Rhode Island General Laws Title 31. Motor and Other Vehicles § 31-4-10. Temporary transfer of registration

(a) A person who transfers the ownership of a registered motor vehicle or trailer owned by him or her to another or who loses possession of it and who intends to transfer the registration of the motor vehicle or trailer to a newly acquired vehicle may, subject to other provisions of this title, operate the newly acquired motor vehicle or trailer for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of transfer within the period of which the transferred vehicle was registered, provided that the number plates issued upon registration of the transferred motor vehicle are attached to the newly acquired vehicle.

(b) During these periods, any operator of a newly acquired vehicle shall carry an original copy of the bill of sale reciting the registration number to be transferred from the former vehicle to the newly acquired vehicle, the date of the sale or transfer, the make and identification number of the vehicle, and the signature and address of the seller.

(c) This section shall apply only to transfer of registration between vehicles with the same number of wheels.