ABSTRACT A new four-parameter generalized van der Waals equation of state is proposed. The criteria for the applicability of the proposed equation of state in describing the thermodynamic properties of substances have been formulated. The generalized van der Waals equation of state is found to be applicable to vanadium, niobium and tantalum. To validate the generalized van der Waals equation of state, the spinodal, ideal tensile strength, thermodynamic limit of superheat and binodal of vanadium, niobium and tantalum have been determined. The obtained results agree with that of Filippov correlation and other equations of state. Using the obtained spinodal, the binodal of vanadium, niobium and tantalum has been determined.