Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Revenue

Transfer at Death

Death with Appointment as Administrator or Executor

  • Certificate of Title in deceased name.

    • ALL VEHICLES coming into Rhode Island from out of state, regardless of model year, require a VIN Inspection from a local municipal police department. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that required a title for that vehicle, that title MUST be in the name of the deceased person, properly assigned to the buyer, and be presented, along with VIN Inspection at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that did not require a title for that vehicle, a valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person must be presented, along with a VIN Inspection, at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person prior to 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a bill of sale/gift letter and valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person.

    • Since Rhode Island is titling all vehicles beginning 1/1/2024, Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person on or after 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a title in their name, properly assigned to the buyer along with a bill of sale/gift letter. 

  • Bill of Sale or Letter of Gift, gifts from non immediate family members must have gift letter notarized. Immediate family members for purposes of taxation are: parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, spouse, child or step-child. Complete the Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicles form if the vehicle is a gift.
  • Original Notice of Appointment from Probate Court naming administrator/trix or executor/trix is the only acceptable document.
  • Administrator/Executor signs title as seller.
  • New registrant(s) must complete and sign the Application for Registration and the Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate form.
  • Costs are listed in the DMV Fee Table

Next of Kin or Adult Children: No Surviving Spouse, No Executor

  • Certificate of Title in deceased name.

    • ALL VEHICLES coming into Rhode Island from out of state, regardless of model year, require a VIN Inspection from a local municipal police department. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that required a title for that vehicle, that title MUST be in the name of the deceased person, properly assigned to the buyer, and be presented, along with VIN Inspection at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that did not require a title for that vehicle, a valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person must be presented, along with a VIN Inspection, at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person prior to 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a bill of sale/gift letter and valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person.

    • Since Rhode Island is titling all vehicles beginning 1/1/2024, Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person on or after 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a title in their name, properly assigned to the buyer along with a bill of sale/gift letter. 

  • Bill of Sale or Letter of Gift, gifts from non immediate family members must have gift letter notarized. Immediate family members for purposes of taxation are: parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, spouse, child or step-child. Complete the Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicles form if the vehicle is a gift.
  • The Sole Heir Affidavit form must be properly completed.  This Affidavit replaces the transfer of ownership on the back of the title, which should now be left blank.
  • Original Death Certificate. The DMV will make a photocopy and return the original to you.
  • New registrant(s) must complete and sign the Application for Registration and the Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate form.
  • Costs are listed in the DMV Fee Table

Parents of Deceased: No Surviving Spouse or Executor

  • Certificate of Title in deceased name.

    • ALL VEHICLES coming into Rhode Island from out of state, regardless of model year, require a VIN Inspection from a local municipal police department. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that required a title for that vehicle, that title MUST be in the name of the deceased person, properly assigned to the buyer, and be presented, along with VIN Inspection at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that did not require a title for that vehicle, a valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person must be presented, along with a VIN Inspection, at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person prior to 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a bill of sale/gift letter and valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person.

    • Since Rhode Island is titling all vehicles beginning 1/1/2024, Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person on or after 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a title in their name, properly assigned to the buyer along with a bill of sale/gift letter. 

  • Bill of Sale or Letter of Gift, gifts from non immediate family members must have gift letter notarized. Immediate family members for purposes of taxation are: parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, spouse, child or step-child. Complete the Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicles form if the vehicle is a gift.
  • Original Death Certificate. The DMV will make a photocopy and return the original to you.
  • The Sole Heir Affidavit form must be properly completed.  This Affidavit replaces the transfer of ownership on the back of the title, which should now be left blank.
  • New registrant(s) must complete and sign the Application for Registration and the Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate form.
  • Costs are listed in the DMV Fee Table

No Survivors, No Executor

  • Certificate of Title in deceased name.

    • ALL VEHICLES coming into Rhode Island from out of state, regardless of model year, require a VIN Inspection from a local municipal police department. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that required a title for that vehicle, that title MUST be in the name of the deceased person, properly assigned to the buyer, and be presented, along with VIN Inspection at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • If an out of state vehicle is being registered in Rhode Island, and the state from which the vehicle is coming is a state that did not require a title for that vehicle, a valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person must be presented, along with a VIN Inspection, at the time of sales tax payment or registration at the RI DMV. 

    • Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person prior to 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a bill of sale/gift letter and valid proof of ownership (e.g. old registration, or paid sales tax form) in the name of the deceased person.

    • Since Rhode Island is titling all vehicles beginning 1/1/2024, Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person on or after 1/1/2024 require the seller to provide the buyer with a title in their name, properly assigned to the buyer along with a bill of sale/gift letter. 

  • Bill of Sale or Letter of Gift, gifts from non immediate family members must have gift letter notarized. Immediate family members for purposes of taxation are: parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, spouse, child or step-child. Complete the Affidavit of Gift of Motor Vehicles form if the vehicle is a gift.
  • Original Death Certificate. The DMV will make a photocopy and return the original to you.
  • Voluntary Executor under small estates RIGL 33-24.1. This can be obtained at your local City or Town Hall.
  • New registrant(s) must complete and sign the Application for Registration and the Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate form.
  • Costs are listed in the DMV Fee Table