Hi,
I understand the basics to template overides and have managed to create a few different layouts for template files located within tmpl under com_virtuemart/views
How would I overide com_virtuemart/views/view.html.php
You can't.
If you absolutely have to, just modify that file.
Would a custom plugin allow me to override this file? I want to build this site right and allow it to update without issue.
It depends what you want to do?
Your original question didn't specify what you wanted to do.
How to override a vm template? I understand that I shold put in my template html folder com_virtuemart and views folders with all files, but I don't understand should I put whole default.php for specific theme (view) whatever or just some code what should override the code in template?
Only the modified file need be placed in the override directory.
Overrides have been used since the introduction of Joomla 1.5, we have some documentation on http://dev.virtuemart.net/projects/virtuemart/wiki/Hints_for_the_use_of_the_template_system