Rhode Island title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Rhode Island
The short answer
In Rhode Island, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Rhode Island DMV before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Rhode Island sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Rhode Island ask of sellers?
In Rhode Island, you endorse the transfer on the registration card and forward it to the Division of Motor Vehicles (statutory duty, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-4-2) immediately. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- After the sale
- Endorse the transfer on the registration card and forward it to the Division of Motor Vehicles (statutory duty, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-4-2), immediately.
- Official source
- License plates
- The seller removes the plates and either returns them to the DMV or has them assigned to another vehicle.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
Duplicate titles come from the Rhode Island DMV, which can tell you the form and the fee. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Rhode Island.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Rhode Island DMV can tell you which estate papers Rhode Island accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Report the sale to Rhode Island (Endorse the transfer on the registration card and forward it to the Division of Motor Vehicles (statutory duty, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-4-2), immediately), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
- Plates: The seller removes the plates and either returns them to the DMV or has them assigned to another vehicle.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with the Rhode Island DMV before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Rhode Island?
Usually not. In Rhode Island you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Rhode Island DMV. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Rhode Island when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Rhode Island?
Apply to the Rhode Island DMV, which can tell you the form and the fee. You'll usually need a photo ID and the VIN, and the lender's sign-off if there's an open lien.
Can I sell a car in Rhode Island with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.