R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3.1-6: Issuance and records.

(a) The division of motor vehicles shall file each application received and, when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity and that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a certificate of title, shall issue, upon payment of a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), a certificate of title of the vehicle.

(b) The division of motor vehicles shall maintain a record of all certificates of title issued by it:

(1) Under a distinctive title number assigned to the vehicle;

(2) Under the identifying number of the vehicle;

(3) Alphabetically, under the name of the owner; and

(4) At the discretion of the division of motor vehicles, in any other method it determines.

(c) Title searches, lien searches, and other transactions not cited and involving titles shall be conducted upon payment of a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).

(d) Beginning in fiscal year 2015 all fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Rhode Island highway maintenance account.