Can a leased car that I recently bought be registered at a AAA office? | Ask the RI DMV

Q: I am in the process of purchasing my leased vehicle from Toyota Financial Services. Can I register my car at the local AAA office, or do I need to go to the DMV?

— John K.

A: On our website (dmv.ri.gov), we have a whole section on “Leased Vehicles” that can be found in the “Registration, Plates & Titles” tab. Here we explain about “New Registration of a Leased Vehicle,” “Out of State Transfer of a Leased Vehicle,” and “Lease Buyout.”

Here is the information and requirements of a “Lease Buyout”:

• Application for Registration TR-1 form (Forms/Registration Forms)
• Valid RI insurance information for the vehicle
• Original Title (no copies, Seller and Buyer must sign the back of the title)
• Bill of Sale from Leasing Company
• Original Lease agreement
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR found on VIN plate on driver's side door jamb)
• RI license or identification card. If a valid Out of State license is presented, proof of residency is required.
• If two owners on title, both parties must be present during registration, if not, signature of the absent party must be notarized on Application for Registration.
• VIN Check: If the title is from another state or the vehicle was registered in another state, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check is required before you register the car.

This type of transaction can only be done at the DMV. To make a reservation at a DMV branch, instructions can be found on our homepage. You can also mail in or drop off all your paperwork with a form of payment, and we will process the transaction for you.

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.