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Purchasing a Vehicle From a Rhode Island Dealer
Dealers in Rhode Island, as in other states, can obtain a title and registration for their customers. If you purchase a vehicle from a dealer in the state, they will almost certainly take care of the title and registration paperwork for. All you will have to do is sign some forms and pay the relevant fees. The dealer will issue you a temporary plate. Your permanent plates will arrive in the mail in about two weeks. Your title will arrive at around the same time, unless you have financed or leased the vehicle. If you have financed the vehicle, the financier will keep the title. If you have leased the vehicle, the dealership will keep the title.
Purchasing a Vehicle in Rhode Island from a Private Party
If you have purchased a vehicle from a private party in Rhode Island, you will have to get the title and registration for yourself. To do this, you will need to get both a bill of sale and a signed title from the seller.
It is important to ensure that you not only get a bill of sale but also that the bill of sale includes all of the required information. This info includes:
- Seller’s name and address
- The vehicle’s VIN, make, model, and year
- The sale price
- The date of sale
- Your name
- Your signature
- The seller’s signature
You will also need to get a copy of the vehicle’s previous registration, as you will need this when getting the new registration in your name.
Filling Out the Title
Filling out a Rhode Island title is similar to filling out a title in any other state. The title includes a section that is specifically designed to be filled out when the vehicle is being sold. The seller is responsible for filling out the title. All you will have to do is sign and date the title. Ensure that the seller has signed the title and that they have filled out all required fields.
Getting a Rhode Island Registration
To get a Rhode Island registration, you must go to any DMV location in the state with the required paperwork. This paperwork includes:
- Title
- Bill of sale
- Proof of insurance
- Old registration
You can also bring plates from another vehicle that is registered in your name if you want to put these plates on your new vehicle instead.
Paying the Fees for a Rhode Island Title & Registration
The fees for a Rhode Island registration vary based on the age and type of car. The fee to transfer a title in Rhode Island is $52.50. The acceptable forms of payment include credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover), check, money order, and cash.