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The bottom line: Selling a car privately in Virginia is straightforward. Sign Section A on the front of your title and report the sale online to the Virginia DMV Immediately after.
The buyer then handles the rest at the DMV within 30 days from the sale date. A bill of sale is recommended (required when the vehicle is more than 5 years old), so be ready to provide one to document the sale price for the buyer’s tax calculation.
Not sure if a private sale is the right move? You can compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor to see what your car is worth before committing.
Virginia at a glance
- Title required to sell: yes
- Title notarization required: not required
- Cost to replace a lost title: $14 online / $15 by mail
- Replacement title processing time: about 5 business days by mail
- Title replacement available online: yes
- Bill of sale required: recommended (required when the vehicle is more than 5 years old)
- Bill of sale notarization required: no
- Emissions testing required to sell: not required of the seller, but the buyer must pass an emissions test at registration if the vehicle is garaged in Northern Virginia
- Safety inspection required to sell: not required to sell, but the vehicle must have a valid annual safety inspection sticker to be operated
- License plates stay: with the seller
- Buyer’s deadline to register: 30 days from the sale date
- Buyer penalty for missing deadline: a $10 late fee
- Form to release yourself from liability: None required (online filing only)
- Deadline to file release of liability: Immediately
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Step-by-Step Process for Virginia
Step 1: Prepare Your Virginia Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Virginia driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Bill of sale or Form SUT 1 – required when the vehicle is more than 5 years old, to document the sale price for the buyer's sales tax calculation
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Apply online or visit any DMV customer service center with your ID.
The fee is $14 online / $15 by mail, and processing takes about 5 business days by mail. E-title holders can request a free paper print online if no lien exists, so check your myDMV account before paying for a replacement you may not need.
For a quick walkthrough of your options, watch our short video on selling a car without a title in Virginia.
If you still owe money on the car:
The lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. After payoff, the lien is released electronically and DMV mails the paper title to you. Contact your lender to get a lien release letter or have them send the title directly to you once the balance is cleared.
Some lenders can coordinate the lien payoff during the sale itself if the buyer is paying cash. If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Virginia, especially in Richmond, Virginia Beach, and the Northern Virginia (DC metro) area where buyer activity is highest.
Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Maryland and DC.
Virginia’s large military and federal workforce creates strong, year-round demand for reliable used cars across all price ranges.
Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car in good condition.
Best for Newer Cars
-
Offer amount 35% 5/5
-
Process ease 20% 5/5
-
Offer validity 15% 4/5
-
Pickup / drop-off 15% 4/5
-
Payment speed 15% 4/5
- Accepts cars with active loans
- Trade-in can save on sales tax
- License plate starts the quote
- Direct deposit option available
Best for Older Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 4/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 5/5
-
Process ease 15% 5/5
- Quote stays valid for 7 days
- Handles all the paperwork too
- Buys cars that are missing keys
- Pays cash or check at pickup
Best for Junk Cars
-
Offer amount 30% 5/5
-
Quote speed 20% 5/5
-
Pickup speed 20% 5/5
-
Vehicle acceptance 15% 4/5
-
Process ease 15% 4/5
- Assists with replacement titles
- Buys cars stripped for parts
- Driver pays you before loading
- Quote often needs a phone call
Learn more:
Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
Learn more:
Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Virginia Title Transfer
Virginia accepts seller and buyer signatures on the title without a notary, so you can complete the assignment without a notary appointment.
Go to Section A on the front of your Virginia title. Print and sign your full name exactly as it appears on the title. If there are multiple owners listed, all of them must sign here.
In Section A, also fill in the buyer’s full name and address, the sale date, the odometer reading, and the sale price. Use blue or black ink only. Any white-out, corrections, or cross-outs will void the title completely.
You must record the current odometer reading on the title assignment for all private sales. Virginia doesn’t have a mileage-based exemption for most passenger vehicles, so disclose the actual mileage regardless of the car’s age.
Virginia offers electronic titling (the “Casual Sale Program”) for qualifying sales. If both you and the buyer are Virginia residents with myDMV accounts, you can complete the entire title transfer online without visiting a DMV office.
The buyer generates a buyer code, you enter it and complete your portion, and the transfer must be finished within 48 hours before it cancels.
If the title is from another state and doesn’t have an assignment section, you’ll need to complete a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement and give it to the buyer to present at the DMV.
The buyer takes the signed title and completes Section H on the back (Certification of Buyer) when they visit the DMV. They have 30 days from the sale date to title and register the vehicle, and missing the deadline triggers a $10 late fee.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale
A bill of sale is recommended (required when the vehicle is more than 5 years old). The state uses this documentation to calculate the buyer’s sales tax.
Your bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by both the buyer and seller. It should include the vehicle year, make, model, VIN, sale price, sale date, and both parties’ contact information.
