R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-38-20: Persons exempt.

This chapter does not prohibit the registered owner of any motor vehicle, or any person related by blood or marriage to that registered owner, from performing any type of work usually performed in an auto body shop, upon the vehicle that is registered in his or her own name; provided, that the work is done personally by the registered owner or that relative, and he or she neither employs nor compensates any person, monetarily or otherwise, to aid and assist in that work.