How to Fill Out a Bill of Sale in Rhode Island

A step-by-step guide to every field on a Rhode Island vehicle bill of sale — with a free filled-in example you can download instantly.

Rhode Island pairs New England's highest vehicle sales tax — a flat 7% with no local additions — with a strict-but-simple fill-out: the DMV links a sample bill of sale, neither the bill of sale nor the title needs a notary, writing the price twice (numbers and words) avoids disputes, and for a vehicle 7 years old or less the DMV taxes the higher of NADA clean retail value or the price. Complete the parties, vehicle, VIN, odometer, price in numerals AND words, date, and both signatures. The RI DMV checklist asks for a signed title only on model year 2001 or newer vehicles — for older ones, confirm with the DMV which documents carry the ownership. The buyer registers at the RI DMV (Cranston headquarters or satellite offices), and the seller keeps the plates: Rhode Island plates belong to the seller, who must return or transfer them to close out insurance cleanly.

Notarization:Only in some situations

Title deadline:No fixed deadline

Sales tax:7%

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Vehicle Bill of Sale · Rhode Island

9 vehicle fields

Rhode Island Requirements: A notary is needed only in some situations. Rhode Island sets no fixed day count: apply promptly after delivery (R.I. Gen. Laws §31-3.1-12(b)); sales tax is due by the 20th of the month after the purchase, even if the vehicle is not registered. 7% sales tax.

Seller Information

Full Name *

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Phone

Buyer Information

Full Name *

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Phone

Vehicle Details

Year *

Make *

Model *

VIN *

Color *

Mileage *

License Plate

Odometer reading is accurate to the best of my knowledge

Lien Holder (if applicable)

Sale Information

Sale Price ($) *

Payment Method *

Date of Sale *

County of Sale (if known)

Applicable Taxes Paid By

Condition & Warranty

Sold AS-IS (no warranty)

Warranty Details (if applicable)

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State rules change. We check these requirements against official state sources, but details can go out of date. Confirm with your state's motor vehicle agency before you rely on them. If you notice anything wrong or outdated, email support@billofsale.app.

Step-by-Step: Every Field Explained

Seller Information

Full legal name
Current mailing address
City, state, ZIP code
Phone number (optional but recommended)

Tip: Before writing anything, open the ownership document and transcribe the seller's name from it — the Rhode Island DMV treats it as the reference copy.

Buyer Information

Full legal name
Current mailing address
City, state, ZIP code
Phone number (optional)

Tip: Enter the buyer's name as it will appear on the new registration in Rhode Island; consistency here saves a second trip.

Vehicle Description

Vehicle year (4-digit)
Make (manufacturer — e.g., Ford, Toyota)
Model (e.g., F-150, Camry)
Body style (e.g., sedan, pickup, SUV)
Color
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) — 17 characters, found on the dashboard or door jamb
Odometer reading at time of sale

Tip: Read the VIN from the metal, not the ad: dashboard plate or door-jamb sticker, checked character by character against the title. One wrong character voids the transfer.

Sale Details

Sale price in US dollars (write out both numerals and words — e.g., "$8,500 — Eight thousand five hundred dollars")
Payment method (cash, check, electronic transfer)
Date of sale (month / day / year)
Note: the buyer pays Rhode Island tax at registration (7% sales tax)

Tip: Rhode Island taxes a private-party vehicle 7 years old or less on the greater of the sale price or its NADA clean retail value, and one 8 to 29 years old on the sale price unless it is on the DMV’s CPI list — write the actual price.

Seller Signature

Seller's signature (must match title)
Printed name
Date signed

Tip: Notary rule in Rhode Island: Only the Application for Registration (TR-1), when a registrant cannot be present; the title assignment and bill of sale need none.

Buyer Signature

Buyer's signature
Printed name
Date signed

Tip: Both parties keep a signed original — print or write the document twice and sign both.

Get a Pre-Filled Rhode Island Example

Use the generator above to create a filled-in Rhode Island bill of sale example in under 60 seconds. Fields are set up for Rhode Island — no notary section, RI sales tax at 7%, and the title-transfer rule (no fixed day count) noted.

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Other Forms Required in Rhode Island

Along with the bill of sale, you may need these additional documents for a Rhode Island vehicle transfer:

Form TR-1 (Application for Registration and Title Certificate)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much tax will the buyer pay in Rhode Island?

A flat 7%: for a private-party vehicle 7 years old or less, on the NADA clean retail value or the sale price, whichever is greater; for vehicles 8 to 29 years old, on the sale price (unless the vehicle is on the CPI list). It is the highest vehicle rate in New England, with no municipal add-ons.

Which vehicles skip the title in Rhode Island?

The RI DMV's private-party checklist asks the seller to sign the back of the title for model year 2001 or newer vehicles, so an older vehicle may transfer without one — confirm with the RI DMV before the sale. Either way the signed bill of sale is required, which makes the document's completeness genuinely load-bearing.

What happens to the plates?

They stay with the seller — transfer them to your next vehicle or return them to the RI DMV for a receipt before cancelling insurance. Rhode Island pursues insurance-lapse penalties against registrations left open.

Does Rhode Island require notarization?

Not for the bill of sale or title assignment — both signatures complete those. The TR-1 registration application is notarized only if a registrant cannot be present. Writing the price in both numerals and words is the RI habit that prevents the most common dispute.

Rhode Island Bill of Sale Hub

All requirements, tax rates, deadlines, and forms for Rhode Island.

View Rhode Island guide →

Forms Guide

Rhode Island Bill of Sale Form

Proves the sale and its price to the Rhode Island DMV, which needs it to register a car bought from a private seller.

Form guide →

Rhode Island Templates by Vehicle

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