Free Virginia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale
Virginia is a universal-background-check state: since July 2020, most private firearm sales between Virginia residents must run through a Federal Firearms Licensee, who conducts a background check using the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program. The law covers any sale for money, goods, services, or anything else of value and lists no family exception; a true gift is not a sale, and Virginia State Police ask people with gift questions to call the Firearms Transaction Center at (804) 674-2292. A bill of sale documents the make, model, caliber, and serial number of the firearm and creates a personal record of when ownership changed hands, which matters if the gun is later lost, stolen, or recovered at a crime scene.
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Private firearm sales carry more legal requirements than most buyers realize — background check laws, waiting periods, and prohibited-person rules vary widely by state. Our guide explains when a bill of sale is legally required and what it must say. Read: Do I Need a Bill of Sale? →
Virginia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
Exempt
Title Required
No
Virginia does not title firearms. Since 2020, however, Virginia requires a background check on most private firearm sales: the parties must meet at a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) who runs the check through the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program. The bill of sale supplements the FFL's record but does not replace it. Since July 1, 2026, Virginia also bans the sale and purchase of "assault firearms" as defined in Va. Code § 18.2-308.2:2 (a Class 1 misdemeanor for seller and buyer), so check that definition before selling a semi-automatic rifle, pistol, or shotgun.
Inspection
Not required
Sales Tax Details
Private-party firearm transfers between Virginia residents are not collected at a sales-tax counter, but the dealer who runs the check may charge up to $15 for it, plus the $2 State Police fee ($5 for an out-of-state buyer).
Inspection Requirements
Virginia does not inspect firearms, but the FFL conducting a private-sale background check verifies the buyer's ID, runs the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program check, and may decline to proceed if the buyer is prohibited.
Virginia Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Confirm both parties are Virginia residents and not federally prohibited from possessing firearms
- Meet at a Virginia FFL for a private-sale background check (mandatory since 2020 for private sales)
- Pay the dealer's check fee (up to $15, plus the $2 State Police fee) and wait for the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program approval
- Complete a written bill of sale with make, model, caliber, serial number, price, date, and signatures
- Photograph the serial number stamp on the firearm and attach it to your records
- Verify the buyer's age: no handgun to anyone under 18, and the dealer running the check may apply its own federal age limits (21 for handguns)
- For a gift with nothing given in return, call the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center at (804) 674-2292 before the transfer
Common Pitfalls
- Selling to anyone, including a relative, without a dealer background check — a Class 1 misdemeanor for the seller and the buyer since 2020
- Skipping ID verification and unknowingly transferring to a prohibited person
- Handing any firearm directly to an out-of-state buyer — federal law requires interstate transfers to go through a licensed dealer
- Failing to keep a bill of sale, then having the firearm linked back to you years later
- Forgetting that the FFL's record is on a 4473 form, not a Virginia state title — the bill of sale fills that civil-record gap
- Assuming a sale to a family member is exempt — the background-check law covers every sale for value and lists no family exception
Pro Tip
Pair your bill of sale with the FFL transfer receipt and a photo of the serial number — together they form the cleanest civilian record of a Virginia firearm transfer.
Virginia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — FAQs
Do I have to use an FFL for a private gun sale in Virginia?
In most cases, yes. Since July 1, 2020, Virginia has required a background check on private firearm sales, which means buyer and seller must meet at a Federal Firearms Licensee who runs the check through the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program. The dealer may charge up to $15 for the check, plus a $2 State Police fee. Selling without the check is a Class 1 misdemeanor for the seller, and buying that way is a Class 1 misdemeanor for the buyer. The law covers any sale for money, goods, services, or anything else of value and lists no family exception. A true gift is not a sale; for gifts, Virginia State Police ask you to call the Firearms Transaction Center at (804) 674-2292.
Why bother with a bill of sale if the FFL keeps a record?
The FFL files an ATF Form 4473 with the buyer's information and runs the background check, but that document lives at the dealer and is not a public record. A separate bill of sale gives the seller and buyer their own dated, signed proof of the transaction. If the firearm is later stolen and recovered at a crime scene, ATF traces it back to the last 4473 — which may be the previous owner's. A bill of sale lets the prior seller demonstrate they no longer owned it on the date in question, which can save time and trouble during a federal trace.
Can I transfer a handgun to my adult child in Virginia without going through an FFL?
Only as a true gift. Virginia's background-check law covers sales for money, goods, services, or anything else of value and lists no family exception, so a sale to your child goes through a dealer check. For a gift, call the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center at (804) 674-2292 first, and still write a bill of sale that lists the firearm's make, model, caliber, and serial number, the transfer date, and the family relationship. Federal law requires the recipient to be at least 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns from a dealer, but private intra-family transfers in Virginia generally allow handguns at 18 between family.
What information should a Virginia gun bill of sale include?
List the firearm's manufacturer, model, type (rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver), caliber or gauge, and serial number exactly as engraved. Add the sale price (or "gift" if no money changed hands), date of transfer, FFL name and license number if a dealer ran the background check, and the printed names, addresses, and signatures of both parties. State that the seller represents the firearm is lawfully owned and not stolen and that the buyer is not federally or Virginia-prohibited from possession. Notarization is optional but inexpensive and worthwhile for higher-value firearms or when the parties do not know each other.
Can a Virginia resident sell a gun to someone from another state?
Only through a licensed dealer. Federal law (the Gun Control Act) requires that all interstate firearm transfers go through a licensed dealer. A Virginia resident who wants to sell a handgun to a North Carolina resident must ship the firearm to an FFL in the buyer's state, who will then run the background check and complete the transfer. Selling face-to-face across state lines without an FFL is a federal felony, regardless of whether Virginia's own background-check law would otherwise apply. Always ask for the buyer's ID and verify residency before money changes hands.