Who values motor vehicles in the State of Rhode Island?

The presumptive values of most motor vehicles are determined by the Rhode Island Vehicle Value Commission (“Commission”), whose members are appointed according to Rhode Island Gen. Laws 44-34-11. According to Rhode Island Gen. Laws 44-34-11:

“The Commission shall annually determine the presumptive values of vehicles and trailers subject to the excise tax in the following manner.

(1) Not earlier than September 30 and not later than December 31 of each year, the commission shall by rule adopt a methodology for determining the presumptive value of vehicles and trailers subject to the excise tax which shall give consideration to the following factors: (i) The average retail price of similar vehicles of the same make, model, type, and year of manufacture as reported by motor vehicle dealers or by official used car guides, such as that of the National Automobile Dealers Association of New England.  Where regional guides are not available, the commission shall use other publications deemed appropriate;...
(2) On or before February 1st of each year, it shall adopt a list of values for vehicles and trailers of the same make, model, type, and year of manufacture of the preceding December  31st in accordance with the methodology adopted between September 30 and December 31; the list shall be subject to a public hearing at least fill  (5) business days prior  to the date of its adoption.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require the commission  to determine  the presumptive  value of vehicles and trailers which ate unique, to which special equipment has been added or to   which special modifications have been made, or for which adequate information is not available from the sources referenced in subdivision (I) of this subsection; provided, that the commission  may  consider those factors in its lists or regulations."

Further, according to Rhode Island Gen. Laws 44-34-9: 

“For the purpose of the imposition of an excise tax upon motor vehicles, the tax assessor shall determine the value of each motor vehicle in accordance with the following procedures.

(3) The value of each vehicle or trailer or each type vehicle or trailer not established by the Rhode Island vehicle value commission shall be determined by the assessor of the city or town in which the vehicle or trailer is registered.  In making the determination, a uniform flat value for the vehicles in the municipality may be utilized by the assessor.

The Commission fulfills this statutory responsibility by adopting the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) values.