Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-3.1-11. Lost, stolen or mutilated certificates

(a) If a certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, destroyed, or becomes illegible, the first lienholder or, if none, the owner or legal representative of the owner named in the certificate, as shown by the records of the division of motor vehicles, shall promptly apply for and may obtain a duplicate upon furnishing information satisfactory to the division of motor vehicles and pay a fifty dollar ($50.00) fee. The duplicate certificate of title shall contain the legend “this is a duplicate certificate and may be subject to the rights of a person under the original certificate.” It shall be mailed to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner.

(b) The division of motor vehicles shall not issue a certificate of title to a transferee upon application made on a duplicate until fifteen (15) days after receipt of the application.

(c) A person recovering an original certificate of title for which a duplicate has been issued shall promptly surrender the original certificate to the division of motor vehicles.

(d) A person applying for a duplicate title may designate an automobile dealer as the designated recipient of the duplicate title provided, that there is no current lien holder and the applicant/owner signs an affidavit stating that the vehicle has been sold or traded to the dealer in such form as designated by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles.