Chapter 3
Registration of Vehicles

Index of Sections

§ 31-3-1. Operation of unregistered vehicle.

§ 31-3-2. Vehicles subject to registration.

§ 31-3-2.1. Out-of-state motorized bicycles.

§ 31-3-2.2. Registration of motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and motorized tricycles.

§ 31-3-3. Application for registration.

§ 31-3-3.1. Notice to division of motor vehicles of vehicle lease agreement.

§ 31-3-4. Proof of payment of sales or use tax.

§ 31-3-5. Grounds for refusal of registration.

§ 31-3-5.1. Repealed.

§ 31-3-6. List of vehicles on which taxes delinquent — Denial of registration.

§ 31-3-6.1. List of vehicles and licenses on which taxes delinquent — Denial of renewal of registration and licenses.

§ 31-3-6.1.1. Denial of registration — Denial of transfer of registration — Failure to file tax returns and/or pay taxes.

§ 31-3-6.2. List of vehicles and licenses on which court costs owed delinquent — Denial of renewal of registration and licenses.

§ 31-3-6.3. Unpaid out-of-state toll amounts, administrative fees, and fines — Denial of registration — Denial of transfer of registration — Denial of renewal of registration and licenses.

§ 31-3-7. Registration — Indexing of records.

§ 31-3-8. Registration card — Contents.

§ 31-3-9. Registration card carried in vehicle.

§ 31-3-10. Issuance of registration plates.

§ 31-3-11. Contents of registration plate.

§ 31-3-11.1. Permanent registration and plates.

§ 31-3-12. Visibility of plates.

§ 31-3-13. Plates for rental or leased vehicles.

§ 31-3-14. Bailee and in transit plates.

§ 31-3-15. Special plates for state officers and mayors.

§ 31-3-16. General assembly plates.

§ 31-3-17. Volunteer fire company plates.

§ 31-3-17.1. Courtesy plates.

§ 31-3-17.2. Civil defense plates.

§ 31-3-17.3. Temporary plates.

§ 31-3-17.4. Firefighter plates.

§ 31-3-18. Display of plates — Penalties.

§ 31-3-19. Registration of race cars.

§ 31-3-20. Operation with manufacturer’s or dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-20.1. Operation with auto body repair shop plates.

§ 31-3-21. Use of bailee, transporter, and in transit plates.

§ 31-3-22. Service vehicles owned by dealer.

§ 31-3-23. Application for dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-23.1. Limitation on number of plates.

§ 31-3-24. Dealer’s certificate.

§ 31-3-25. Issuance of dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-25.1. Cost of dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-25.2. Issuance of motorcycle dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-25.3. Issuance of boat dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-26. Expiration of dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-27. Responsibility for use of dealer’s plates.

§ 31-3-28. Rules and regulations as to plates.

§ 31-3-29. Licensing of tow cars and tow trucks.

§ 31-3-30. Accident chasing by tow trucks.

§ 31-3-31. Registration of farm vehicles.

§ 31-3-31.1. Registration of street rods.

§ 31-3-31.2. Custom vehicles — Definition — Registration and fees.

§ 31-3-31.3. Registration of specially constructed vehicles.

§ 31-3-32. Expiration of registration.

§ 31-3-33. Renewal of registration.

§ 31-3-34. Notice of change of address.

§ 31-3-35. Notice of change of name.

§ 31-3-36. Replacement of lost or mutilated registration card or plates.

§ 31-3-37. Assignment of new identifying numbers.

§ 31-3-38. Change of engines.

§ 31-3-39. Amateur radio operator plates.

§ 31-3-40. Special use identification tags.

§ 31-3-41. Return of registration card and plates — Receipt.

§ 31-3-42. Camper plates.

§ 31-3-43. Sheriffs’ department plates.

§ 31-3-44. Ambulance or rescue vehicles.

§ 31-3-45. Police motorcycle plates.

§ 31-3-45.1. Police registration plates.

§ 31-3-46. P.O.W. plates.

§ 31-3-47. Judiciary plates.

§ 31-3-48. Plates for recipients of Purple Heart.

§ 31-3-48.1. Plates for recipients of Distinguished Service Cross.

§ 31-3-48.2.  Plates for recipients of the Bronze Star Medal.

§ 31-3-49. Chief Judge Emeritus — Charles F. Trumpetto.

§ 31-3-50. Chief Judge Emeritus 8 — William R. Goldberg.

§ 31-3-51. Police Chief Emeritus — Matthew Lynch.

§ 31-3-52. Certificate of prior use.

§ 31-3-53. Veterans’ plates.

§ 31-3-54. Police Chief Emeritus — John C. Beebe III.

§ 31-3-55. Repealed.

