Rhode Island bill of sale — motor vehicle · warranty of title

Rhode Island Bill of Sale of Motor Vehicle (Warranty of Title)

Download the Rhode Island motor vehicle bill of sale with warranty of title — the attorney-drafted fillable Word instrument with a supplemental odometer statement, plus the Rhode Island Instructions & Rider with title-transfer, tax, and lien-notation steps.

Attorney-drafted fillable Word form
Rhode Island Instructions & Rider included
Completed sample available
Instant secure download

Looking for a different bill of sale? This page is the Rhode Island motor vehicle kit (warranty of title).

Rhode Island — as-is version Rhode Island — Personal Property bill of sale Rhode Island — Watercraft bill of sale All states — Vehicle Bill of Sale with Warranty

What’s in your Rhode Island kit

Every file below is included in your download: two editable Word documents you can complete on your own device — the bill of sale and the state-specific Instructions & Rider researched for Rhode Island.

Included documents

Rhode Island Bill of Sale of Motor Vehicle (Warranty of Title) Core sale document — fillable and printable Word (.docx)
Rhode Island Instructions & Rider State transfer steps, tax and gift rules, notary guidance, and how a seller-financed lien is noted or filed Word (.docx)

The Rhode Island Instructions & Rider covers

1. What's in your kit
2. Official forms
3. After the sale: title & registration
4. Taxes and gifts
5. Recording a lien
6. Signing and notarizing
7. Warranty notes
8. Special wrinkles
9. Legal notes & citations
10. Related PublicLegal forms

Official Rhode Island resources

Linked from your rider with step-by-step context — the agency forms and pages this sale actually uses.

dmv.ri.gov/forms-and-documents

About this form

This Rhode Island form documents a private-party sale of a motor vehicle with a written warranty of title: the seller warrants ownership, the right to sell, and — unless the parties note otherwise — that the vehicle is free of liens and encumbrances. It includes the federal odometer disclosure and — printed conspicuously inside the agreement, as Rhode Island law requires of every vehicle sales agreement — the statutory odometer-examination sentence (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23.2-6(a)).

Your download includes the fillable Word document and the Rhode Island Instructions & Rider.
The rider walks through the transfer with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.
Transfer: the buyer’s prompt title application (§ 31-3.1-12), the seller’s registration-card forwarding duty (§ 31-4-2), and the separate bilateral mileage form Rhode Island attaches to the transfer instrument (§ 31-23.2-6(b)).
Tax: the 7% vehicle tax the buyer pays directly by the 20th of the month following purchase — including DMV’s value-floor administration for newer vehicles and the SU 87-65 gift-affidavit lanes.
Lien: how a lien is noted on the Rhode Island title through the DMV — title notation is the exclusive route (§ 6A-9-311(a)(2); §§ 31-3.1-19/-20).
Plus links to official Rhode Island resources.

For a seller-financed sale, pair this bill of sale with our Promissory Note (Secured) and Security Agreement; the rider explains the lien-recording steps. Fillable fields work best in Microsoft Word.

Preview the actual form

The real document text — not a mockup. Fill-in blanks show as highlighted fields.

Get This Kit — $9.99

Rhode Island Bill of Sale of Motor Vehicle
(Warranty of Title)

