Can we gift a car registered in Maine to our daughter in RI? | Ask the DMV

Chuck Hollis
·3 min read

Q: Our recent URI college graduate has moved to Rhode Island from Maine for a job. The car she’s been driving since high school is registered in Maine to us, her parents. When she gets her Rhode Island driver’s license, we would like to gift the car to her so she can register it in Rhode Island. Can we gift a car that is registered to us in Maine to our daughter who is living in Rhode Island?

— Jennifer R., Bowdoin, ME

A: You certainly can gift your vehicle to your daughter. Start by writing a gift letter for the vehicle. A gift letter is similar to a bill of sale, except there are no costs indicated for the vehicle that is being gifted. The gift letter should indicate the relationship between the parties and should describe the vehicle that is being gifted. Example: “I, XXX, gift to my daughter, XXX, the following vehicle: Year, Make, Model and VIN.” Since it is an immediate family member, the gift letter does not need to be notarized per the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.

Below is information from our website, dmv.ri.gov, on the requirements for a gifted vehicle:

Gifted Vehicle

  • Gift letter

  • Title (if model year of vehicle is 2001 or newer) OR proof of previous owner, such as a registration certificate (2000 and older vehicles only)

  • VIN check: Vehicles 2001 or newer, if the title is from another state or the vehicle was registered in another state, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check is required before you register the car.

  • Seller (person giving the vehicle) must sign the back of the title (if model year of vehicle is 2001 or newer).

  • A completed Title & Registration Application (TR-1 form)

  • Sales or Use Tax Exemption Certificate (sales tax information for gifted vehicles: Immediate Family: No sales tax on the vehicle unless outstanding taxes are due. A signed letter of gift is required to exempt you from the sales tax. Immediate family members for purposes of taxation are: parent, stepparent, sibling, stepsibling, spouse, child or stepchild.

  • Insurance information (valid RI insurance)

  • RI license or identification card

I would suggest that any other paperwork relating to this vehicle should be brought, too, in case there are any questions regarding the registration or title of this out-of-state vehicle.

All DMV forms can be found on our website in the “Forms & Fees” tab under “Registration Forms” and “Taxation Forms.” The DMV also has sample letters for a Bill of Sale, Gift Letter Immediate Family, Gift Letter Non-Immediate Family, and Plate Gift Letter. These sample letters can be found in the “Registration, Plates & Titles” tab, and “New Registrations: Forms & Fees.”

This transaction can be done in person, and a reservation is required to enter any DMV branch. Instructions on how to make a reservation can be found on the front page of our website.

To make a reservation online, follow these steps: select “Schedule Reservations & Road Tests,” then “All Other Reservations,” then “Make a New Reservation,” then “Select a Category,” select “License/ID/Registration,” and then “Registration.” A chart will appear with available dates and times for the DMV branches. If no reservations are available, check this reservation system for future openings or cancellations.

This transaction can also be done through the mail: Cranston DMV (600 New London Ave., Cranston, RI 02920) or it can be dropped off at any of the DMV drop boxes. Drop box hours are the same as the branch hours. For locations and hours of our branches, visit our website. Please make sure a form of payment is included, too.

Chuck Hollis
Chuck Hollis

Chuck Hollis is assistant administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to cars@providencejournal.com with “Ask the DMV” in the subject field.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Can we gift a Maine-registered car to daughter in RI? | Ask the DMV