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The bottom line: Virginia requires a bill of sale (or the state’s Vehicle Price Certification form) for private car sales, which sets it apart from states where documentation is just recommended.
As the seller, you sign Section A on the front of your title, remove your license plates, and report the sale online to the Virginia DMV immediately after. The buyer handles the rest at the DMV within 30 days.
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.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Virginia does not require it. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $15 and can be applied for online through the Virginia DMV website. In-person is also an option at any customer service center.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to title and register the car. A $10 late fee applies if they miss the deadline.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Virginia requires you to report the sale online immediately after it’s done. Do this before canceling your insurance.
- Bill of sale: Required for private sales in Virginia, particularly for vehicles more than 5 years old. You can use a handwritten statement or the official Form SUT 1.
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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
- 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 and $15.00. Processing typically takes 3 to 5 business days in person, or up to two weeks by mail.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. Contact them 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.
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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
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 to title and register the vehicle. A $10 late fee applies if they miss that deadline.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
Virginia requires proof of the purchase price for private vehicle sales. This is especially true for vehicles more than 5 years old, where the state uses this documentation to calculate 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 doesn’t require the bill of sale to be notarized. Use the official state form below or write your own. Without a bill of sale or 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
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Virginia, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own, 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 after you sell the car. Virginia requires you to do this immediately after the sale is complete.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
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 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) | $15.00 | 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 date of purchase 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 doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary.
When is a bill of sale required in Virginia?
Virginia requires proof of the purchase price for private vehicle sales. A bill of sale covers this, and the requirement is especially important for vehicles more than 5 years old.
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. In Virginia, the lender holds the physical title until the loan is paid off, so they’ll need to release it before you can hand it to the buyer.
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?
If the estate went through probate, you’ll need a certified copy of the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration along with the death certificate to transfer the title into your name first.
If the vehicle passed outside of probate (for example, through a TOD Transfer on Death designation), you’ll typically need the death certificate and proof of your relationship.
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 $15.00 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?
No, Virginia license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer leaves.
You can transfer them to another vehicle you own, surrender them at a DMV office or DMV Select, 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 online immediately after the sale is complete. Log in to your myDMV account and submit the notification through the online portal.
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.