Rhode Island § 31-46-7 - Rhode Island Salvage Law

§ 31-46-7. Repair of salvaged vehicles — Licenses.

(a) A salvage rebuilders’ license shall be established and issued to all licensed auto body repair facilities that qualify under established guidelines. The regulations shall outline equipment and training necessary to rebuild (total loss) salvage vehicles prior to the issuance of a certificate of salvage title by the division of motor vehicles under § 31-46-4. The guidelines shall be promulgated by and the license shall be issued by the department of business regulation.

(b) No company, corporation, business or person(s) shall rebuild salvage vehicles unless in possession of a valid salvage rebuilders license.

(c) Any vehicle repaired or rebuilt by person(s) not in possession of this license shall have its title stamped “FOR PARTS ONLY”.

(d) Any company, agency or person(s) found in violation of this section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, or a fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

(e) The director of the department of business regulation shall be required to issue a “salvage rebuilders license form” which for the purposes of record keeping shall be numbered. Any salvage vehicle sold to a salvage rebuilder licensee shall be assigned a salvage rebuilders license form which shall be presented at the time of registration of any salvage vehicle.