Used car dealer license — state-by-state guides

Practical walkthroughs of the application process in each state — fees, surety bond, timeline, and what to expect at each step. Built from public agency records, verified with current sources.

Massachusetts

Available

Class II license issued by your local city/town. Annual renewal on January 1.

Bond
$25,000
Application
Up to $200
Read the full guide

Pennsylvania

Available

Vehicle dealer license from the State Board; PennDOT issues dealer plates. Two-year term.

Bond
$20,000
Application
$190
Read the full guide

Ohio

Available

Used motor vehicle dealer license through the Ohio BMV. Required pre-licensing course.

Bond
$75,000
Application
$100
Read the full guide

Texas

Available

Independent Motor Vehicle Dealer (GDN) license through the Texas DMV. Pre-licensing seminar required.

Bond
$25,000
Application
$700 (initial), $200 (renewal)
Read the full guide

Florida

Available

Independent dealer (VI) license through the Florida DHSMV. Pre-licensing course required.

Bond
$25,000
Application
$75
Read the full guide

California

Available

DMV Occupational License. Dealer education course + DMV used-dealer test required.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$175 + fees
Read the full guide

New York

Available

DMV dealer registration. Facility + signage requirements. Biennial term.

Bond
$20,000+
Application
~$487.50
Read the full guide

Georgia

Available

State board license. Pre-licensing seminar + on-site inspection. Biennial.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$170
Read the full guide

North Carolina

Available

NC DMV license. 12-hour course + License & Theft Bureau inspection.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$97
Read the full guide

New Jersey

Available

NJ MVC license. Office + signage rules and a knowledge exam. Annual.

Bond
$10,000
Application
$100
Read the full guide

Illinois

Available

Secretary of State license. Bonded the first 60 months. Calendar year.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$1,000 / $500
Read the full guide

Virginia

Available

Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. Pre-licensing course + recovery fund.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$225
Read the full guide

Arizona

Available

MVD license. $100k retail bond (or $25k wholesale) + TPT license.

Bond
$100,000 / $25,000
Application
$15 + $100
Read the full guide

Washington

Available

Department of Licensing vehicle dealer license. Lot + sign inspection. Annual.

Bond
$30,000
Application
$975
Read the full guide

Colorado

Available

Auto Industry Division license. 8-hour pre-licensing course + background check.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$455
Read the full guide

Maryland

Available

MVA used vehicle dealer license. Volume-tiered bond + dealer orientation. Two-year term.

Bond
$15,000 – $150,000
Application
$450 + $100/tag
Read the full guide

Tennessee

Available

Motor Vehicle Commission license. $300k liability insurance required.

Bond
$50,000
Application
$600
Read the full guide

Missouri

Available

DOR Motor Vehicle Bureau license. Dealer education seminar required.

Bond
$50,000 / $100,000
Application
$150/yr
Read the full guide
Don't see your state? We're prioritizing the next state by demand. Email support@dealervlo.com with your state and we'll prioritize it on the queue.

Already licensed? Forms & paperwork

Field-by-field guides to the title and registration forms you fill out on every sale, plus the full document checklist for a compliant dealer sale.

Massachusetts RMV-1

Available

Every section of the RMV-1 (Registration and Title Application) explained — who signs what, the documents to attach, and the mistakes that get a title bounced.

Read the walkthrough

MA Damage Disclosure

Available

The MA prior-damage disclosure (M.G.L. c. 90 § 7N¼) — what to disclose, the damage categories, who signs, and how it differs from the Buyers Guide.

Read the walkthrough

Texas Form 130-U

Available

The Texas title and registration application, field by field — sales-tax computation, the GDN, the trade-in deduction, and why SPV doesn't apply to dealer sales.

Read the walkthrough

Florida HSMV 82040

Available

The Florida title application, field by field — the Section 8 VIN verification, 6% sales tax plus the first-$5,000 county surtax, and the trade-in deduction.

Read the walkthrough

Pennsylvania Form MV-1

Available

PennDOT's certificate-of-title application — MV-1 vs MV-4ST, the 6% / 7% / 8% county tax rates, the out-of-state VIN tracing, and the trade-in deduction.

Read the walkthrough

New York Form MV-82

Available

The NY registration/title application — how it pairs with the dealer's MV-50, the insurance ID card requirement, weight-based fees, and who signs.

Read the walkthrough

Illinois Form VSD 190

Available

The IL title/registration application — the $165 title fee, the ST-556 tax return, both 20-day deadlines, and how ERT filing changes the workflow.

Read the walkthrough

Ohio BMV 3774

Available

Ohio's title application — filing at the county Clerk of Courts, the 30-day deadline, sales tax collected at titling, and the notarized assignment.

