Last Update: September 17, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Rhode Island

Vehicle registration records in Rhode Island are maintained by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), an agency of the Department of Revenue. Registration information may need to be updated after a change of address, a legal name change, the purchase or transfer of a vehicle, moving to Rhode Island with a vehicle registered in another state, or when a registration card or certificate of title contains inaccurate information.

Rhode Island Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

A review of the registration record is warranted when any of the following events occur:

• A physical address or mailing address has changed; the DMV maintains a single address of record per customer and requires written notice of a move within 10 days.
• A legal name has changed upon marriage, divorce, or court order, because the name shown on the license, registration, and certificate of title must be consistent.
• The registration card or certificate of title contains incorrect information that must be corrected or reissued.
• A vehicle has been purchased or acquired, including a transfer between individuals; a vehicle purchased in Rhode Island requires payment of sales tax and an application for a certificate of title even when it will not be registered.
• A foreign-registered vehicle has been brought into Rhode Island by a resident and is parked or garaged in the state.
• An existing registration or plate is to be transferred to another vehicle, changed, or canceled.

Where to File a Rhode Island Vehicle Registration Change

Rhode Island does not administer vehicle records at the county level; registration transactions are processed directly by the Division of Motor Vehicles at its branch locations, which include the Cranston headquarters and the Middletown, Wakefield, and Woonsocket branches. Registrations are accepted by mail, through branch drop boxes, or in person by reservation, and documents deposited in a drop box must be notarized. Branch offices process new registrations, transfers, out-of-state transfers, cancellations, address changes, name changes, duplicates, plate changes, and plate cancellations.

Title transactions follow a related but distinct path. Applications for title are submitted through the DMV, duplicate titles are processed at the Cranston headquarters only, and a used vehicle entering Rhode Island from another state requires a VIN inspection performed by a local municipal police department before it is registered.

Rhode Island Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

The DMV keeps one physical address and one mailing address for each customer, and updating the address updates all DMV records associated with the account, including registrations. An address change may be filed online through the online address change service, which is available to holders of a Rhode Island operator license, state identification card, permit, or commercial driver's license. The change may also be filed by mail using a Change of Address Notice sent to Division of Motor Vehicles or in person at any DMV branch location. There is no fee to update the address of record, and the DMV does not automatically issue updated registration cards as part of the address update. To receive a registration certificate showing the new address, an Application for Registration (TR-1) must be completed for each registration and submitted with the applicable fee from the DMV Fee Table.

Under Section 31-3-34 of the Rhode Island General Laws, a person who moves after applying for or obtaining a vehicle registration must notify the division in writing of the former and current addresses within 10 days of the move.

Rhode Island Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change should be treated as a license matter, a registration matter, and a title matter at the same time, because the name on the certificate of title and the name on the registration must be consistent with the registrant's current legal name. The DMV requires the name change to be completed with the Social Security Administration before any DMV transaction, and changes at Social Security take 24 hours to become effective. The license and identification name change procedure requires the customer's current license, a completed License/ID/Permit Application, and one document showing the correct name.

For registration and title records, a name change requires submission of the original certificate of title in the previous name to the DMV. If a loan is outstanding on the vehicle, the lienholder must release the title before the change can be processed, and the Application for Registration must be signed by the registered owner and notarized. The DMV processes these changes in batch with a 24-hour turnaround. Rhode Island has issued a certificate of title for all vehicles since January 1, 2024, and the title application process governs both new titles and title-related corrections.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Rhode Island Registration Record

Correction of a registration record is handled separately from correction of a title record. If the registration card is inaccurate or needs to be reissued, the DMV Fee Table lists an Update Registration transaction at $8.50 and a Duplicate Registration transaction at $20.50, both available in the DMV Fee Table. A duplicate registration certificate may also be requested through the DMV online services customer portal, and a replacement or redesigned plate may be ordered through the Plate Remake service.

Where the certificate of title must be replaced, an Application for Title (TR-2/TR-9) is required. Duplicate titles are processed at the Cranston headquarters only through the DMV Research Office. The official title forms page provides the application; the duplicate title fee is $53.50.

Rhode Island Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

The following official deadlines apply to registration-related changes in Rhode Island:

• 10 days — Notice of change of address. Written notice of a move must be given to the division under Section 31-3-34 of the Rhode Island General Laws.
• 30 days — Out-of-state vehicles. Under Section 31-7-1, a foreign vehicle parked or garaged overnight in Rhode Island for more than 30 days in the aggregate in any 1 year and owned or operated by a Rhode Island resident must be registered in Rhode Island and pay the same registration fee as a resident vehicle.
• Expiration — Registrations expire at midnight on March 31 of each year under the staggered registration system established in Section 31-3-32, with current passenger registrations issued for 2-year periods. Operating a vehicle with an expired registration is a violation carrying an $85 fine, as listed in the DMV violation fine schedule.
• Insurance — Rhode Island requires motor vehicle liability insurance for every registered vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Reparations Act, Chapter 31-47, with minimum limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Rhode Island?

Contact Information

Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
600 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920-3024
Phone: (401) 462-4368
Official Website: Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles