Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-33-14. Return of registration plates on disposing of vehicle

Any person who shall sell, lose possession of, or have destroyed by collision or fire, or who shall junk or otherwise dispose of any motor vehicle owned by or registered to that person, shall, in addition to returning the certificate of registration to the division of motor vehicles as required by chapter 4 of this title, immediately return to the custody of the division of motor vehicles, the number plates or markers issued under the registration certificates. If the number plates or markers are lost or destroyed, the owner of the motor vehicle to whom the number plates or markers were issued, shall file with the division of motor vehicles upon a form furnished by the division of motor vehicles , a statement under oath, satisfactory to the division of motor vehicles as to the circumstances surrounding the loss or destruction of the number plates or markers.