How long can we keep license plates from a totaled vehicle? | Ask the RI DMV

Q: Our car has just been declared a total loss. The insurance company has picked up the car and given us a rental for 30 days. We'll be shopping for a replacement vehicle. How long can we hang on to the license plates from the totaled vehicle? We'd like to use them on the replacement vehicle.

— Everett F.

A: In Rhode Island, you cannot have an active registration with no insurance or the Insurance Revocation Block will be placed on those plates. The fine for this is $250, and no further registration transactions can be done until this is cleared up. Information on the Insurance Verification Program can be found on our website, dmv.ri.gov , in our “Adjudications & Suspensions” tab.

If your vehicle was declared a complete loss, and you have no idea when you will be getting a replacement vehicle, I suggest you cancel those plates. You can cancel them online in our “Online Services” tab (have your registration certificate handy), filling out and mailing in the “Affidavit for Cancelation of Registration” form, or dropping them off at any DMV Drop Box with the same affidavit. This form can be found on our website in the “Forms” tab and “Registration Forms,” and they are available at the Drop Box, too.

If you cancel your plates, please hold on to the plates so you can use them for your next vehicle.

If you buy your next vehicle from a private party, you will need to make a registration reservation to come in and process this transaction. Instructions on how to make a reservation can be found on the home page of our website .

If you buy your next vehicle from a dealership and they are doing the registration for you, please tell them you want those plates on your car. Our dealership work that is dropped off or mailed to the Dealer Room has a five-day turnaround.

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: How long can we keep license plates from a totaled vehicle? | Ask the RI DMV