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND,  COUNTY OF
VEHICLE LOCATED IN COUNTY OF ,  STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
1. DATE OF SALE AND PARTIES.  This Bill of Sale is made and takes effect on  (the “Date of Sale”), by and between:
The Date of Sale matters — the title-application, registration, and tax deadlines in your state instructions run from this date.
SELLER — FULL LEGAL NAME   STREET ADDRESS   CITY, STATE, ZIP   COUNTY OF RESIDENCE   DRIVER’S LICENSE / ID NO. (OPTIONAL)    |   BUYER — FULL LEGAL NAME   STREET ADDRESS   CITY, STATE, ZIP   COUNTY OF RESIDENCE   DRIVER’S LICENSE / ID NO. (OPTIONAL)
Seller and Buyer are each referred to as a “Party” and together as the “Parties.”
2. VEHICLE SOLD.  Seller sells, transfers, and conveys to Buyer the following motor vehicle (the “Vehicle”):
YEAR    MAKE    MODEL    BODY TYPE    COLOR    VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN)    TITLE NO. (IF ANY)
Copy the VIN exactly as it appears on the vehicle’s title and dashboard plate. An incorrect VIN can delay or block the buyer’s title application.
3. PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT.  The Parties agree to the following consideration (check ONE):
☐ Paid in full. Seller acknowledges receipt of the total purchase price of $ (the “Purchase Price”) from Buyer on or before the Date of Sale.
☐ Down payment and promissory note (seller financing). Seller acknowledges receipt of a down payment of $, and Buyer agrees to pay the remaining balance of $ (together, the “Purchase Price”) according to a separate promissory note signed by Buyer and dated .
☐ Gift. The Vehicle is transferred as a gift for no monetary consideration. Relationship of Buyer to Seller (if any): .
Gift transfers can change tax and title paperwork — see your state instructions before choosing the gift lane.
Lien on title (seller financing only). If the seller-financing option is selected, Buyer grants Seller a purchase-money security interest in the Vehicle to secure payment of the unpaid balance evidenced by the promissory note described above; when Buyer signs this Bill of Sale, it also serves as the security agreement for that security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code (the Parties may also sign a separate security agreement with additional terms). Title to the Vehicle transfers to Buyer at delivery, and Seller will be listed as the lienholder on the certificate of title until the promissory note is paid in full. The Parties will record Seller’s lien using the state title agency’s lien-notation procedure described in the included state instructions. When the note is paid off, Seller will sign the lien release on the title (or the agency’s release form) and deliver it to Buyer promptly.
4. TRANSFER.  For the consideration stated above (or, if the gift option is selected, for no monetary consideration), Seller sells, transfers, and conveys the Vehicle to Buyer and Buyer’s successors and assigns.
Seller will deliver to Buyer, on the Date of Sale (or on the following date, if the Parties agree: ): (a) possession of the Vehicle; (b) the certificate of title for the Vehicle, signed to transfer ownership to Buyer (if the Vehicle is titled); and (c) all keys, fobs, and registration documents for the Vehicle in Seller’s possession.
5. WARRANTY OF TITLE.  Seller warrants that Seller is the true and lawful owner of the Vehicle and has the right to sell it; that, except as disclosed in this Bill of Sale, the Vehicle is free and clear of all liens, security interests, encumbrances, claims, and demands of every kind; and that Seller will warrant and defend title to the Vehicle to Buyer against every person lawfully claiming it.
☐ Existing liens or encumbrances held by third parties and disclosed by Seller (check one):   ☐ None   ☐ As follows:
Disclose any existing third-party lien above and pay it off at or before delivery (your state instructions describe the payoff-and-release procedure). Selling the Vehicle with an undisclosed lien breaches the warranty in this section. A seller-financing lien created by the payment section above is not a defect in title.
☐ 6. CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE.  Inspection (check one):  the Vehicle   ☐ has   ☐ has not   been inspected by an independent licensed mechanic chosen by Buyer, and the inspection report   ☐ is   ☐ is not   attached to and made part of this Bill of Sale.
☐ Seller represents that the condition of the Vehicle is (check one):   ☐ Excellent   ☐ Good   ☐ Fair   ☐ Poor   ☐ Not working / for parts, and that Seller has disclosed below every defect known to Seller.
Known defects (list all; write “None” if none):

7. ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT (SUPPLEMENTAL).  Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705; 49 C.F.R. Part 580) requires the seller of a motor vehicle to give the buyer a written odometer disclosure when ownership is transferred. For most private sales the operative disclosure is made on the certificate-of-title assignment (or on a secure state reassignment form). This supplemental statement records the same information as evidence; it does not replace the disclosure on the title. Failure to complete the required disclosure, or making a false statement, may result in fines and/or imprisonment.
REQUIRED RHODE ISLAND STATEMENT (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23.2-6(a)): BOTH BUYER AND SELLER HAVE EXAMINED THE TITLE CERTIFICATE OF THIS MOTOR VEHICLE AND IT CORRECTLY REFLECTS THE MILEAGE AS IT APPEARS ON THE ODOMETER.
Seller states that the odometer of the Vehicle described in this Bill of Sale now reads  miles (no tenths), and (check ONE):
☐ The odometer reading reflects the actual mileage of the Vehicle.
☐ The odometer reading reflects mileage in excess of the odometer’s mechanical limits (the odometer has rolled over).
☐ The odometer reading is NOT the actual mileage (odometer discrepancy).
☐ Exempt (check if applicable): ☐ the Vehicle is exempt from odometer disclosure because it has a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 lb., is not self-propelled, or meets the federal age exemption (model year 2010 or older transferred at least 10 years after January 1 of the calendar year corresponding to its model year; model year 2011 or newer transferred at least 20 years after January 1 of the calendar year corresponding to its model year — 49 C.F.R. § 580.17).
TRANSFEROR (SELLER) SIGNATURE DATE      |   TRANSFEREE (BUYER) SIGNATURE DATE
8. ADDITIONAL TERMS (OPTIONAL).  The Parties agree to the following additional terms, if any:

