The duties below bind a person leaving Rhode Island. Each carries its source
and a visible verification date; expand any citation for the exact quoted
text. Verified Sep 2026.
Every quoted source on this page was found on a saved copy of its page dated Sep 28, 2026 or later.
Duties people expect here that the cited law does not impose
Each of these is a claim commonly made about leaving Rhode Island. Each was
checked against the provision named with it, and is not there. The
finding is bounded by that provision and says nothing about the rest of
Rhode Island law.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: Every departing Rhode Island operator's or chauffeur's license holder must surrender or cancel the license because he or she moves out of state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-10-32 requires a licensee who moves, or whose name changes, to notify the division of motor vehicles in writing of the old and new addresses or the former and new names and the number of any license then held; it states no surrender or cancellation duty triggered by leaving the state
Related duty that does exist: license address change.
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10-32 verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-10/31-10-32.htm
that person shall within ten (10) days thereafter notify the division of motor vehicles in writing of his or her old and new addresses or of his or her former and new names and of the number of any license then held by him or her.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: Every holder of a Rhode Island state identification card must notify the division of motor vehicles of an address change or surrender the card upon leaving the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-10.4-1(a) authorizes the division of motor vehicles, upon application of any person who is unable to establish legal presence in the United States, to issue a driver privilege card and/or driver privilege permit, or a Rhode Island state identification card, to any applicant if the division determines that the applicant meets the conditions the section lists; the section states no address-change or surrender duty for the card
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-10.4-1(a) verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-10.4/31-10.4-1.htm
Upon application of any person who is unable to establish legal presence in the United States, the division of motor vehicles is authorized to issue a driver privilege card and/or driver privilege permit, if the applicant otherwise meets the requirements of chapter 10 of this title, or a Rhode Island state identification card, to any applicant, if the division of motor vehicles determines that the applicant:
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: Every Rhode Island vehicle owner must surrender or cancel the vehicle's Rhode Island certificate of title because the owner moves out of state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-3.1-1 requires, except as provided in section 31-3.1-2, every owner of a vehicle which is in this state and for which no certificate of title has been issued to apply for one; it states no duty to surrender or cancel the certificate when the owner leaves
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3.1-1(a) verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3.1/31-3.1-1.htm
Except as provided in § 31-3.1-2, every owner of a vehicle which is in this state and for which no certificate of title has been issued by the division of motor vehicles shall make application to the division for a certificate of title of the vehicle.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: Every Rhode Island vehicle owner must cancel the vehicle's Rhode Island registration because the owner moves out of state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-3-2 subjects a vehicle owned by a resident of this state to the registration provisions when it is operated or drawn upon a highway within this state for the period the section states, with exceptions that include a vehicle operated in conformance with the provisions relating to nonresidents; it states no cancellation duty triggered by the owner's departure
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-2 verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3/31-3-2.htm
Every motor vehicle ... owned by a resident of this state when operated or drawn upon a highway within this state for a period of thirty (30) days, shall be subject to the registration provisions of chapters 3 — 9 of this title except: (1) Any vehicle operated upon a highway in conformance with the provisions of the chapters relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, lien holders, or nonresidents
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: Every departing Rhode Island vehicle owner must surrender the vehicle's Rhode Island registration plates because the owner or the vehicle leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-3-32 provides for every registration card and registration plate to expire on the dates it sets, subject to the staggered registration system the division implements, not on departure; the section states no plate-surrender duty triggered by leaving the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-32 verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3/31-3-32.htm
Every vehicle registration under chapters 3 — 9 of this title and every registration card and registration plate issued under this chapter shall expire at midnight on the thirty-first (31st) day of March of each year, except that the director of the department of revenue, division of motor vehicles shall implement a staggered registration system ... Every registration card and registration plate issued to apportioned vehicles shall expire on the thirty-first (31st) day of May of each year.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: A Rhode Island auto insurance policy must be cancelled or terminated by the insured specifically because the insured leaves Rhode Island
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-47-4 governs the notice of termination when the insurer cancels or fails to renew a policy; it states no duty on the insured to cancel or terminate a policy because the insured leaves the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-4(a) verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-47/31-47-4.htm
