Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-3.1-14. Transfer by operation of law

(a) If the interest of any owner in a vehicle passes to another other than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall, except as provided in subsection (b), promptly mail or deliver to the division of motor vehicles the last certificate of title, if available, proof of the transfer, and his or her application for a new certificate in the form the division of motor vehicles prescribes.

(b) If the interest of the owner is terminated or the vehicle is sold under a security agreement by a lienholder named in the certificate of title, the transferee shall promptly mail or deliver to the division of motor vehicles the last certificate of title, his or her application for a new certificate in the form the division of motor vehicles prescribes, and an affidavit made by or on behalf of the lienholder that the vehicle was repossessed and that the interest of the owner was lawfully terminated or sold pursuant to the terms of the security agreement. If the lienholder succeeds to the interest of the owner and holds the vehicle for resale, the lienholder need not secure a new certificate of title but, upon transfer to another person shall promptly mail or deliver to the transferee or to the division of motor vehicles the certificate, affidavit, and other documents and articles required to be sent to the division of motor vehicles by the transferee.

(c) A person holding a certificate of title whose interest in the vehicle has been extinguished or transferred other than by voluntary transfer shall mail or deliver the certificate to the division of motor vehicles upon request of the division of motor vehicles. The delivery of the certificate pursuant to the request of the division of motor vehicles does not affect the rights of the person surrendering the certificate, and the action of the division of motor vehicles in issuing a new certificate of title as provided in this section is not conclusive upon the rights of an owner or lienholder named in the old certificate.