Buying/Selling a Vehicle

If you’re selling or buying a Virginia-titled vehicle privately from another individual, follow the steps outlined below to sign over the title or to title and register your new vehicle. These directions also apply if you’re donating a vehicle or receiving a vehicle as a gift.

Virginia-titled Vehicles

Selling/Donating

1. Sign the vehicle over to the buyer/recipient and give them the title

In Section A on the front of the title, do the following:

• Print and sign your name as seller(s) - all owners listed on the title must sign
• Provide the name and address of the buyer/recipient on the top line of Section A
• Fill out the odometer reading using the odometer reading from the vehicle (do not guess or estimate)
• Enter the date of sale
• Fill out the sale price section with either the sales price or write “gift” as the sale price if you’re donating the vehicle

Note: For the vehicle to qualify as a “gift”, please ensure your sale matches one of the requirements found on the back of the Purchaser’s Statement of Tax Exemption (SUT-3) . If you do not qualify for a “gift” tax exemption, please provide a proof of purchase price, such as a buyer’s order, bill of sale or the seller’s declared sale price. The bill of sale can be a handwritten statement signed by the seller and purchaser or a Vehicle Price Certification signed by the seller or purchaser.

2. Remove license plates

• The seller should remove the license plates from the vehicle before allowing the buyer to take possession of the vehicle
• If you purchase a replacement vehicle, you may transfer your old plates to the replacement vehicle
• If you’re not transferring the plates to another vehicle, be sure to turn in or inactivate your plates online or at a DMV customer service center or DMV Select before notifying your insurance company of the sale
  • If you have six months or more remaining in your vehicle registration period, you may qualify for a refund. There are two ways to get a refund:
    • Complete an Application for Vehicle Registration Refund Form (FMS-210) and mail it with the license plates to the address shown on the form
    • By returning the completed FMS-210 and plates to a customer service center or DMV Select

    Note: Partial refunds do not include one-time plate reservation fees, Virginia Road Tax for heavy trucks and any late fees.

    3. Notify DMV you have sold, traded or donated the vehicle

    • You must notify DMV you have sold, traded or donated your vehicle. You can do this online , at a customer service center or by phone.

    4. Notify your insurance company

    You must notify your insurance company when you have sold, traded, or donated a vehicle. If you bought another vehicle, you may transfer insurance coverage to the new vehicle. Be sure to obtain liability insurance for the other vehicle before you register it with DMV and transfer your prior vehicle’s plates or purchase new plates.

    Note: Avoid future problems! Insurance companies notify DMV when they cancel, add or write new coverage for a vehicle. If your insurance company cancels liability coverage on your vehicle because you no longer own it and you have not notified DMV in advance, our records will show the vehicle is registered in your name but is not insured. It is unlawful to have an uninsured registered vehicle, so DMV may suspend your driver’s license and vehicle registration privileges.