Read the walkthrough

Georgia Form MV-1

Available

Georgia's title/tag application — the 7% TAVT and the trade-in subtraction, the $18 title fee, the 30-day deadline, and electronic filing through DRIVES.

Read the walkthrough

Michigan Form RD-108

Available

The dealer-only title/registration application — the typed-only rule, the 15-day deadline, and the 6% tax with full trade-in credit since 2024.

Read the walkthrough

North Carolina MVR-1

Available

NC's notarized title application — the $66.75 title fee, the 3% Highway Use Tax and its caps, and filing at a license plate agency.

Read the walkthrough

New Jersey OS/SS-UTA

Available

The Universal Title Application — the $60/$85 fee split, the 6.625% tax and the sales tax stamp, and the transaction checkboxes that route it.

Read the walkthrough

Virginia VSA 17A

Available

Virginia's title/registration application — the $15 title fee, the 4.15% SUT with a $75 minimum, and why there's no trade-in credit.

Read the walkthrough

Title forms in every state

Index

One table with the primary title application form for all 50 states plus DC — form numbers, official names, and issuing agencies.

Browse the index

Massachusetts paperwork checklist

Available

Every document a compliant MA dealer sale needs — purchase contract, Buyers Guide, the Used Vehicle Warranty disclosure, title forms, and the 7-day inspection rule.

See the checklist

Dealer plates by state

What dealer plates cost, the types, how to apply, and the rules on using them.

Massachusetts dealer plates

RMV Section 5 · $100/yr + $20/plate · dealer vs repair

Read the guide

Pennsylvania dealer plates

PennDOT MV-349 · $54/yr per plate · dealer vs transporter

Read the guide

Texas dealer plates

TxDMV eLICENSING · metal plates · HB 718 (2025) changes

Read the guide

Florida dealer plates

Tax collector · $27/yr · 30-day temporary dealer plates

Read the guide

California dealer plates

DMV Occupational Licensing · $92/yr per plate · usage logs

Read the guide

Ohio dealer plates

BMV · $10.25/plate · plate count capped by sales volume

Read the guide

New York dealer plates

DMV · $20/set · plate program needs ~25 sales/yr + good standing

Read the guide

Georgia dealer plates

DOR DRIVES · $62 + $12/extra · 1 plate per 5 annual sales

Read the guide

Illinois dealer plates

SOS · $45 master set + $13/duplicate · capped by sales volume

Read the guide

Washington dealer plates

DOL · $50.75/set, $38.75 renewal · temp permits for sold cars

Read the guide

Virginia dealer plates

DMV · $30 first two, $13 each after · MVDB license required

Read the guide

Colorado dealer plates

County Clerk · ~$30 demo plates, unlimited · full-use costs more

Read the guide

New Jersey dealer plates

MVC BLS · plate order form · counts tied to business need

Read the guide

Arizona dealer plates

MVD · $30/plate by statute · 90-day drive-out permits

Read the guide

Maryland dealer plates

MVA · $100/tag · two-year cycle with the license

Read the guide

Tennessee dealer plates

County Clerk · $47.30 first, $23.65 after · register MVC license

Read the guide

Missouri dealer plates

DOR · $50 first four, $10.50 each after · Dec 31 renewal

Read the guide

North Carolina dealer plates

License & Theft Bureau · $46.25 first five · $15/plate late fee

Read the guide

How much is a dealer's license?

How much is a dealer's license?

Most first-time used car dealers spend $800 to $4,000 all-in for the first year, depending on the state: the application fee runs from under $100 (Ohio, North Carolina) to nearly $1,000 (Washington, Illinois), and the biggest variable is the surety bond premium — you pay 1-5% of a bond that ranges from $10,000 (New Jersey) to $100,000 (Arizona retail). Pre-licensing courses, fingerprints, and dealer plates add smaller amounts.

What does the dealer bond cost?

You don't pay the full bond amount — you pay an annual premium, typically 1-5% of the bond depending on your credit. A $25,000 bond usually costs $250-$750 a year; a $50,000 bond roughly $500-$1,500. The bond amounts by state are in the table above.

How many cars can you sell without a dealer license?

Every state sets a threshold — commonly somewhere between 3 and 7 vehicle sales in a 12-month period — above which you legally need a dealer license. Colorado draws the line at 3, Virginia and Washington at 5, Missouri at 6, Arizona at 7. Check your state's guide for the exact number.

Full breakdown with the bond chart and all-50-states table: dealer license cost by state. Want a number for your state? Run the dealer license cost calculator or open your state's guide above.

Already licensed?

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