I'm from RI too. The last time I registered a new-to-me old MB the transaction passed through a dealer on VT. I think that if you have the dealer's bill of sale they don't do the NADA thing. I'm not 100% sure but I do know that I registered an 85 300D, sales price $1100.00 and had no issues. Funny thing is it shows up on my property tax and I need to pay a little every year whereas my 2001 Subaru and 89 Mazda are considered worth 0 and they are both good cars. RI sucks anyway. I'm born there, raised there but haven't worked in the state for 35 years. Pretty nasty, crooked little state.

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1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.