§ 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.
History of Section.P.L. 1971, ch. 100, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-3.1 - Certificates of Title and Security Interests
Section 31-3.1-1. - Certificate of title required.
Section 31-3.1-2. - Exclusions.
Section 31-3.1-3. - Optional certificate of title.
Section 31-3.1-4. - Application for first certificate of title.
Section 31-3.1-5. - Examination of records.
Section 31-3.1-6. - Issuance and records.
Section 31-3.1-7. - Contents and effect of certificate.
Section 31-3.1-9. - Registration without certificate of title — Bond.
Section 31-3.1-10. - Refusing certificate of title.
Section 31-3.1-11. - Lost, stolen or mutilated certificates.
Section 31-3.1-12. - Transfer.
Section 31-3.1-13. - Transfer to or from dealer — Records.
Section 31-3.1-14. - Transfer by operation of law.
Section 31-3.1-15. - Fees — Registration cards.
Section 31-3.1-16. - Issuance of new certificate.
Section 31-3.1-16.1. - Electronic recording of security interests.
Section 31-3.1-17. - Scrapping, dismantling or destroying vehicle.
Section 31-3.1-18. - Excepted liens and security interests.
Section 31-3.1-19. - Perfection of security interests.
Section 31-3.1-20. - Security interest — Change of certificate.
Section 31-3.1-21. - Assignment by lienholder.
Section 31-3.1-22. - Release of security interest.
Section 31-3.1-23. - Duty of lienholder.
Section 31-3.1-24. - Exclusiveness of procedure.
Section 31-3.1-25. - Suspension or revocation of certificates.
Section 31-3.1-26. - Powers of division of motor vehicles.
Section 31-3.1-27. - Vehicle leases that are not sales or security interests.
Section 31-3.1-28 - — 31-3.1-35. [Obsolete.]
Section 31-3.1-36. - Court review.