To apply, you must:
8 Hawaii Dealer License Requirements
Hawaii Dealer Licenses are issued by the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). This page covers Hawaii's 5 Dealer License types, their requirements, line of credit and bond size, costs, and how to apply.
Name your Dealership
Your company name is the first step, because you use it through the entire Dealer License process. Hawaii's Dealer application accepts an individual (sole owner), partnership, corporation, LLC, or LLP.
An LLC keeps your business separate from your personal life and adds trust to the name. A corporation, partnership, LLC, or LLP also attaches proof of its registration with DCCA's Business Registration Division. That is the file-stamped filing if registered under 1 year, or a Certificate of Good Standing after that.
Pick the business type you'll keep, because no Hawaii Dealer License is transferable (HRS §437-26). The financial review scales by type. A sole proprietor files a personal review plus one for the business; a partnership files one for each general partner plus the partnership. A corporation files one corporate financial review.
Choose your Dealer License Type
Hawaii issues 5 main license types, all from one Board on paper forms. The Motor Vehicle Dealer License comes in 3 categories on one application, MOVE-02: New Vehicles, Used Vehicles, and Motorcycle-Scooter Only. Each category is issued for Honolulu or for the Neighbor Islands.
A Used Vehicle Dealer sells at wholesale or retail, or both, on the one license. A New Vehicle Dealer also gets dealer license plates from the county. The Motor Vehicle Broker (CB) license is retired; the Board no longer issues new ones.
| License Type | What It Lets You Do |
|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Dealer LicenseNew Vehicles, Used Vehicles, or Motorcycle-Scooter Only | Buy and sell vehicles at wholesale or retail, or both, in the county on your license. New Vehicles includes used vehicles; in Honolulu, Used Vehicles includes new motorcycles and scooters sold under a franchise. Motorcycles and scooters over 49cc have their own category, and mopeds 49cc and under need no license at all |
| Motor Vehicle Auction License | Run a vehicle auction, on one fee schedule for all counties. Requires a $100,000 secured line of credit and a customer trust account at a federally insured financial institution |
| Motor Vehicle Consumer Consultant | Advise consumers on vehicle purchases for a fee, without negotiating or brokering the sale. You register and pay the Board's fee, and there is no site requirement |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturer | For a manufacturer of motor vehicles, licensed by the same Board and renewed every 2 years |
| Motor Vehicle Distributor | For a distributor of motor vehicles, licensed by the same Board and renewed every 2 years |
Get your Line of Credit or Dealer Bond (Surety Bond)
A Hawaii Used Vehicle Dealer License requires a $50,000 inventory or flooring line of credit, not a bond (HRS §437-7(d)). The Board accepts a surety bond only when a line of credit cannot reasonably be obtained. The bond protects customers if you break Hawaii's dealer laws.
The line of credit comes from a federally insured financial institution, or a financing source with a net worth of $50,000,000 or more. It is secured by a UCC-1 financing statement filed at the Bureau of Conveyances. It stays in force for the life of the license and is verified again at each renewal.
The line of credit, by license category:
- New Vehicle Dealer: $500,000, or the amount in your Dealer Sales and Service Agreement, whichever is less
- Used Vehicle Dealer: $50,000
- Motorcycle-Scooter Dealer: $50,000, for motorcycles and scooters over 49cc
- Auction: $100,000, secured
If a line of credit cannot reasonably be obtained, the Board may accept a surety bond instead, tiered by monthly sales volume (HAR §16-86-12). An Auction's bond is the New Vehicle Dealer's $200,000 tier.
| License Type | You Pay | Bond Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Used Vehicle DealerHawaii - Motor Vehicle Dealer. Fewer than 60 vehicles a month; credit check required | $250/year | $25,000 |
| Used Vehicle DealerHawaii - Motor Vehicle Dealer. 60 or more vehicles a month; credit check required | $1,000/year | $100,000 |
| New Vehicle DealerHawaii - Motor Vehicle Dealer. Fewer than 10 new vehicles a month; credit check required | $500/year | $50,000 |
| New Vehicle DealerHawaii - Motor Vehicle Dealer. 10 or more new vehicles a month; underwriting required | $2,000/year | $200,000 |
| Motorcycle-Scooter DealerHawaii - Motor Vehicle Dealer. Over 49cc; credit check required | $100/year | $10,000 |
Set up your Dealer Office (Premises)
A Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dealer License requires a site used primarily to sell, display, or otherwise deal in motor vehicles (HRS §437-11(a)). It must have a permanent building that displays at least 3 vehicles at once.