9. GOVERNING LAW.  This Bill of Sale is governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules.
10. SIGNATURES.  The Parties are signing this Bill of Sale on the Date of Sale first written above (or on the date written next to each signature). Every owner listed on the current title or ownership records must sign — additional sellers or buyers sign in the Additional Terms section or on a duplicate original.
Each party should sign two identical originals and keep one. The buyer will need this Bill of Sale (and the signed title assignment) to title and register the vehicle — see your state instructions.
SIGNATURE OF SELLER   PRINTED NAME OF SELLER   DATE SIGNED   |   SIGNATURE OF BUYER   PRINTED NAME OF BUYER   DATE SIGNED
11. NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT (OPTIONAL UNLESS REQUIRED).
Most states do not require a bill of sale to be notarized. A few require notarization of the title-assignment paperwork instead — see your state instructions before skipping this section.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, COUNTY OF .
On , before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared , known to me (or proved to me on satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is signed above as Seller, and acknowledged to me that they signed this Bill of Sale for the purposes stated in it.
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
NOTARY PUBLIC SIGNATURE   |   My commission expires:  [ Notarial seal ]

Fillable fields work best in Microsoft Word; the document also prints cleanly for pen completion.

100% satisfaction guarantee

ILRG provides self-help legal forms and download support. Attorney-drafted PublicLegal bill of sale forms are provided for you to complete with your own transaction information. Agency title, registration, tax, and recording requirements vary by state and transaction — your state Instructions & Rider lists the steps and official forms. If you are not 100 percent satisfied after purchasing from us, contact us for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Bills of Sale

Does Rhode Island require a bill of sale to transfer a vehicle title?

Requirements vary by state. Many agencies ask for a bill of sale as proof of price and date; some publish their own official form. Your Rhode Island Instructions & Rider tells you exactly what your agency requires and links any official form the state publishes.

What warranties am I making with a warranty bill of sale?

This form carries: (1) Warranty of title — you own the item and have the right to sell it; (2) Warranty against encumbrances — the item is free of liens, loans, or claims, except any you disclose in writing; (3) Warranty of condition — the item matches the condition you state. These warranties create legal liability if false, so use this form only when you can truthfully make them. If you are unsure about condition or history, use the as-is version instead — it keeps the ownership warranty and drops the condition warranty.

Is the federal odometer disclosure included?

Yes — the instrument includes a supplemental odometer statement with the federal content (actual mileage / over mechanical limits / not actual, plus the age and GVWR exemptions). Federal law requires an odometer disclosure for most transfers; the operative disclosure is made on the title assignment itself in most states — your rider shows where it lives in Rhode Island. Vehicles from model year 2010 and older are exempt; for 2011 and newer the exemption runs 20 years from January 1 of the model year; vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR and non-self-propelled vehicles are exempt too.

Who handles the title transfer and sales tax?

The buyer titles and registers the vehicle with the Rhode Island agency named in your rider, and generally pays any sales or use tax at that time. The rider gives the Rhode Island rule — rate or how it is set, gift and family-transfer treatment, and the deadline that runs from the date of sale written on this bill of sale.

Can I use this kit when the seller finances the vehicle?

Yes. The instrument records the seller’s security interest in the vehicle and can serve as the security agreement. Pair it with our Promissory Note (regular or balloon); a separate Security Agreement is optional if you want terms beyond this bill of sale. A vehicle lien is perfected by notation on the title — not by a UCC-1 filing — and your Rhode Island rider walks through the title-lien steps with the correct office and form.

Does this bill of sale complete the title transfer by itself?

No — it documents the sale: parties, price, date, odometer reading, warranties, and signatures. The agency’s title and registration process completes the transfer. Your Rhode Island rider lists the forms, deadlines, and any seller notice-of-sale that protects you after delivery where Rhode Island uses one.

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