No contract of insurance or renewal of it shall be terminated by cancellation or failure to renew by the insurer until at least thirty (30) days after mailing to the named insured, at the address shown on the policy a notice of termination or cancellation by certificate of mailing, except that when cancellation is for nonpayment of premium the notice shall be mailed ... at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of cancellation.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: A departing Rhode Island vehicle owner or operator must file a specific financial-responsibility surrender or release because he or she leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Under section 31-47-9, an owner of a motor vehicle registered or required to be registered in this state who knowingly operates it, or knowingly permits it to be operated, in this state without the financial security the chapter requires may be subject to a mandatory suspension of license and registration; the section states no filing or notice duty triggered by the owner's or operator's departure
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-9(a) verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-47/31-47-9.htm
Any owner of a motor vehicle registered or required to be registered in this state who shall knowingly operate the motor vehicle or knowingly permit it to be operated in this state without having in full force and effect the financial security required by the provisions of this chapter ... may be subject to a mandatory suspension of license and registration
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: A departing Rhode Island vehicle owner must obtain a final safety inspection or surrender the vehicle's Rhode Island inspection certificate because the vehicle leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-38-1(a) bars selling at retail, driving or moving a vehicle on any highway unless its equipment is in good working order and the vehicle is in safe mechanical condition; it imposes no inspection or certificate-surrender duty triggered by the vehicle's departure from the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-38-1(a) verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-38/31-38-1.htm
No person shall sell at retail, drive, or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer or any combination of them unless the equipment upon the vehicle is in good working order and adjustment as required in this title, and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: A Rhode Island voter must personally notify the local board of canvassers and cancel his or her own registration upon moving out of state
What the cited law does instead. Under section 17-9.1-26(e), if the voter fails to vote by the second general election following the date of the confirmation mailing, the voter shall be removed from the voting list; the section sets out the local board's confirmation process and imposes no personal cancellation duty on a voter who has moved
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-9.1-26(e) verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE17/17-9.1/17-9.1-26.htm
If the voter fails to vote by the second general election following the date of the confirmation mailing, then the voter shall be removed from the voting list.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: A snowmobile or recreational vehicle owner must notify the director of a change of address because the owner leaves Rhode Island
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-3.2-4 requires written notice to the director within fifteen (15) days after the transfer of ownership, other than a security interest, or the destruction or abandonment of a snowmobile or recreational vehicle; it states no address-change notice
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3.2-4 verified Sep 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3.2/31-3.2-4.htm
Within fifteen (15) days after the transfer of ownership, or any part of it, other than a security interest, or the destruction or abandonment of any snowmobile or recreational vehicle, written notice of that transfer or destruction shall be given to the director in any form that he or she shall prescribe.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A holder of a Rhode Island identification card issued under section 3-8-6 to a person who has reached his or her twenty-first birthday must notify the division of motor vehicles of an address change or surrender the card upon leaving the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 3-8-6(b)(1) has the administrator of the division of motor vehicles issue a Rhode Island identification card to any person who has reached his or her twenty-first birthday; it states no address-change or surrender duty for a card holder who leaves
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-6 verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE3/3-8/3-8-6.htm
The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue to any person who has reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday a Rhode Island identification card
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A vehicle owner must execute an assignment of the certificate of title because the owner leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-3.1-12(a) attaches the owner's duty to execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee to a transfer of his or her interest in a vehicle, other than by the creation of a security interest; it states no title duty triggered by the owner leaving the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3.1-12(a) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3.1/31-3.1-12.htm
If the owner transfers his or her interest in a vehicle, other than by the creation of a security interest, he or she shall, at the time of the delivery of the vehicle, execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A vehicle owner must surrender or return the registration card and plates to the division of motor vehicles because the owner leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-3-41 provides that whenever, under any of the provisions of title 31, a person surrenders, returns, or delivers a registration card or plate to any person in the division of motor vehicles a receipt shall be given; it states no duty to surrender, return, or deliver the card or plate because the owner leaves the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-41 verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3/31-3-41.htm
