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.
Plate Fees Acceptable forms of payment are: cash, money orders, personal checks, bank checks, and credit card (MasterCard, Discover, Visa and American Express). Checks should be payable to Division of Motor Vehicles. Third-party and temporary/starter checks are not accepted. All fees listed below include $2.50 technology surcharge. If you are paying by credit card, there is a minimum service fee of $1.55 per transaction, or 2.40% for transactions of $65.00 and over. This fee goes to the third party provider, Federal Payments, and is in addition to any fees listed below. Effective July 1, 2013, Rhode Island licenses and motor vehicle registrations are subject to surcharges as part of the Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011. Category Transaction Fee Plates Combination - Ocean (remake) $32.50 Plates Conservation through Education (Osprey) Audubon Society of Rhode Island Plates Disabled Veteran (initial) No Fee Plates Disabled Veteran (remake) $32.50 Plates Firefighter - Passenger (remake) $32.50 Plates Motorcycle - Ocean (remake) $32.50 Plates National Guard (initial) $22.50 + $5.00 transfer charge Plates National Guard (remake) $32.50 Plates New England Patriots New England Patriots Plates Plum Beach Lighthouse Plum Beach Lighthouse Plates Prisoner of War (initial) No Fee Plates Prisoner of War (remake) $32.50 Plates Purple Heart (initial) No Fee Plates Purple Heart (remake) $32.50 Plates Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox Plates RI Community Food Bank (Mr. Potato Head) RI Community Food Bank Plates RI Standard - Ocean (remake) $32.50 Plates RI Standard - Ocean Commercial $32.50 Plates Vanity Plate - Ocean - Passenger (initial) $68.50 Plates Sailboat - Passenger and Commercial only $47.50 Plates Sailboat - Passenger and Commercial only (remake) $32.50 Plates Veteran (initial) No Fee Plates Veteran (remake) $32.50 Plates Veteran Gold Star (initial) No Fee Plates Veteran Gold Star (remake) $32.50 Plates Antique (remake) $32.50 Plates Electric Hybrid (remake) $32.50 Plates Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation Plates Vanity Plate - Sailboat - Passenger (initial) $82.50 Plates Vanity Plate - Ocean - Commercial (initial) $68.50 Plates Vanity Plate - Sailboat - Commercial (initial) $82.50 Plates Vanity Plate - Ocean - Motorcycle (initial) $42.50 Plates Original Issue $8.00 Plates Vanity Plate - Antique (initial) $68.50