Can I transfer Fla. registration to RI and skip the inspection? | Ask the RI DMV
Q: I have a winter home in Florida but am a permanent resident of Rhode Island. I have a car registered in Florida and I keep it there. Can I transfer the registration to Rhode Island and exempt the inspection requirement? Can I also do so on an annual basis?
Also, if I want to buy a car in Florida, can I do the same?
— Jack C.
A: Vehicles that are registered in Rhode Island but garaged in another state can apply for the Out of State Inspection by using a form that can be found on our website: dmv.ri.gov.
The following information is from the DMV’s website:
This (Out of State Inspection) form is used to verify that your vehicle or equipment is out-of-state, and will miss its required vehicle inspection. On occasion, vehicles are not in the State of Rhode Island during the month that its current inspection approval expires and it is reasonable to understand that these vehicles should not be expected to be returned to Rhode Island solely for the purpose of inspection. The State will accept the certificate of inspection and approval issued to a vehicle that was not in the State of Rhode Island during the month that its inspection approval expired, providing that the out of state authority has a safety and emissions inspection law similar to the one in Rhode Island. These regulations are not to be interpreted to mean that a Rhode Island registered vehicle can be taken out of state to be inspected. This privilege is only granted to vehicles that are not in Rhode Island during the expiration month of the current approval. This out-of-state inspection certificate will be honored for five (5) days when the vehicle is returned to Rhode Island.
In the event that a vehicle has not been inspected in another state, (the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is currently domiciled lacks an inspection program or does not inspect vehicles registered in other jurisdictions) the vehicle will be allowed five (5) Division of Motor Vehicles business days upon its return to the State of Rhode Island in which to obtain an inspection approval.
The burden of proof that the vehicle was out of state at the time the existing approval on the vehicle expired is solely the responsibility of the registered owner.
I would also check the motor vehicle laws of Florida in regards to their registration requirements for vehicles that are there permanently.
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 I transfer Fla. registration to RI, skip inspection? | Ask the DMV
