Valero Energy (VLO) S-3ASR Automatic shelf registration

Exhibit 5.1

910 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-4995   TEL +1 713.229.1234 FAX +1 713.229.1522 BakerBotts.com AUSTIN BRUSSELS DALLAS DUBAI HOUSTON LONDON NEW YORK PALO ALTO RIYADH SAN FRANCISCO SINGAPORE WASHINGTON

January 30, 2025

Valero Energy Corporation

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed on the date hereof by Valero Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Valero”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the offering of senior debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) that may be issued and sold by Valero from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, certain legal matters in connection with such securities are being passed upon for you by us. At your request, this opinion letter is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

Each series of Debt Securities is to be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2015, between Valero and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as such Indenture will be supplemented in connection with the issuance of each series of Debt Securities by a supplemental indenture, officers’ certificate or other writing thereunder establishing the form and terms of such series.

In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of Valero’s restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, each as amended to date (the “Charter Documents”), the Indenture, corporate records of Valero (including minute books as furnished to us by you), certificates of public officials and of representatives of Valero, statutes and other instruments and documents as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In giving such opinion, we have relied, to the extent we deem appropriate without independent investigation or verification, upon certificates of officers of Valero and of public officials with respect to the accuracy of the factual matters contained in such certificates. In giving the opinion below, we have assumed that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are accurate and complete, that all documents submitted to us as copies are true, correct and complete copies of the originals thereof and that all information submitted to us is accurate and complete. Further, we have assumed that:

(a) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective under the Act;

(b) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Debt Securities offered thereby;

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(c) all Debt Securities will be offered, issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;

(d) the board of directors of Valero or, to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Charter Documents of Valero, a duly constituted and acting committee thereof (such board or committee thereof being hereinafter referred to as the “Board”), will have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the issuance of such Debt Securities and any other securities issuable on the conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise thereof, and to authorize the terms of the offering and sale of such Debt Securities and related matters;

(g) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Debt Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by Valero and the other parties thereto (the “Purchase Agreement”);

(h) any securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Debt Securities being offered will have been duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise;

(i) all Debt Securities will be delivered (i) in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Agreement approved by the Board upon receipt of the consideration therein provided or (ii) upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any other security, in accordance with the terms of such security or the instrument governing such security providing for such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise as approved by the Board for the consideration approved by the Board;

(j) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to designate and establish the terms of such series of Debt Securities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and such Debt Securities will not include any provision that is unenforceable; the Indenture will have become qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and forms of Debt Securities complying with the terms of the Indenture and evidencing such Debt Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that the Debt Securities will, when issued, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Valero, enforceable against Valero in accordance with their terms, except as that enforcement is subject to (a) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether that enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (c) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

The opinion set forth above in this opinion letter is limited in all respects to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, applicable federal law and the contract law of the State of New York. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.

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