Rhode Island Title Transfer Cost
Transferring a car title in Rhode Island costs $53.50 in title fees. Buying a used car privately for $15,000, you'd pay about $1,207 in total, with $1,050 of that in tax and the rest for title and registration.
Rhode Island title fees
These are the title-related fees in Rhode Island's official schedule (source). Most buyers pay only the standard title fee, plus a lien fee if the car is financed.
| Title | $53.50 |
|---|---|
| Lien | $53.50 |
- Title, transfer, duplicate, salvage and lien each $53.50 including $3.50 technology surcharge
Example: buying a used car from a private seller in Rhode Island
A 4-year-old car bought from a private seller for $15,000, worked out with the Rhode Island car tax calculator:
| Title | $53.50 |
|---|---|
| Tax on the sale | $1,050 |
| Registration (2 years) (if you register it now) | $103.50 |
| Estimated total | $1,207 |
Local taxes, county fees and inspections aren't included. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
Transferring a title to a family member or as a gift
| Immediate family gift with signed letter | Tax $0 (outstanding taxes still due) |
|---|---|
| Non-immediate gift with notarized letter and SU 87-65 | Tax $0 |
Inherited vehicles
| Inheritance | Not listed as $0; tax may apply |
|---|
Other cases that change the cost in Rhode Island
| Trucks and other classes | No trade-in allowance |
|---|---|
| Payment deadline | Tax due by the 20th of month after purchase |
How Rhode Island works out what you owe
- Dealer: taxable = price - trade-in (passenger, motorcycle, motor home under 30 years only)
- Private, 7 years old or less: taxable = greater of NADA Clean Retail or price
- Private, 8-29 years (not on CPI list): taxable = price
- Private, CPI list or 30+ years: taxable = greater of book value or price
- Tax = taxable x 7%
- Total = tax + title + lien + (registration + DOT fee + EV fee) x years + technology + doc fee
What to bring
The title signed over by the seller (with the odometer reading), a bill of sale, proof of insurance and your ID. If the car still has a loan, the lender must release the lien first.
Official sources checked for Rhode Island: dmv.ri.gov, tax.ri.gov.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Rhode Island?
The title fee is $53.50. For a used car bought privately for $15,000, the title, tax and registration come to about $1,207.
Do I pay sales tax when a title is transferred in Rhode Island?
Usually yes. On a $15,000 private sale, Rhode Island charges about $1,050. Gifts, family transfers and inheritances can be treated differently (see below).
How do I transfer a car title to a family member in Rhode Island?
Immediate family gift with signed letter: Tax $0 (outstanding taxes still due). Non-immediate gift with notarized letter and SU 87-65: Tax $0.
What happens to a car title after a death in Rhode Island?
Inheritance: Not listed as $0; tax may apply.