Total Brake Failure | RI Division of Motor Vehicles

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.

Total Brake Failure

If you put your foot on the brake and the pedal goes (directly) right to the floor:

Pump the brake pedal even if your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock braking system. Pumping might temporarily restore enough brake fluid pressure to slow or stop your vehicle. You will know after three (3) or four (4) pumps if your brakes are going to hold.

Downshift to a lower gear. This uses the braking power of the engine to slow your vehicle.

Engage the parking brake. You can quickly release the parking brake for a moment if the vehicle begins to skid.

Search for an open zone. You can still steer. As a last resort, rub the wheels against a curb to reduce speed. If a collision is unavoidable, steer for a sideswipe rather than colliding head-on into something solid.