As estate administrator, am I able to request a new vehicle title? | Ask the RI DMV

Chuck Hollis
·3 min read

Q: My mother recently passed. Her car has been sitting in her driveway for the last three years. The registration and title are not available. As the administrator of her estate, am I able to request a new title?

— Sheila O.

A: As the administrator of your mother’s estate, you are allowed to apply for a duplicate title for her vehicle. On our website (dmv.ri.gov), in the “Registration, Plates & Titles” tab and the “Registration” tab, there is a whole section called “Transfer at Death.” Follow the instructions for “Death with Appointment as Administrator or Executor.” We provide links to the forms that are needed to complete this transaction, but in case you don’t have a computer, here are the instructions:

Many times a request for a duplicate title is rejected because there is still a lien holder listed on the original title. If the lien holder was never removed from the original title, an original lien holder release letter will be required before the duplicate title request can be processed. You would need to contact the lien holder and let them know that you are applying for a duplicate title and their name is still listed on it.

After you receive the duplicate title, you can do the following:

Death with Appointment as Administrator or Executor

  • Original Notice of Appointment from Probate Court naming administrator/trix or executor/trix is the only acceptable document.

  • Certificate of Title in deceased's 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 Jan. 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 Jan. 1, 2024, Rhode Island vehicles model year 2000 and older first registered to the deceased person on or after Jan. 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.

  • 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.

Chuck Hollis
Chuck Hollis

Chuck Hollis is assistant administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to cars@providencejournal.com with “Ask the DMV” in the subject field.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Am I able to request a new vehicle title? | Ask the RI DMV