Dealer License Requirements by State
Choose the state where your dealership will be located to see its Dealer License requirements and steps. To renew, choose the state where you are licensed.
No state matches. Try the first letters of the name.
Dealer License Types
Wholesale Dealer License
Sell vehicles to other Dealers and at auctions.
Retail Dealer License
Sell vehicles to the public, on places like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
Broker License
Get paid to refer customers to dealerships on vehicle sales and leases.
Salvage License
Deal in salvage (wrecked or damaged) vehicles and their parts. Not all states require a salvage license.
Auction Business License
Run your own vehicle auction. Not all states issue this license.
Each state names and combines these license types its own way. Choose your state to see the license types it offers.
Common Questions
Do you need a Dealer License to buy at a car auction?
Yes, you need a Dealer License to buy at a Dealer-only auction. Public auctions need no license.
A Dealer License gets you into Dealer-only auctions across the country, whatever your state calls it. You register with each auction, and a few states ask for an extra card or license to buy salvage vehicles. The Car Auction License guide covers the cost and the steps.
Can you get a Dealer License without a lot?
Yes, many states allow you to use a home address to get a Dealer License without a lot, usually a wholesale license. It is a state-by-state rule.
For example, California allows a Wholesale Dealer License without a lot.
Which state is the easiest to get a Dealer License in?
The easiest state is usually the one where you already have an address. Almost every state requires a location in that state. Each state's requirements decide whether it can be your home or must be a commercial office. Not every state requires an ID from that state.
The license type matters too. Many states offer a Wholesale Dealer License from a home address, and New York does the same for an Auto Broker License. A Retail Dealer License almost always needs a commercial address, with rare exceptions like Georgia.
Does every state require a surety bond?
No. Most states require a surety bond for a Dealer License, and each state sets its own amount. Delaware does not require one for most dealers.
How many cars can you sell without a Dealer License?
How many vehicles you can sell without a Dealer License is a state-by-state rule. Some states set a number, and some set no number at all.
Can you get a Dealer License with a felony?
Whether you can get a Dealer License with a felony is a state-by-state rule.
For example, California decides each felony or misdemeanor case by case, based on the crime and how long ago it happened.
