Virginia Vehicle Title Transfer
Transferring a Virginia title between buyer and seller takes about 15 minutes if both parties show up prepared. The buyer has 30 days from the date of sale to title and register the vehicle in their name; missing the window adds late penalties on top of the 4.15% sales and use tax that the DMV collects at the counter.
Seller's responsibilities
Before handing over the title, the seller must:
- Sign the seller's section on the back of the Virginia title and print their name as it appears on the front.
- Complete the odometer disclosure on the title for vehicles less than 20 model years old (under federal Truth-in-Mileage rules).
- Record the buyer's name, address, the sale price, and the date of sale.
- Provide a bill of sale (a separate sheet is fine; a dealer's buyer's order satisfies the requirement).
- Remove the license plates — Virginia plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle.
- File a Notice of Sale with the DMV (online or paper) within 30 days. This shifts liability for the vehicle to the buyer in DMV records.
Buyer's responsibilities
The buyer must title and register the vehicle within 30 days of purchase. Bring to the DMV customer service center or DMV Select:
- The signed and assigned title.
- Bill of sale or buyer's order showing the purchase price.
- Proof of Virginia liability insurance with the new owner listed.
- Two proofs of Virginia address.
- A completed VSA 17A (Application for Certificate of Title and Registration).
- Photo ID.
Sales and Use Tax at transfer
The DMV collects 4.15% Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax on the sale price or fair market value, whichever is higher. The state imposes a $75 minimum tax, so even very low-priced vehicles produce at least $75 at the counter. The tax is calculated at the date of transaction; backdating the sale does not change the rate. SUT credit is available for buyers who paid sales tax on the same vehicle in another state when bringing it into Virginia.
Lien releases
If the title shows an existing lien, the buyer needs a written release from the lienholder. Virginia accepts:
- The lien release section on the back of the title, signed and dated by the lender.
- An electronic lien release (ELT) sent by the lender directly to the DMV.
- A standalone lien release letter on lender letterhead with the VIN, owner name, date paid, and authorized signature.
Without a release, the title cannot transfer. If the lender is out of business and no successor can be located, the buyer can file a VSA 66 (Affidavit for Lien Release) along with documentation of the search.
Family transfers and gifts
Virginia allows tax-free title transfers between immediate family members — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild — with the SUT exemption documented on a SUT 3 (Purchaser's Statement of Tax Exemption). The $15 title fee still applies, as does the registration fee if the vehicle is being newly registered. Co-owner additions or removals are processed the same way.
Inherited vehicles
A vehicle inherited from a Virginia decedent transfers with the will, the letters of administration, or — for small estates with no probate — a VSA 24 Limited Power of Attorney signed by the heirs. The DMV waives the SUT on inherited vehicles transferring to a spouse, child, or other immediate family. For non-immediate heirs, the SUT applies on the fair market value.
Out-of-state titles
A title from another state can be transferred to a Virginia title at the same counter. The buyer or new resident presents the foreign title, the bill of sale, proof of insurance, address documents, and the completed VSA 17A. A VIN inspection is required for all out-of-state titles before issuance — most customer service centers complete the inspection in the parking lot during the visit. The new resident's title fee remains $15, and the SUT is calculated on NADA clean trade-in value with credit for tax paid elsewhere.
For a lost or damaged title, see Virginia title replacement; for the broader registration cycle that follows a transfer, see registration renewal.