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.
Inspection Exemptions Out-of-State Inspection Form PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes This form is used to verify that your vehicle or equipment is out-of-state, and will miss its required vehicle inspection. On occasion, vehicles are not in the State of Rhode Island during the month that its current inspection approval expires and it is reasonable to understand that these vehicles should not be expected to be returned to Rhode Island solely for the purpose of inspection. The State will accept the certificate of inspection and approval issued to a vehicle that was not in the State of Rhode Island during the month that it's inspection approval expired providing that the out of state authority has a safety and emissions inspection law similar to the one in Rhode Island. These regulations are not to be interpreted to mean that a Rhode Island registered vehicle can be taken out of state to be inspected. This privilege is only granted to vehicles that are not in Rhode Island during the expiration month of the current approval. This out-of-state inspection certificate will be honored for five (5) days when the vehicle is returned to Rhode Island. In the event that a vehicle has not been inspected in another state, (the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is currently domiciled lacks an inspection program or does not inspect vehicles registered in other jurisdictions) the vehicle will be allowed five (5) Division of Motor Vehicles business days upon its return to the State of Rhode Island in which to obtain an inspection approval. The burden of proof that the vehicle was out of state at the time the existing approval on the vehicle expired is solely the responsibility of the registered owner. Off Road Vehicle Inspection Exemption Form PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes This form is used to verify that your vehicle is off the road (such as in storage or in the process of being restored) and will miss its required Rhode Island Emissions and or Safety Inspection. Owners of vehicles being stored off the public roads may apply for an exemption while the vehicle is stored and this exemption will prevent the registration from becoming suspended. This exemption expires immediately upon the vehicle being returned to the roadways. Forms for use by Inspection Stations can be found HERE.