The application adds a secured office, a lease of at least 1 year, and photographs. The table below has the details. Zoning is your check, not the Board's. You certify on the application that you verified with the county that the premises are zoned for dealer activity.
| What Hawaii Requires | |
|---|---|
| Site | Used primarily to sell, display, offer for sale, or otherwise deal in motor vehicles |
| Display | A permanent building suitable for displaying at least 3 vehicles at once, with an average wheelbase of at least 90 inches |
| Office | A secured office where confidential files are kept, not shared with any other business. The checklist says: “Sharing of office space is strictly prohibited.” |
| Restrooms | Suitable sanitation facilities |
| Lease | A lease or rental agreement of at least 1 year, or proof of ownership, in the exact name and address on the application. The landlord's certification states whether the property is in a business zone |
| Zoning | Verified by you with the county planning department: Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, or Hawaii County (East Hawaii in Hilo, West Hawaii in Kailua-Kona). You certify it on the application |
| Sign | No size or lettering rule. If you share the premises with another business, the display stalls and office must be marked with your name; a stencil is acceptable |
| Parking | No parking-space count rule |
| Photographs | The office inside and out, the hallway or walkway to it, the display stalls, the restrooms, and the driveway in from the street |
Pass the Background Check (Criminal History Record Check)
Hawaii takes no fingerprints and runs no Live Scan for a Dealer License. A criminal history record check is required only if you answer Yes to the conviction question, Question 7 on the application.
Question 7 covers the applicant and every partner, officer, director, manager, and member of the entity. It asks about any conviction, in any jurisdiction, that has not been annulled or expunged.
A Yes answer needs, for each conviction:
- A criminal history record check from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, dated within 6 months, plus one from each other state with a conviction
- A signed statement explaining the circumstances and everything since
- Copies of the court documents: the charge, plea or verdict, and sentence terms
- Proof of probation or parole compliance, where it applies
If you have a record
- No automatic denial. Hawaii law says you “shall not be disqualified” from a license “solely by reason of a prior conviction” (HRS §831-3.1). The Board may deny; it is never required to.
- No list of crimes. The test is whether the crime bears a rational relationship to a dealer's duties. The statute names no felony or misdemeanor categories.
- A 10-year window, not counting time incarcerated. Inside it, a related conviction may be treated as a reason to deny. Past it, the Board must show the offense directly relates and that you have not been sufficiently rehabilitated, after a formal investigation.
- Expunged or annulled convictions are out of scope. The question doesn't ask about them, and the statute excludes them from consideration.
- A no-contest plea counts as a conviction.
- You can be heard. A Yes sends your file to a Board meeting, where you can ask in writing to give oral testimony. If denied, you have 60 days to request a hearing.
Complete the Self-Inspection Report (Site Plan)
Hawaii's rules and checklist include no agency site visit before licensing; you inspect your own premises and file the report with the application. It is a written description plus a hand-drawn site plan of the premises. The plan shows the streets, buildings, office, restrooms, and display stalls, and labeled photographs cover every required area.
The Board's chairperson or executive officer reviews the report (HRS §437-7(g)), and the Board may interview you before it grants or denies the license.
Submit your Dealer License Application (MOVE-02)
You apply to the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board on paper; there is no online application. MOVE-02 is a fillable PDF, mailed to the Board at P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, or delivered to 335 Merchant Street, Room 301.
The application fee is $50, non-refundable, plus the license fee for your category and county and a Compliance Resolution Fund fee. The Compliance Resolution Fund fee is higher in the first half of the 2-year license cycle. A mid-cycle filing also adds a 1/2 Renewal prepayment equal to the license fee. Every fee is itemized under costs.
A New Vehicle Dealer applicant also shows a repair facility of its own, licensed under the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board. A signed letter from a licensed repair shop willing to perform warranty work is accepted instead. The form asks for one SSN, on the applicant line; officers, partners, managers, and members list a name, residence address, and phone.
Get your Dealer License Plates
Hawaii dealer license plates come from your county's Director of Finance, not the licensing Board, and each county sets its own price (HRS §286-53). The statute issues them to the new motor vehicle dealer category, which covers dealers licensed to sell new and used vehicles. No section was found that issues plates to a Used Vehicle Dealer.
