Virginia Bill of Sale

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In general, Virginia does not require a bill of sale. However, it is beneficial for all involved parties to have a bill of sale to provide legal ownership for the buyer and to protect a seller against liability claims after the sale.

Virginia General Bill of Sale

If you want to record the agreement between the buyer and seller legally, you can create a bill of sale that states:

  • Seller and buyer’s name and address.
  • Details of the item(s) sold.
  • Condition and warranty of the item.
  • Price of the item.
  • Date sold.

Virginia Car Bill of Sale

If the car is newer than five years old, you do not need a bill of sale, but you will want an Affidavit for Procurement of Title for tax reasons. If the vehicle is older than five years, a title certificate with the sale price included is equivalent to a bill of sale, or you can create a bill of sale with the following information:

  • Signature of both the seller and buyer
  • Full vehicle description
  • Vehicle identification number
  • Date of sale
  • Sale price

Virginia Motorcycle Bill of Sale

The same rules for a car apply to all motor vehicles, including motorcycles. If the motorcycle is newer than five years old, you do not need a bill of sale, but you will want documentation for tax reasons. If the motorcycle is older than five years, a title certificate with the sale price included is equivalent to a bill of sale, or you can create a bill of sale with the following included:

  • Signature of both the seller and buyer
  • Full motorcycle description
  • Vehicle identification number
  • Date of sale
  • Sale price

Virginia Boat Bill of Sale

Motorboats do not need a bill of sale, but your boat will need to be titled and registered. If you’re in one of the following situations, a bill of sale is required for registration.

  • If the previous owner registered but didn’t title the watercraft
  • The boat is changing to state registration after being documented by the Coast Guard.

There may be other transactions in which you will need a bill of sale. If so, your document should include the boat’s:

  • Make
  • Model year
  • Type of vessel
  • Length
  • Hull material

Virginia Trailer Bill of Sale

Trailers follow the same rules as motor vehicles, including the affidavit for vehicle price certification if newer than five years old. If the trailer is older than five years, you can use a title certificate with the sale price included, or you can create a bill of sale with the following included:

  • Signature of both the seller and buyer
  • Full vehicle description
  • Vehicle identification number
  • Date of sale
  • Sale price

Virginia Gun Bill of Sale

There are many laws regarding owning a gun in Virginia, but a bill of sale isn’t legally required. However, it is recommended to legally identify the firearm, buyer, and seller. A gun bill of sale should include:

  • Buyer personal information
  • Seller personal information
  • Price
  • Sale date
  • Serial number
  • Model and make
  • Background check

Virginia Horse Bill of Sale

A bill of sale is not required for horses. However, it’s still a good idea to write one! In your document, include information about the horse, such as its breed, color, sex, age, and name.

FAQ

Since Virginia doesn’t have a government-sanctioned bill of sale form, you can create a generic one to serve this purpose. It should include the following information:

  • Buyer’s and seller’s contact information
  • Signatures
  • Purchase price
  • Date of sale
  • Details of the item
  • Conditions and warranty

A bill of sale in Virginia does not need to be notarized. However, each document should feature complete information as stated above. You can always choose to get your document notarized if you want to, but doing so will not offer additional legal protection.

Yes, a handwritten bill of sale is legal in Virginia, as long as it includes the above information. However, you’re better off typing your document, because multiple copies will be needed.