Can I keep my old license plates until my new car arrives? | Ask the DMV
Q: I just sold one of my cars and canceled my insurance. I am in the process of purchasing a new car.
My problem is that it will take approximately three months to get the new car. I would like to keep this plate because it is for my wife. The registration does not expire until Jan. 31, 2023.
I have tried to call the DMV with no luck. I also tried AAA but can't get through to anyone. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.
— Keith B.
A: Our state has the Rhode Island Insurance Verification System (RIIVS). This system matches existing motor vehicle insurance policies with the vehicle identification number (VIN) of actively registered motor vehicles.
If the VIN number does not match to an insurance policy for four consecutive weeks, a "Request for Insurance Verification" letter is generated by the system and sent to the vehicle owner. If the vehicle owner does not comply with the instructions provided in that letter, he/she will receive a "Revocation Notice" informing the vehicle owner that their registration will be revoked. In addition, the vehicle owner will be blocked from renewing their registrations and license.
Motor vehicle owners who have registered vehicles that do not match an existing insurance policy in the system will begin receiving letters. If you receive a “Request for Insurance Verification” letter, you are being informed that RIIVS was unable to verify insurance information for the vehicle listed in the letter (note: each noncompliant vehicle will receive a separate letter). The motor vehicle owner must, by the due date listed on the letter, either:
Obtain insurance or provide proof of existing insurance by notifying your insurance agent or company and requesting that they electronically submit the information to RIIVS using the riivs.com website and reference the number at the top of the letter, or:
Demonstrate that the vehicle meets an exemption detailed in the letter pertaining to seasonal use, out of service, active military, or sold/registered out of state.
Motor vehicle owners who have not complied with the "Request for Insurance Verification" letter will receive a "Revocation Notice" for the registration of the vehicle listed in the letter. If you receive this letter, it means that the registration of the vehicle listed will be revoked. You may have the right to schedule a hearing. A hearing request must be made in writing within 10 days of the notice date. The registration revocation will go into effect on the date listed in the upper-right-hand corner of the letter if a hearing is not requested within 10 days of the notice date. You will find instructions for requesting a hearing on the reverse side of the "Revocation Notice."
If a registration is revoked, you may restore your registration by obtaining insurance, completing an affidavit attesting to the fact that you have obtained such insurance and paying a fee of $252.50.
Revocation restoration may be completed online on our website (dmv.ri.gov) in the “Online Services” tab and then at “Insurance Revocation Reinstatement” or in person, with a reservation, at the Insurance Verification Office located on the first floor of the Division of Motor Vehicles located at 600 New London Ave., Cranston. Instructions on how to make a reservation are found on the home page of our website.
You have options. You can cancel the registration. If you do this, you have one year before that plate would be available to anyone else, but you would lose the registration fees that you paid. Or you could transfer that plate onto another vehicle you own and you wouldn’t lose the registration fees that you paid.
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: Ask RI DMV: How can I keep my plates when my car hasn't arrived yet?
