A Virginia vehicle bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of motor vehicle ownership from one party to another. This document serves as proof of the transaction when interacting with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
For sellers, it provides a clear record of the sale, which is helpful for tax purposes and liability protection. For buyers, it demonstrates proof of ownership. This speeds up the vehicle registration application and title transfer processes at the Virginia DMV office.
There are different types of Virginia vehicle bills of sale, depending on the nature of the vehicle transaction. Some common types include:
Used for transactions between private individuals for personal property, including watercraft.
Used when purchasing a vehicle from a licensed dealer. After the transaction, the new owner may have to report the odometer reading and register their vehicle with the Virginia DMV.
This states that the motor vehicle is sold without any warranty, and the buyer assumes all responsibility for the vehicle's condition after the sale.
There’s no legal requirement to create a vehicle bill of sale in the state of Virginia—it’s not technically required for the vehicle registration or titling processes. However, we recommend creating one to officially record the to record the transfer of ownership officially.
While you can create your own bill of sale, we recommend you use a fillable bill of sale template. This will ensure you include all the necessary details for a valid document.
No, a bill of sale and a title transfer are separate legal documents. The bill of sale documents the transaction, while the vehicle title transfer is the legal process of transferring the certificate of title from the seller to the buyer. Both are necessary when selling or buying a vehicle.
A Virginia motor vehicle bill of sale should include the vehicle's description (make, model, year, VIN), sale price, date of sale, the seller’s and buyer’s full legal names, addresses, and signatures.
No. In Virginia, there’s no legal requirement to have your vehicle bill of sale notarized by a notary public.
Yes, you can use a bill of sale form for various types of vehicles, including boats (using a boat bill of sale), motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles.
Formswift is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. Formswift's documents are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Communications between you and Formswift are governed by the Formswift Privacy Policy but are not protected by the attorney-client privilege or as work product. Formswift does not provide advice, opinions, or recommendations about individual's legal rights, options, strategies, or the selection of forms. Your use of the Formswift website and forms is governed by the Formswift Terms of Service.
