A Virginia bill of sale is a legal document used to transfer ownership of an item from one person to another, according to the specific laws of Virginia. Unlike a receipt you receive from a business, a bill of sale is typically used between two private individuals selling or purchasing some personal property.
How to Register a Vehicle in Virginia
Submit your bill of sale and other documents to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to register your vehicle.
Bill of Sale – By Type (5)
A form to buy or sell a motor vehicle in Virginia. In many states, a bill of sale is required to register a vehicle at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Vehicle Bill of Sale
A document to transfer ownership of recreational water vehicles (such as motorboats, sailboats, yachts, and jet skis) in the state of Virginia.
Boat Bill of Sale
A form to buy or sell a trailer (or any non-motorized vehicle pulled by another vehicle) in the state of Virginia and register it at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Trailer Bill of Sale
Use a Virginia firearm bill of sale to transfer ownership of a gun (such as a handgun, rifle, or shotgun) in the state of Virginia, and avoid legal or criminal issues involving the weapon after it is sold.
Firearm Bill of Sale
A document to record the transfer of a motorcycle in the state of Virginia. By detailing information about the bike being sold, you can protect yourself from fraudulent sales.
Motorcycle Bill of Sale
Requirements
If your car’s title doesn’t show the purchase price, you must have a bill of sale to register it in Virginia. This document confirms that the buyer is the actual owner and that the seller has relinquished ownership.
Language and Copy Requirements
- Language: The bill of sale can be in any language, but it must be translated into English if it will serve as evidence in a court of law.
- Number of Copies: You will need three copies—one for the seller, one for the buyer, and one for the DMV.
Vehicle Registration Forms
- Bill of Sale
- Odometer Disclosure Statement (VSA-5) (for vehicles older than five years)
- Vehicle Registration Application (VSA 14)
- Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (for purchases of a new vehicle)
- Application for Certificate of Title and Registration (Form VSA 17) (for purchases of a new vehicle)
- Assignment of Title by Owner or Application for New Owner Certificate of Title and Registration (for purchases with a current Virginia title)
- Vehicle Price Certification
- Record of successful vehicle inspection (for buyers in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William, or Stafford counties; or in the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, or Manassas Park) [1]
- Motor vehicle power of attorney (when an agent represents the buyer or seller)
- Proof of payment of all titling and registration fees [2]
- Proof of insurance: [3]
- Injury/death of one person: $30,000 (50.000 on or after January 1, 2025)
- Injury/death of two or more people: $60,000 ($100,000 on or after January 1, 2025)
- Property damage: $20,000 ($25,000 on or after January 1, 2025)
- Valid driver’s license or state ID
- Proof of residency [4]
Boat Registration Forms
- Bill of Sale
- Application for Watercraft Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number (Registration)
- Current title statement (if transferred within Virginia)
- Original Manufacturer’s or Importer’s Certificate of Origin completed by the dealer (for buyers who buy boats that haven’t been registered before)
- Previous title or possibly the previous registration (for buyers purchasing boats from other states)
- Receipts showing payment of taxes and fees [5]
Sample