Whenever, under any of the provisions of title 31 ... a person surrenders, returns, or delivers to any person in the division of motor vehicles, any registration card or plate, a receipt shall be given, sufficiently identifying the registration card or plate and showing the date it was received.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: An insured must cancel the vehicle's insurance because the insured leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-47-4(c) requires every notice of termination sent to the insured to include a statement that financial security is required to be maintained continuously throughout the registration period; it states no duty on the insured to cancel because the insured leaves the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-4(c) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-47/31-47-4.htm
Every notice of termination for any cause whatsoever sent to the insured shall include ... a statement that financial security is required to be maintained continuously throughout the registration period and that failure to maintain financial security shall subject the violator to a mandatory suspension of license and registration.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A vehicle owner who gave a financial security bond or deposit must surrender the registration and number plates because the owner leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-47-6(a) directs the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to permit cancellation of a bond or direct return of a deposit upon the surrender of the registration and number plates, and states that the administrator shall not release the bond or deposit in the event any action for damages upon a liability referred to in this chapter is then pending, or any judgment upon any liability then outstanding and unsatisfied; it states no duty to surrender them because the owner leaves the state
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-6(a) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-47/31-47-6.htm
The administrator of the division of motor vehicles, upon the surrender of the registration and number plates for a motor vehicle for which a financial security bond or deposit was accepted by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, shall permit the cancellation of any bond or shall direct that any deposit be returned by the general treasurer. ... shall not release the bond or deposit in the event any action for damages upon a liability referred to in this chapter is then pending, or any judgment upon any liability then outstanding and unsatisfied
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A vehicle owner must obtain a motor vehicle emissions inspection because the vehicle or owner leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 31-47.1-3(a) subjects each motor vehicle subject to the chapter to a motor vehicle emissions inspection; it states no inspection triggered by the vehicle or owner leaving the state
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A person who leaves Rhode Island owes a municipal motor vehicle excise under chapter 44-34 after the vehicle leaves
What the cited law does instead. Section 3 of the 2023 enactment states that chapter 44-34, entitled Excise on Motor Vehicles and Trailers, is repealed in its entirety, and section 6 of the act states that it takes effect on July 1, 2023
Statute P.L. 2023, ch. 203, §§ 3, 6 (2023-H 5619) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/PublicLaws/law23/law23203.htm
Chapter 44-34 of the General Laws entitled "Excise on Motor Vehicles and Trailers" is hereby repealed in its entirety. ... This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A holder of a Rhode Island license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver loses it, or must give it up, because the holder leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 11-47-12 states that every license or permit is valid unless sooner revoked; it states no duty to give it up for a holder who leaves
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A holder of a Rhode Island license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver must surrender or transfer it because the holder leaves the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 11-47-13 provides that any license or permit may be revoked for just cause at any time by the authority granting it; it states no surrender or transfer duty triggered by the holder leaving the state
not a duty · verified Oct 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Oct 4, 2026
Not in the cited law: A registered voter must notify the local board of canvassers of a move out of the state
What the cited law does instead. Section 17-9.1-27(a) makes the office of the secretary of state responsible for obtaining the NCOA data and providing each local board of canvassers with their data, provides that the updating shall be performed by each local board, and has the local board institute the confirmation process if address changes are detected for any voter; it states no notice duty on the voter
Statute R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-9.1-27(a) verified Oct 2026
This finding is about the provision named here and claims nothing
beyond it.
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE17/17-9.1/17-9.1-27.htm
The office of the secretary of state shall be responsible for obtaining the NCOA data and providing each local board of canvassers with their data; provided, that the updating shall be performed by each local board. ... if address changes are detected for any voter, the local board shall institute the confirmation process described in § 17-9.1-26.
not a duty · verified Sep 2026 · quote found on a saved page, Sep 28, 2026
Not in the cited law: A holder of a Rhode Island license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver must notify the licensing authority of a change of address because the holder moves
What the cited law does instead. Section 11-47-11(a) provides that the license or permit shall bear the address of the licensee; it states no address-change notice duty on a holder who moves