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. Immediate-family transfers (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) are exempt from the FFL requirement. 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.
Free PDF includes a small watermark at the bottom. Remove it for €4.99. Already subscribed? Sign in.
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.
Inspection
Not required
Sales Tax Details
Private-party firearm transfers between Virginia residents are not collected at a sales-tax counter, but the FFL conducting the transfer typically charges a transfer fee (commonly $25–$50) that may include applicable sales tax.
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 non-family sales)
- Pay the FFL transfer fee (commonly $25–$50) 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 any handgun purchaser meets Virginia's minimum age (21 from a dealer, 18 in private sale for long guns)
- For immediate-family transfers, document the relationship in the bill of sale to invoke the FFL exemption
Common Pitfalls
- Selling to a non-family-member without going through an FFL — a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia since 2020
- Skipping ID verification and unknowingly transferring to a prohibited person
- Accepting cash from an out-of-state buyer for a handgun, which violates federal interstate-transfer rules
- 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
- Misunderstanding the family exemption: cousins, in-laws, and aunts/uncles do NOT qualify
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 FFL charges a transfer fee, typically $25 to $50. Selling to a non-family-member without an FFL background check is a Class 1 misdemeanor for the seller. The exemption is narrow: immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild — may transfer directly without an FFL, but cousins, in-laws, and friends do not qualify.
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?
Yes. Virginia's universal-background-check law specifically exempts transfers between immediate family members, defined as spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, and grandchild. You may directly transfer a handgun to your adult son or daughter (18+) without an FFL, but you should 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?
Long guns yes, handguns no — and only through an FFL. 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.