(a)  It shall be unlawful for the owner of any motor vehicle or truck engaged in the business of renting motor vehicles or trucks without drivers to rent a motor vehicle without a driver otherwise than as a part of a bona fide transaction involving the sale of the motor vehicle or truck, unless the owner has previously notified the division of motor vehicles of the intention to so rent the vehicle and has given proof of financial responsibility, in the following amounts:

(1)  Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for property damage;

(2)  Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for injury or death sustained by one person;

(3)  Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for all personal injuries or deaths resulting from one accident.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-34-1

  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power for use on the public streets, roads, and highways;

    (2)  "Odometer" means an instrument for measuring and recording the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation;

    (3)  "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or business trust including, but not limited to, private individuals and motor vehicle dealers, both wholesale and retail, whether the private individual or dealer is a dealer in the ordinary course of business or not;

    (4)  "Repair and replacement" means to restore to a sound working condition by replacing the instrument or any part thereof or by correcting what is inoperative;

    (5)  "Transfer" means to acquire ownership by purchase, gift, bequest, or any other means. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-23.2-2

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  The division of motor vehicles shall not register the vehicle unless and until the owner gives proof of financial responsibility as provided in this chapter. The division of motor vehicles shall cancel the registration of any motor vehicle or truck rented without a driver whenever the division of motor vehicles ascertains that the owner has failed or is unable to give and maintain proof of financial responsibility.

History of Section.
P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 20, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-34-1; P.L. 1965, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 28, § 1.