.
  • If you do not have one or both plates, you must report the plate(s) lost or stolen to your local police department and present a copy of the police report to the DMV in order to cancel plates.
  • A DMV clerk will sign the form and give you a receipt. You should keep this receipt for property tax purposes.
  • If you move out of state, you must mail the plates back to the main DMV and be sure to request a plate cancellation receipt. This is your ONLY proof in the event that your former Rhode Island city or town still has your vehicle on their property tax rolls. The DMV recommends that you use registered mail, return receipt requested.
  • Mail plates to:

    Division of Motor Vehicles
    100 Main Street - Plate Dept.
    Pawtucket, RI 02860

 

  • A signed cancellation form (TR-3) will be returned to you indicating the date the plates were cancelled.

Refunds

  • You are eligible for a refund only if you have one entire year left on a two-year registration. Partial refunds and pro-rated refunds are not given. You must have used all or a portion of the first year of a registration and have the entire second year remaining to get a refund. Amount of refund will vary based on what originally was paid during the 2-year registration period (i.e. If registration was $140 for two-year period, and you have at least one full year remaining of registration, a refund of $70 is expected.)
  • Refunds may be subject to audit.
  • Refunds may take up to six (6) months.
  • Please retain copies of both the TR-3 Cancellation of Plates form and the Refund form for your records.

     

If the vehicle was leased, the refund form must be completed by the leasing company.