Virginia Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
Virginia puts the transfer on the title itself — the owner endorses the assignment and warranty of title — and taxes the sale at 4.15% of the price the DMV can verify, with a $75 minimum and a special floor for vehicles five years old or newer. Generate the record of that price with Virginia pre-selected, then read the rules below, each cited to the Code of Virginia.
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How it works
- 01 Virginia is already selected
The governing-law clause names the state; change it only if the sale happens elsewhere.
- 02 Enter the item and the parties
Vehicle, boat or general item — VIN and odometer, or HIN — plus price, payment method, seller and buyer.
- 03 Review clause by clause
The as-is terms, the seller’s title warranty and, for vehicles, the federal odometer statement.
- 04 Download, then file Virginia’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What Virginia actually requires
Virginia rules for a private sale
Last verified September 4, 2026- How title transfers Assignment and warranty of title on the certificate
The owner transferring a titled motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer must fully and correctly endorse the assignment and warranty of title on the certificate of title to the purchaser, with a statement of all security interests, and deliver the certificate at the time of delivering the vehicle. Willfully failing to do so is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
- Motor vehicle sales and use tax 4.15% of the sale price
A tax on the sale or use of motor vehicles is levied at 4.15 percent of the sale price (the rate since July 1, 2016) of each motor vehicle sold in Virginia, or used or stored for use in the Commonwealth.
- Minimum tax and trade-ins $75 minimum · no trade-in credit
The minimum tax on the sale of any motor vehicle subject to a rate above zero is $75. In figuring the taxable price no credit is allowed for a trade-in, prior rental or any other transaction of like nature.
- Private sales of vehicles 5 years old or newer Pricing-guide value minus $1,500 — unless you swear to less
Between individuals who are not dealers, tax is collected on the total sale price as established by the evidence the Commissioner requires. If the used vehicle is no more than five years old and listed in a recognized pricing guide, the taxable price cannot be less than the guide’s trade-in value less $1,500 — unless the purchaser executes an affidavit under penalty of perjury stating the lower price and declaring the sale a bona fide transaction for full value.
How this document fits Virginia’s paperwork
Official form: The Code sections cited here put the transfer on the certificate of title and tax the sale on the price “as established by such evidence as the Commissioner may require”; they do not prescribe a bill-of-sale form. A signed bill of sale is the buyer’s evidence of the price.
Ownership moves on the endorsed title, so the bill of sale’s job in Virginia is to establish the price — the figure the 4.15% tax is assessed on — and to record the terms: date, odometer, payment, the seller’s warranty that the vehicle is free of undisclosed security interests, and the as-is sale. Sign it, keep a copy each, and the buyer presents it at titling; for a vehicle five years old or newer sold below the pricing-guide floor, the buyer also needs the statutory affidavit.
FAQ
Virginia bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required in Virginia?
- The Code transfers ownership through the assignment and warranty of title endorsed on the certificate, which the seller must hand over when delivering the vehicle. The bill of sale is how the buyer establishes the price the DMV taxes — the statute says tax is collected on the price “as established by such evidence as the Commissioner may require”.
- How much is Virginia’s tax on a private car sale?
- 4.15% of the sale price, with a minimum of $75, and no credit for a trade-in. The buyer pays it when titling the vehicle.
- What is the five-year pricing-guide rule?
- For a used vehicle no more than five years old that is listed in a recognized pricing guide, the taxable price cannot be lower than the guide’s trade-in value minus $1,500 — unless the buyer signs an affidavit under penalty of perjury stating the actual lower price and that the sale was a bona fide transaction for full value.
- What must the seller do with the title?
- Fully and correctly endorse the assignment and warranty of title to the purchaser, state all security interests on it, and deliver the certificate at the time of delivering the vehicle. Willfully failing to is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Vehicle-transfer rules are set by each state and change; confirm the current rule with the agency cited and consult a licensed attorney for advice about your situation.