How to Sell a Car in Rhode Island Privately? (State Guide)

Documents you’ll need:

1. Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
2. Valid Rhode Island driver’s license – Names must match exactly
3. Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car

If your title is missing:

You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form TR-2 / TR-9 and bring your ID. Unlike the title assignment to a buyer, the duplicate application must have the owner’s signature notarized, and it is processed at the Cranston DMV, not a local branch.

To apply, complete the Application for Title (TR-2 / TR-9), have the owner signatures notarized, and submit it with proof of ownership and the $53.50 fee in person or by mail to the Research and Title Office at the Cranston DMV.

If you can’t get the duplicate title:

The only way to sell without a title is the older-car exception: only vehicles model year 2000 or older first registered to the seller before 1/1/2024 can be sold without a title, the seller provides a bill of sale and valid proof of ownership such as an old registration or paid sales tax form, all other vehicles require the title or a duplicate.

If you still owe money on the car:

Your lender holds the title and must release the lien before you can transfer it. Here’s how it works: the lienholder signs off on the title directly or provides a signed lien release letter to attach to the title, Rhode Island does not require a new title once the lien is satisfied. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.

Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?

Name matching requirement:

Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.

Facebook Marketplace works best in Rhode Island, especially in Providence, Warwick, and Cranston where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Rhode Island’s small size means buyers from the greater Boston area and southern New England often cross state lines to buy, so pricing competitively can attract a bigger pool of buyers. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.

For vehicles with a model year of 2001 or newer, complete the Transfer by Owner section on the back of the title. Use black or blue ink only, and print your information exactly as your name appears on the front of the title.

What to fill in as the seller:

• Buyer’s legal name and address
• Date of sale
• Sale price
• Current odometer reading (required for 2011 or newer vehicles with a gross weight under 16,000 lbs)
• Your signature

Never use white-out or cross out any errors on the title. Any mistake means you’ll need to apply for a duplicate title before completing the sale.

Joint ownership rules: If two names appear on the title connected with “AND,” both must sign. If connected with “OR,” only one needs to sign. If the title shows “and/or,” Rhode Island treats it as “OR,” so one signature works, though having both sign is always safest. If there’s no connector, both must sign.

The buyer takes the signed title to the DMV with Form TR-1 (Application for Registration and Certificate of Title), the bill of sale, and proof of insurance to complete registration. They pay the title fee at that point.

If the buyer purchased a 2001 or newer vehicle from a private party and has an out-of-state title, they’ll need a VIN inspection at a local police department before registering. This is the buyer’s responsibility, not yours.

Cancel your registration with the Rhode Island DMV after you sell the car.

This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. You can do this online for instant confirmation, by mail, or in person at any DMV branch.