§ 31-3-56. Congressman Emeritus — Fernand J. St. Germain.

§ 31-3-57. Police Chief Emeritus — John T. Botelho.

§ 31-3-58. Judge Emeritus — Edward J. Plunkett.

§ 31-3-59. House Emeritus — Irving Levin.

§ 31-3-59.1. Congressman Emeritus — Edward Beard.

§ 31-3-60. Alternative design plates.

§ 31-3-61. Fire Chief Emeritus — Gerald Landry.

§ 31-3-62. National Guard plates.

§ 31-3-63. High Sheriff Emeritus — Anthony A. Giorgio.

§ 31-3-64. Combination plates.

§ 31-3-65. Judge Emeritus — Paul DelNero.

§ 31-3-66. Repealed.

§ 31-3-67. Judge Emeritus — Carmine R. DiPetrillo.

§ 31-3-68. Police Chief Emeritus — Vincent A. Acciardo.

§ 31-3-69. Registration suspension based on federal determination.

§ 31-3-70. Police Lieutenant Emeritus — John J. Sinotte.

§ 31-3-71. Chief Justice Emeritus — Joseph R. Weisberger.

§ 31-3-72. Special plate for Mr. Potato Head.

§ 31-3-73. Police Major Emeritus, City of East Providence.

§ 31-3-74. Police chief emeritus.

§ 31-3-75. Senator Emeritus — William Zuccarelli.

§ 31-3-76. Special license plate decal.

§ 31-3-77. Adjutant General Emeritus — Reginald A. Centracchio.

§ 31-3-78. Special plate for Rotary International.

§ 31-3-79. Special plate for Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Save the Bay.

§ 31-3-80. Reserve Forces plates.

§ 31-3-81. General state officers emeritus.

§ 31-3-82. Special plate for WaterFire Providence.

§ 31-3-83. Judge Emeritus — Vincent A. Ragosta.

§ 31-3-84. Special plate in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

§ 31-3-85. Special plate for the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

§ 31-3-86. Special plate for Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, Inc.

§ 31-3-87. Special plate for breast cancer support.

§ 31-3-88. Special plate in support of public education.

§ 31-3-89. Rhode Island law enforcement memorial benefit fund license plates.

§ 31-3-90. Special plate for the Red Sox Foundation.

§ 31-3-91. Special plate for the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.

§ 31-3-92. Judge Emeritus — Raymond E. Shawcross.

§ 31-3-93. Special plate for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

§ 31-3-94. Expiration of authorization of issuance of special motor vehicle plates.

§ 31-3-95. Special plate for Woonsocket high school arts and athletics.

§ 31-3-96. Emergency medical technician plates.

§ 31-3-97. Special plate for home and hospice care of Rhode Island.

§ 31-3-98. Special plate for the Autism Project of Rhode Island.

§ 31-3-99. Special plate for the wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island (WRARI).

§ 31-3-100. General Magistrate Emeritus — John J. O’Brien.

§ 31-3-101. Special electric and hybrid electric vehicle registration plate designation.

§ 31-3-102. Special plate for the Boston Bruins Foundation.

§ 31-3-103. Olympic medal winners.

§ 31-3-104. Special plate in honor of César E. Chávez.

§ 31-3-105. Special plate for Rhode Island private colleges and universities.

§ 31-3-106. Special plate for the Dorian J. Murray foundation.

§ 31-3-107. Police chief emeritus — Ernest Spaziano.

§ 31-3-108. Special plate for The Rocky Point Foundation, Inc.

§ 31-3-109. Special plate for Rhode Island public colleges and universities.

§ 31-3-110. Special plate for the Lupus Foundation New England.

§ 31-3-111. Gold Star Families.

§ 31-3-112. Special plate for Gaspee Days Committee.

§ 31-3-113. Special plate for Operation Stand Down RI.

§ 31-3-114. Special plate for the Rhode Island Agricultural Council.

§ 31-3-115. Special plate for the Rhode Island Salt Water Anglers Foundation.

§ 31-3-116. Special plate for the Ocean State Animal Coalition.

§ 31-3-117. Minimum prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate orders.

§ 31-3-118. Special plate for Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in RI, Inc.

§ 31-3-119. Special plate for Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America.

§ 31-3-120. Police chief emeritus — Gary Malikowski.

§ 31-3-121. Judge emeritus — Stephen J. Capineri.

§ 31-3-122. Special plate for Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.

§ 31-3-123. Special plate for Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

§ 31-3-124. Special plate for The Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.

§ 31-3-125. Special plate for the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association.

§ 31-3-126. Special plate for Atlantic Shark Institute.

§ 31-3-127. Special plate for Dyslexia Advocacy Rhode Island.

§ 31-3-128. Special plate for the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.

§ 31-3-129. Special plate for the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.