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Aircraft Registration
The Virginia Department of Aviation registers aircraft and issues contract carrier permits. The types of aircraft that should be registered in Virginia are:
- aircraft owned by a resident of Virginia
- aircraft owned by a non-resident and is located in Virginia 90 non-consecutive days during a calendar year period, including at public-use airports, private-use airports, heliports, and landing areas
- aerial application aircraft operating in Virginia
- commercial aircraft operating in Virginia
It is a Class 1 misdemeanor to operate an aircraft that is not registered in Virginia.
Point of Contact
Aircraft Registration Program Manager
Darcy Vassar
804-774-4633
Point of Contact
Aircraft Registration Program Assistant
Jaimi Evans
804-774-4655
Registration Process Overview
A Virginia aircraft registration cannot be issued unless the following criteria are met:
- The aircraft is properly insured (initial registrations and renewals).
- The Virginia Aircraft Sales and Use Tax has been paid to the Commonwealth of Virginia or proof is provided of a similar tax having been paid to another state (initial registrations only).
The initial aircraft registration process follows these steps:
- Â Aircraft registrants will need to determine the type of registration needed; review the information on the registration type; and submit to DOAV the appropriate form, required supporting documentation, and registration fee. The forms are available in Forms and Publications.
- DOAV will review the application and supporting documentation for completeness and correctness. The applicant will be contacted if additional information is needed.
- Upon application approval, DOAV will distribute the aircraft registration and decal through the regular mail.
The annual aircraft registration renewal process follows these steps:
- DOAV will send a Renewal Aircraft Registration form to an aircraft owner near the annual expiration date of the registration.
- The aircraft owner will need to submit to DOAV the completed form and renewal fee.
- DOAV will review the renewal request for completeness and correctness. The applicant will be contacted if additional information is needed.
- Upon approval, DOAV will distribute the new aircraft registration and decal through the regular mail.
The aircraft registration applications and renewals forms are to be mailed to
- Virginia Department of Aviation
- Attn: Aircraft Registration
- 5702 Gulfstream Road
- Richmond, VA 23250-2422
If tax information needs to be submitted, the Virginia Aircraft Sales & Use Tax Return is to be mailed to:
- Virginia Aircraft Sales and Use Tax Return
- P.O. Box 715
- Richmond, VA 23218-0715
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Non-commercial Aircraft Registration
- Noncommercial aircraft are for personal use only by an individual or business; no revenue is derived from the use of the aircraft.
- The registration decal must be displayed centered below the right-hand stabilizer on the fuselage or immediately aft of the cabin entry door. Registration decals for balloons may be carried with the aircraft’s papers in the aircraft.
- An aircraft registration cannot be transferred to the new owner if an aircraft is sold. The seller is required to notify DOAV in writing when the sale occurs and furnish DOAV with the contact information of the new owner.
- The aircraft registration will expire one year from the date the aircraft registration was initially issued. A Renewal Registration Application will be sent to all properly registered aircraft owners before the current registration expires.
- The annual registration fee is $5.00.
Commercial Aircraft Registration
- Commercial aircraft are aircraft operated for the purpose of rental or charter or for any other purpose from which revenue is derived, except for a Part 121 commercial airline.
- The aircraft are used “for hire”, earning revenue directly or indirectly.
- The registration decal must be displayed centered below the right-hand stabilizer on the fuselage or immediately aft of the cabin entry door. Registration decals for balloons may be carried with the aircraft’s papers in the aircraft.
- An aircraft registration cannot be transferred to the new owner if an aircraft is sold. The seller is required to notify DOAV in writing when the sale occurs and furnish DOAV with contact information for the new owner.Â
- The aircraft registration will expire one year from the date the aircraft registration was initially issued. A Renewal Registration Application will be sent to all properly registered aircraft owners before the current registration expires.
- The annual registration fee is $10.00.
Commercial Fleet Aircraft Registration
- Individuals or businesses engaged in commercial operations of 5 or more aircraft at any time during a calendar year may obtain a commercial fleet registration covering each aircraft in the fleet.
- The commercial fleet operator will submit to DOAV a Quarterly Report Commercial Fleet and Noncommercial Dealer Fleet. The form is available in Forms and Publications.
- All business applicants for commercial registrations should be Virginia corporations and/or duly authorized to transact business in Virginia.
- An aircraft registration cannot be transferred to the new owner if an aircraft is sold. The seller is required to notify DOAV in writing when the sale occurs and furnish DOAV with contact information for the new owner.
- The aircraft registration will expired one year from the date the aircraft registration was initially issued. A renewal notification will be sent to all properly registered aircraft owners before the current registration expires.
- The annual registration fee is $75.00.
Noncommercial Dealer Aircraft Registration
- Authorized dealers who market or sell to the public either their own aircraft or aircraft owned by a manufacturer may be registered as noncommercial dealers in lieu of having a commercial aircraft registration to cover each aircraft.
- The minimum number or aircraft that must be purchased for resale or sold during a calendar year is 5 aircraft
- A noncommercial dealer is an individual or business who does not use the aircraft covered by the registration for anything other than sales demonstration purposes.
- To purchase an aircraft exempt that is exempt from the Virginia Aircraft Sales and Use Tax for the sole purpose of reselling it, an individual or business must be engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, or selling aircraft.
- This individual or business must also submit a request to the Department of Taxation’s Commissioner to receive official approval prior to operation of the aircraft under the “dealer exclusion”.
- Under the “dealer exclusion”, the individual or business must remit a Virginia Aircraft Sales and Use Tax form (AST-2) to the Department of Taxation on monthly gross receipts.
- Â Each dealer is required to submit a Quarterly Report Commercial Fleet and Noncommercial Dealer Fleet to DOAV at the end of every calendar quarter which details all aircraft bought and sold during that 3-month period. The form is available in the Forms and Publications section.
- Each dealer is required to include copies of the monthly Virginia Aircraft Sales and Use Tax form (AST-2) at the time the Quarterly Report Commercial Fleet and Noncommercial Dealer Fleet is submitted to DOAV.
- An aircraft registration cannot be transferred to the new owner if an aircraft is sold. The seller is required to notify DOAV in writing when the sale occurs and furnish DOAV with contact information for the new owner.
- Aircraft registration will expire one year from the date the aircraft registration was initially issued. A renewal notification will be sent to all properly registered aircraft owners before the current registration expires.
- The annual registration fee is $50.00.
Antique Aircraft Registration
- An antique aircraft is any aircraft constructed by the original manufacturer on or before December 31, 1945.
- Decals for antique aircraft may be carried with the aircraft’s papers in the aircraft.
- Antique aircraft used “for hire” must have a commercial aircraft registration and will no longer qualify for an antique registration.
- An aircraft registration cannot be transferred to the new owner if an aircraft is sold. The seller is required to notify DOAV in writing when the sale occurs and furnish DOAV with contact information for the new owner.
- Antique aircraft registrations issued by DOAV are not required to be renewed annually. The antique aircraft registration will expire on the date of sale of such aircraft, unless sooner suspended or revoked by DOAV.
- The one-time registration fee is $5.00.
Contract Carrier Permits
- Individuals or businesses who operate aircraft used for flight instruction or on-demand passenger and/or freight, are required to obtain a contract carrier permit from DOAV.
- The contract carrier permit is a separate requirement from the commercial aircraft registration or the commercial fleet registration.
- A copy of the insurance policy or a certificate of insurance must be received each year showing the new policy period and any other updated information. Failure of any permit holder to maintain insurance in force or to provide DOAV the policy or certificate of insurance will result in termination of the contract carrier permit.
- The one-time application fee is $50.00.
