Every owner of a vehicle subject to registration under this chapter shall apply to the division of motor vehicles for the registration of it using the appropriate form or forms furnished by the division of motor vehicles. Every application shall bear the signature of the owner written with pen and ink and the signature shall be acknowledged by the owner before a person authorized to administer oaths and the application shall contain:

(a)  The name, city or town of bona fide residence, actual residence address and mail address of the owner as appearing on the owner’s motor vehicle operator’s license or state identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 8 of Title 3, or business address of the owner if a firm, association, or if a corporation, the name of the city or town in which the vehicle is physically and primarily housed. For purposes of this section “physically and primarily housed” is defined as that city or town in which the vehicle is housed for a period or periods of time greater than in any other city or town in the state of Rhode Island. The division of motor vehicles may substitute other indicators of residence when necessary.

(b)  A description of the vehicle, including, insofar as this specified data may exist with respect to a given vehicle, the make, model, type of body, the number of cylinders, the serial number of the vehicle, and the engine or other number of the vehicle. In the event a vehicle is designed, constructed, converted, or rebuilt for the transportation of property, the application shall include a statement of its capacity in terms of maximum gross vehicle weight rating as authorized by the manufacturer of the chassis or the complete vehicle.

(c)  A statement whether liability insurance is carried on the vehicle, and, if there is liability insurance, the name of the carrier, policy number, and effective dates of the policy.

(d)  Any further information as may reasonably be required by the division of motor vehicles to enable it to determine whether the vehicle is lawfully entitled to registration.

(e)  The exact mileage reading from the motor vehicle on the date of application.

History of Section.
P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 3, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 31-3-3; P.L. 1961, ch. 187, § 1; P.L. 1965, ch. 207, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 74, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 16, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 392, § 4; P.L. 1991, ch. 251, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 392, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 28, § 1.

lawyer at desk

Ask a traffic law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified traffic lawyers.
Parking violations, accidents, DUI/DWI, licensing, registration, and more
Protect your vehicle and your rights with expert legal help now
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-3-3

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

§ 31-3-3. Application for registration. [Effective January 1, 2024.]

(a)  Every owner of a vehicle subject to registration under this chapter shall apply to the division of motor vehicles for the registration of it using the appropriate form or forms furnished by the division of motor vehicles. Every application shall bear the signature of the owner written with pen and ink and the signature shall be acknowledged by the owner before a person authorized to administer oaths or as authorized in accordance with subsection (b) and the application shall contain:

(1)  The name, city or town of bona fide residence, actual residence address, and mail address of the owner as appearing on the owner’s motor vehicle operator’s license or state identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 8 of Title 3, or business address of the owner if a firm, association, or if a corporation, the name of the city or town in which the vehicle is physically and primarily housed. For purposes of this section, “physically and primarily housed” is defined as that city or town in which the vehicle is housed for a period or periods of time greater than in any other city or town in the state of Rhode Island. The division of motor vehicles may substitute other indicators of residence when necessary.

(2)  A description of the vehicle, including, insofar as this specified data may exist with respect to a given vehicle, the make, model, type of body, the number of cylinders, the serial number of the vehicle, and the engine or other number of the vehicle. In the event a vehicle is designed, constructed, converted, or rebuilt for the transportation of property, the application shall include a statement of its capacity in terms of maximum gross vehicle weight rating as authorized by the manufacturer of the chassis or the complete vehicle.

(3)  A statement whether liability insurance is carried on the vehicle, and, if there is liability insurance, the name of the carrier, policy number, and effective dates of the policy.

(4)  Any further information as may reasonably be required by the division of motor vehicles to enable it to determine whether the vehicle is lawfully entitled to registration.

(5)  The exact mileage reading from the motor vehicle on the date of application.

(b)  The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall prescribe and/or approve a limited power-of-attorney form, which may be used in connection with applications for vehicle registrations in satisfaction of the provision of subsection (a).

(c)  The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and regulations in order to effectuate the purpose and requirements of using a limited power of attorney form to register a vehicle. The rules and regulations shall require that the limited power of attorney form includes an attestation of the owner of the vehicle granting another identified person permission to register the vehicle on behalf of the owner. The limited power of attorney shall be witnessed and executed before a notary public and identify the information described in subsections (a)(1) through (a)(5).

History of Section.
P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 3, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 31-3-3; P.L. 1961, ch. 187, § 1; P.L. 1965, ch. 207, § 1; P.L. 1969, ch. 74, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 16, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 392, § 4; P.L. 1991, ch. 251, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 392, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 28, § 1; P.L. 2023, ch. 237, § 1, effective January 1, 2024; P.L. 2023, ch. 238, § 1, effective January 1, 2024.