Free Virginia Vehicle Bill of Sale
Virginia treats the certificate of title as the legal proof of ownership and uses Form VSA 17A to title and register a private-sale vehicle. A bill of sale is not the title itself but is critical evidence of the transaction, especially for documenting the price that drives the 4.15% Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax with $75 minimum. Buyers must title within 30 days of purchase or face penalties, and the vehicle must carry a current annual safety inspection sticker before it can be legally driven.
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Virginia Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Virginia charges a 4.15% Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (SUT) on the sale price, with a $75 minimum; a price more than $1,500 below NADA trade-in value calls for a price document (SUT 1A for vehicles 5 model years old or less, SUT 1 or a similar bill of sale for older ones). The SUT replaces the general sales tax on motor vehicles and is collected by DMV at titling.
Exemption: A gift to the transferor's spouse, son, daughter, or parent is exempt from SUT (Va. Code §58.1-2403); siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren are not on that list. Confirm the exemption paperwork with Virginia DMV.
Inspection Requirements
Virginia requires a mandatory annual safety inspection at a state-certified inspection station; the sticker must be affixed to the windshield. Vehicles registered in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Hampton Roads must also pass an emissions inspection every two years. Driving without a valid sticker is a moving violation.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV) — not the same agency that handles cars in Virginia. Plan for separate filings.
Virginia Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Seller signs the Virginia title assignment with full odometer disclosure and sale price
- Both parties sign a bill of sale listing VIN, year, make, model, price, and date (required if the seller does not write the price on the title)
- Buyer files VSA 17A at a Virginia DMV customer service center within 30 days
- Pay 4.15% SUT (or $75 minimum) plus title fee and registration; ask DMV what it needs if claiming the family gift exemption
- Schedule the annual Virginia safety inspection within the validity window of the current sticker
- If garaged in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Fredericksburg, or Hampton Roads, complete biennial emissions
- Register the vehicle with the local commissioner of revenue for annual personal property tax billing
Common Pitfalls
- Missing the 30-day titling window and facing late penalties from Virginia DMV
- Forgetting that Virginia's 4.15% SUT has a $75 floor, so even cheap cars owe at least $75
- Skipping the annual safety inspection — police routinely cite expired stickers visible on the windshield
- Failing to register with the local commissioner of revenue, leading to surprise back-billed personal property tax
- Assuming a notarized bill of sale replaces a signed title — Virginia DMV will reject the transfer
- Assuming a gift to a sibling or grandchild is tax-free — the §58.1-2403 gift exemption covers only a spouse, son, daughter, or parent
Pro Tip
Save the signed title, your VSA 17A receipt, the bill of sale, and the SUT calculation together. You will need them for the local commissioner of revenue, for any future SUT exemption appeal, and if you sell the vehicle again later.