How Many Vehicles Can Be Registered In Both Spouses Names

Rhode Island's Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters in Cranston. [The Providence Journal, file/Kris Craig]

Q: I would similar to add my wife's name to my vehicle'due south registration. Can I do that online? What forms exercise I need to fill out?

— Louis

A: Adding you lot wife's name to the registration depends on the twelvemonth of the vehicle and if there is an existing lien (or loan) on the vehicle.

If the vehicle is 2001 and newer and in that location is a lien on the vehicle, then the first affair you need to do is speak with your lien holder. The lien holder volition release the championship giving you permission to add your wife. The lien holder may release the title and supporting documents to you or they will send them to the Research Office at the Cranston DMV.

If they frontward the title to our Research Office (third flooring of the Cranston DMV), nosotros will call you to permit you lot know when information technology has arrived. Yous will need to fill up out a "TR-1 Awarding" listing both of your names as owners — you would be the seller — and both of your signatures are needed on this application.

If one of yous volition non be present at the fourth dimension of the transaction, then the missing party will need to have their signature notarized. Notaries must use an ink postage stamp and not the ones that are embossed only. (This changed in January 2019.)

You both will besides demand to fill out the "Sales or Employ Tax Exemption Document-Motor Vehicles". You volition need to write a "Gift Letter of the alphabet" gifting ane-one-half of the vehicle to your wife: "I, XXX, gift one-one-half of my interest of the following vehicle: Twelvemonth, Make, MODEL & VIN, to my wife, XXX." Sign and date this alphabetic character. On the dorsum of the title, you will be the seller and both of you volition be the buyers. Don't forget to bring your new loan papers. You will receive a new Registration Document listing both of yous and the new title will be mailed to the lien holder.

If the vehicle is 2001 and newer and there is no lien on the vehicle and you are in possession of the title, then you will need to fill up out a "TR-i Application" list both of your names as owners. You would be the seller, and both of your signatures are needed on this application.

If one of you will non be present at the time of the transaction, then the missing party volition need to have their signature notarized. (It'southward the same notary rules as to a higher place.) You lot both will also need to fill out the "Sales or Employ Revenue enhancement Exemption Certificate-Motor Vehicles." Y'all will need to write a "Souvenir Letter" gifting one-half of the vehicle to your wife: "I, Thirty, gift one-half of my interest of the post-obit vehicle: YEAR, Make, MODEL & VIN, to my wife, Thirty." Sign and date this letter. On the back of the title, y'all will be the Seller and both of you will be the Buyers. You volition receive a new Registration Certificate and the new title will be mailed to you in ii to iii weeks.

If you are non in possession of the title, you need to apply for a duplicate championship before yous can do the above transactions. If at that place was e'er a lien on the vehicle, it may however be listed in our system so a "Lien Release Letter" volition be needed from the lien institution no affair how long ago information technology was. Duplicate Titles requests crave the TR-2 application and there is a fee of $27.fifty. The new title will be mailed to you in 2 to 3 weeks and then y'all can begin of the in a higher place steps.

If the vehicle is 2000 and older and there is no lien on the vehicle, then a championship is not needed. You lot will need to make full out a "TR-1 Awarding" listing both of your names as owners, you would be the seller, and both of your signatures are needed on this application. If one of you volition not be present at the fourth dimension of the transaction, and so the missing party will need to have their signature notarized. (It's the aforementioned notary rules as above.) You both will also need to fill out the "Sales or Apply Tax Exemption Certificate-Motor Vehicles." Yous will demand to write a "Gift Letter" gifting one-half of the vehicle to your wife: "I, 30, souvenir one-half of my interest of the following vehicle: Twelvemonth, Make, MODEL & VIN, to my wife, XXX". Sign and date this letter of the alphabet. Y'all will receive a new Registration Document listing both of you.

Chuck Hollis is assistant ambassador of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to cars@providencejournal.com with "Enquire the DMV" in the subject field.