Selling or junking a car in Virginia, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Virginia DMV using Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles (VSA 67); it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller completes Section A on the front of the title: every listed owner prints and signs, and the buyer's name and address, the actual odometer reading, and the sale date and price are filled in. The seller should then take off the plates, notify DMV of the sale, and tell their insurer.
- Deal with your plates. The seller should remove the plates before the buyer takes the vehicle and can then transfer them, turn them in, or deactivate them online.
- File the Notify DMV of vehicle sale. Virginia DMV asks sellers to report the sale online, by phone or at a customer service center; no specific form number is listed.
How to sign over a title in Virginia
The seller completes Section A on the front of the title: every listed owner prints and signs, and the buyer's name and address, the actual odometer reading, and the sale date and price are filled in. The seller should then take off the plates, notify DMV of the sale, and tell their insurer.
Official page: dmv.virginia.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Virginia
A lost, damaged or unreadable title can be replaced online or at a customer service center using Form VSA 67; any lien must be shown as satisfied or the title goes to the lienholder.
- Form: Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles (VSA 67) — download
- Available online: yes
- Official page: dmv.virginia.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
Notify DMV of vehicle sale
Virginia DMV asks sellers to report the sale online, by phone or at a customer service center; no specific form number is listed.
- Can be filed online: yes
- Official page: dmv.virginia.gov
Why it matters: release of liability when selling a car.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. The seller should remove the plates before the buyer takes the vehicle and can then transfer them, turn them in, or deactivate them online.
Source: dmv.virginia.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Virginia
Virginia requires a salvage certificate, nonrepairable certificate or title for such vehicles, and licensed processors may not scrap a vehicle without reporting its disposition to DMV; related forms include VSA 56 (salvage) and VSA 140 (nonnegotiable junk title).
Official page: dmv.virginia.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Virginia
We didn't find an official Virginia page describing a no-title option, so the safest route is to request a duplicate first. Our guide to junking a car without a title covers the general options buyers may accept.
Ready to sell your car in Virginia?
Get a free offer. We'll explain exactly what paperwork to have ready.
Virginia title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Virginia?
A lost, damaged or unreadable title can be replaced online or at a customer service center using Form VSA 67; any lien must be shown as satisfied or the title goes to the lienholder. The form is Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles (VSA 67).
Do I need to notify Virginia when I sell or junk my car?
Virginia uses the Notify DMV of vehicle sale. Virginia DMV asks sellers to report the sale online, by phone or at a customer service center; no specific form number is listed.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Virginia?
The seller should remove the plates before the buyer takes the vehicle and can then transfer them, turn them in, or deactivate them online.
Can I junk a car without a title in Virginia?
It depends on the car and the buyer. The simplest route is usually to request a duplicate title first. Our guide to junking a car without a title explains the general options.
Official sources
- Virginia DMV — homedmv.virginia.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledmv.virginia.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles (VSA 67))dmv.virginia.gov
- Application for Replacement and Substitute Titles (VSA 67) formdmv.virginia.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdmv.virginia.gov
Summarized from official Virginia government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Virginia DMV before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.