Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-3.1-19. Perfection of security interests

(1) If the parties understood at the time the security interest attached that the vehicle would be kept in this state and it was brought into this state within the following thirty (30) days for purposes other than transportation through this state, the validity of the security interest in this state is determined by the law of this state.

(2) If the security interest was perfected under the law of the jurisdiction where the vehicle was when the security interest attached, the following rules apply:

(3) If the security interest was not perfected under the law of the jurisdiction where the vehicle was when the security interest attached, it may be perfected in this state. If done at that time, perfection dates from the time of perfection in this state.

(4) A security interest may be perfected under subsection (c)(2)(ii) or subsection (c)(3) either as provided in subsection (b), or by the lienholder delivering to the division of motor vehicles a notice of security interest in the form the division of motor vehicles prescribes and the required fee.