Selling a North Providence car that no longer runs

When Rhode Island calls a car abandoned

State law, section 31-42-1, gives three ways a car becomes an "abandoned motor vehicle":

• it does not run, is older than 8 years, and has stayed on a public road or other public land beyond 48 hours
• it has been parked illegally on public land for over 3 days
• it has been kept on private land for over 3 days without the landowner agreeing to it

The law also defines an "abandoned motor vehicle of no value". That is a car that can't run, is more than 10 years old, has no registration, lacks a valid inspection sticker, and is worth $500 or less. Those figures are legal tests, not a price anyone pays.

Before and after a police tow

Section 31-42-2 has police tag the car with a notice 48 hours ahead of the tow. Next, section 31-42-3 allows 15 days for a registered letter to go out to the last registered owner and to any lienholder. From there the owner has three weeks to cover towing and storage and reclaim the car. An unclaimed car goes to public auction under section 31-42-4, and whoever buys it gets the title with no liens attached.

Registration lost? Ask the police

When a registration is faulty, lost or destroyed, section 31-42-7 points owners to the local police department. North Providence sellers sign this application under oath. It lists your name and address, the car's make, model, year and serial number, and how the registration was lost. Once the notice period runs out, the police hand over a certificate of authority, which a demolisher takes "in lieu of registration." Landowners left with someone else's abandoned car can apply the same way.

The title and the sale

Rhode Island's Division of Motor Vehicles issues every title in the state; counties play no part. We checked the DMV office at 2000 Diamond Hill Road in Woonsocket. Its number is (401) 356-4031. It is about 11 miles north of the center of North Providence in a straight line.

For model year 2001 and newer, the back of the title is the transfer form: seller's signature, buyer's signature, odometer reading. A car built before 2001 gets its first title only when it is sold or a lien goes on it. In both cases, North Providence sellers sign a bill of sale listing the VIN, price, color, model, make and year, with their address below their name. Missing the title? See junk car with no title.

The plates come off with you

Rhode Island leaves the plates with the seller. End the registration online and save the email the DMV sends back, since that email is your proof. Once you have it, the plates can go to recycling or be destroyed; nothing needs mailing. After you sell covers the last steps.

Nearby

Providence is 3.3 miles away, Lincoln 3.7 and Johnston 4.0. Statewide rules are on the Rhode Island page.

Getting an offer

Phone (877) 421-6008 about your North Providence car, or send us the form. We pick up off Fruit Hill Avenue, on side streets, or at your work lot.