To gift someone a car in Virginia, you need to bring the title, a bill of sale or Vehicle Price Certification (Form SUT 1), and Purchasers Statement of Tax Exemption to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VA DMV) office, along with a $15 title transfer fee.
QUICK LOOK
- The best way to gift a new car is to involve the recipient in the car buying process.
- Decide with your recipient who will cover the upfront costs for the title transfer and vehicle registration and the ongoing costs of insurance and maintenance.
- A gifted vehicle between family members is typically exempt from sales tax and use tax in the state of Virginia, so long as you submit all the necessary documents for the title transfer.
How to buy a car as a gift in Virginia
You can buy a new car as a gift in Virginia so long as it doesn’t have any car liens on the title.
What to do: It’s always best to bring your gift recipient to the dealership so they can pick out a car to their tastes and be involved in the financing process, if applicable.
You have the following options if you need to take out a car loan when gifting a new vehicle in Virginia:
- Involve the recipient in the financing process so they can co-sign their name to any financing agreements.
- Pay off the car loan and request a lien release from your lienholder.
Key TakeawayUnless you can pay full price upfront, the best way to gift a new car is to involve the recipient in the shopping and financing process.
How to gift a used car in Virginia
You’ll need to follow the title transfer process at your local DMV to gift a vehicle that you already own. However, there are a few other steps to consider
1. Negotiate the terms of the gift with your recipient
You’ll need to follow the title transfer process at your local DMV to gift a vehicle that you already own. However, there are a few other steps to consider
Sit down with your gift recipient to talk about the ongoing expenses of car ownership and decide who will pay for what.
Keep in mind: In addition to upfront fees associated with transferring the title, and registering the vehicle, you’ll also need to consider ownership costs like car insurance and maintenance.
Here’s a table of the costs you should discuss with your recipient:
| Cost | Virginia average |
|---|---|
| Title transfer | $15 |
| Registration fee | Use the Virginia DMV’s fee chart to determine your registration fee |
| Insurance | $1,772 (liability only), $2,398 (full coverage) per year |
| Maintenance | $397 per year |
| Fuel | $1,574 per year |
2. Record of the gift with a bill of sale
Yes, this is a gift, but you still need to record the transaction through a bill of sale.
What to do: Mark the box on the bill of sale to indicate that the car is a gift rather than a private vehicle sale. You won’t need to enter a sale price, since no money is changing hands.
3. Transfer the vehicle title
A vehicle title transfer is required to officially transfer ownership of a vehicle to a new owner.
To complete a Virginia title transfer, the recipient will need to bring the following to their local Virginia DMV Office:
- A valid safety inspection sticker
- The vehicle title—the recipient must complete the Assignment of Title By Owner, including the odometer reading, and complete the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration (Form VSA 17A)
- Affidavit of the vehicle purchase price
- Completed Purchaser’s Statement of Tax Exemption if the vehicle is a gift between a parent and child or two spouses
- Proof of insurance
- Proof of Virginia residency
- Proof of identification (e.g. your driver’s license)
- Payment for title transfer fee
Title transfer and vehicle registration can be completed on the same day at the DMV, but must be completed within 30 days of the gift exchange. For out-of-state titles, check out our guide to buying a car in Virginia from out of state.
Learn more: How to transfer a car title
4. Purchase Virginia liability insurance—or pay a fee
Before your gift recipient drives off in their new car, you both need to make sure they have enough liability coverage or have paid the $500 uninsured motorist fee required under Virginia law. You can use the Jerry app to quickly find the insurance company with the lowest rates based on your driver profile.
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
Pat Roache is an insurance writer with over two years of experience in the automotive industry. With a focus on car insurance, maintenance, and brand reviews, Pat’s mission is to create engaging and accessible content that empowers readers to take autonomy over their car ownership. As a writer and editor with Jerry, Pat has penned over 600 original articles and edited over 1,000. Pat’s 8+ years of experience in the performing arts as a writer, director, producer, and performer lend to their keen eye for research and presentation. Most recently, Pat’s new English translation of Donizetti’s Italian opera “D[x]n Pasquale” had its world premiere in 2022 with Opera MODO (Detroit, MI). Pat also writes grants for an LGBTQ arts non-profit in Chicago, IL.