Virginia does not require the bill of sale to be notarized. Use the official state form below or write your own.
Without a bill of sale or Form SUT 1 on file, the DMV may calculate the buyer’s sales tax using NADA market value instead of the actual sale price.
Use the official state form. Form SUT 1 (Vehicle Price Certification)
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Virginia License Plates and Registration
In Virginia, plates stay with the seller. You can transfer the plates to a new vehicle, surrender them at any DMV customer service center or DMV Select office, or deactivate them online through your myDMV account.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car at the DMV.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File online with the Virginia DMV Immediately after you sell the car. You can file it Report the sale online through your myDMV account, by phone, or at a customer service center..
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. Without it, the seller may remain liable for tickets, accidents, and tolls until the sale is reported.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Virginia Sale Checklist
Before the Sale
At the Sale
After the Sale
Virginia DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
- Virginia DMV: Buying and Selling a Vehicle
- Electronic Titling (Casual Sale Program)
Phone Support:
- (804) 497-7100
Virginia Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $14 online / $15 by mail | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
Virginia law (Code 46.2-628) gives the buyer 30 days from the sale date to apply for a new title and registration. Missing this deadline results in a $10 late fee from the DMV.
If the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the buyer can complete the transfer on the next business day.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Virginia?
No, Virginia does not require title notarization. Virginia accepts seller and buyer signatures on the title without a notary.
When is a bill of sale required in Virginia?
A bill of sale is recommended (required when the vehicle is more than 5 years old). Virginia uses it to document the sale price for the buyer’s tax calculation.
Without a bill of sale or Form SUT 1, the DMV will calculate the buyer’s sales tax using NADA market value, which is often higher than what they actually paid.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Virginia?
Yes, but you need to coordinate the lien release with your lender first. The lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. After payoff, the lien is released electronically and DMV mails the paper title to you.
If you owe more than the car is worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket before the title can transfer.
My car was inherited. What additional Virginia forms do I need?
Virginia DMV customer service centers can walk you through the specific paperwork based on how the vehicle was titled.
Both my spouse and I are on the Virginia title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title is worded. If your names are joined by “AND,” both of you must sign Section A. If joined by “OR,” either one of you can sign alone.
What if I make a mistake on the Virginia title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any correction voids the title in Virginia.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form VSA 67, pay the duplicate title fee, and start fresh with a clean document.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Virginia require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. Sign Section A on the title, provide a bill of sale, remove your plates, and report the sale to the Virginia DMV Immediately.
The buyer will handle registration in their home state according to their local rules. They may need to get a VIN inspection in their state before registering.
Do Virginia license plates transfer to the buyer?
Virginia license plates stay with the seller. After that, you can transfer the plates to a new vehicle, surrender them at any DMV customer service center or DMV Select office, or deactivate them online through your myDMV account.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires you to report the sale to the DMV Immediately after the sale is complete. You can file it Report the sale online through your myDMV account, by phone, or at a customer service center..
This protects you from liability if the new owner gets tickets or is in an accident before they register the vehicle in their name.
Article Update History
Virginia's DMV requirements, fees, and form links were verified directly against the Virginia DMV website and state law.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
"with the seller" Accessed May 4, 2026
"recommended (required when the vehicle is more than 5 years old)" Accessed May 4, 2026
"yes" Accessed May 4, 2026
"$14 online / $15 by mail" Accessed May 4, 2026
Emissions Testing Required to Sell?
"not required of the seller, but the buyer must pass an emissions test at registration if the vehicle is garaged in Northern Virginia" Accessed May 4, 2026
"Form SUT 1" Accessed May 4, 2026
Electronic Title Handling Note
"E-title holders can request a free paper print online if no lien exists" Accessed May 4, 2026
"The lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. After payoff, the lien is released electronically and DMV mails the paper title to you." Accessed May 4, 2026
Duplicate Title Application Form
"Form VSA 67" Accessed May 4, 2026
Release of Liability Filing Deadline
"Immediately" Accessed May 4, 2026
Buyer Registration Deadline After Sale
"30 days from the sale date" Accessed May 4, 2026
Safety Inspection Required to Sell?
"not required to sell, but the vehicle must have a valid annual safety inspection sticker to be operated" Accessed May 4, 2026
Buyer Penalty for Missing Registration Deadline
"a $10 late fee" Accessed May 4, 2026
Inherited Vehicle Form Requirements
"If the estate went through probate, submit a certified copy of the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration plus the death certificate to transfer the title into your name. If the vehicle passed outside of probate, such as through a TOD (Transfer on Death) designation, submit the death certificate and proof of your relationship. For small estates under $75,000, an affidavit may be used instead." Accessed May 4, 2026
How to Apply for a Replacement Title
"online, in person at any customer service center, or by mail" Accessed May 4, 2026