Title 31
Motor and Other Vehicles

Chapter 3.1
Certificates of Title and Security Interests

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3.1-20

§ 31-3.1-20. Security interest — Change of certificate.

If an owner creates a security interest in a vehicle:

(1) The owner shall immediately execute the application, in the space provided for it on the certificate of title or on a separate form the division of motor vehicles prescribes, to name the lienholder on the certificate, showing the name and address of the lienholder and the date of his security agreement, and cause the certificate of application and the required fee and registration card to be delivered to the lienholder.

(2) The lienholder shall immediately cause the certificate, application, and the required fee and registration card to be mailed or delivered to the division of motor vehicles.

(3) Upon request of the owner or subordinate lienholder, a lienholder in possession of the certificate of title shall either mail or deliver the certificate to the subordinate lienholder for delivery to the division of motor vehicles or, upon receipt from the subordinate lienholder of the owner’s application and the required fee and registration card, mail or deliver them to the division of motor vehicles with the certificate. The delivery of the certificate does not affect the rights of the first lienholder under his or her security agreement.

(4) Upon receipt of the certificate of title, the application, the required fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), and the registration card, the division of motor vehicles shall either endorse on the certificate or issue a new certificate containing the name and address of the new lienholder, and mail the certificate to the first lienholder named in it.

History of Section.
P.L. 1971, ch. 100, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 15, art. 7, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 85, § 6; P.L. 2009, ch. 5, art. 9, § 1.