There is no cap on the number; you apply to the county for permanent number plates. The statute names one use for dealer tags, demonstrating new vehicles to customers on the public highways, and no personal use.
Dealer License Cost
A Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dealer License costs $50 to apply, plus a license fee of $97 to $487 by category and county. Hawaii has one of the lowest application fees. Every other fee on this page is in the table.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 dealer or auction, non-refundable$20 salesperson, non-refundable |
| Motor Vehicle Dealer License feePaid with the application | $487 New Vehicle Dealer, Honolulu$243 New Vehicle Dealer, Neighbor Island$195 Used Vehicle or Motorcycle-Scooter Dealer, Honolulu$97 Used Vehicle or Motorcycle-Scooter Dealer, Neighbor Island |
| Auction License fee | $390 all counties |
| Salesperson License fee | $20 |
| Compliance Resolution Fund feeA DCCA fee paid with every license | $148 dealer or auction, first half of the 2-year cycle$74 dealer or auction, second half$134 salesperson, first half$67 salesperson, second half |
| 1/2 Renewal prepaymentAdded to a mid-cycle application | Same as the license fee, dealer or auction$20 salesperson |
| Temporary salesperson license | $20 walk-in applicants only |
| Line of credit | $50,000 Used Vehicle or Motorcycle-Scooter Dealer, priced by your lender$500,000 New Vehicle Dealer, or your Dealer Sales and Service Agreement amount, whichever is less$100,000 Auction, secured |
| Dealer BondOnly when a line of credit cannot reasonably be obtained | 1% of the bond amount a year, $100 minimum, after a credit check |
| Dealer plates | Set by each county's Director of Finance |
| Dishonored payment | $25 |
| RenewalDue June 30 of every even-numbered year | $538 or $344 Dealer$538 Branch Location, Oahu$344 Branch Location, Neighbor Island$927 Auction$174 Salesperson$188 Consumer Consultant$1,298 plus $616 Manufacturer or Distributor |
Dealer License Renewal
A Hawaii Dealer License expires June 30 of every even-numbered year, no matter when it was issued, and fees are not prorated (HRS §437-23(a)). Every Board license renews on that same date: dealer, salesperson, auction, branch location, manufacturer, distributor, and consumer consultant. Dealer renewal is $538 or $344; the Board's page doesn't say which applies where.
Common Questions
Can you get a Hawaii Dealer License with a felony?
Yes. Hawaii law says you shall not be disqualified solely because of a prior conviction (HRS §831-3.1). The Board decides case by case, and only a crime related to a dealer's duties counts against you. After 10 years, not counting time incarcerated, the Board must also show you haven't been rehabilitated. Expunged or annulled convictions aren't asked about.
Can you get a Dealer License in Hawaii without a lot?
No. A Hawaii Motor Vehicle Dealer License requires a site used primarily to sell vehicles, with a permanent building displaying at least 3 vehicles. It also needs a secured office that no other business shares. Hawaii has no separate wholesale license; a Used Vehicle Dealer sells at wholesale or retail, or both, on the one license. Details under Office.
How many cars can you sell in Hawaii without a Dealer License?
In Hawaii, a Dealer License is required once you sell 3 or more vehicles in a calendar year (HRS §437-1.1). It is also required, at any count, if you are engaged in the business of selling vehicles. Selling your own personal or family vehicles in good faith, and not to get around licensing, needs no license.
Does Hawaii require a dealer bond?
Not as the main requirement. A Hawaii Used Vehicle Dealer License requires a $50,000 line of credit (HRS §437-7). The Board accepts a surety bond only when a line of credit cannot reasonably be obtained. For a Used Vehicle Dealer, the fallback bond is $25,000 under 60 vehicles a month and $100,000 above. Details under Bond.
How long does a Hawaii Dealer License take?
Hawaii sets a one-year ceiling: the Board must notify you in writing of its decision within one year of a complete application (HRS §436B-9). It publishes no typical processing time. The same law abandons an application that isn't completed within one year of filing.
Do I need insurance to get a Hawaii Dealer License?
No. Neither the dealer application, chapter 437, nor the Board's rules require insurance for the license itself. The line of credit, or the fallback bond, is the only financial security the license requires.
Do I need a business bank account?
No. Hawaii's dealer application and rules ask for no dealer bank account; what a dealer shows is the line of credit. An Auction applicant is different: it must show a customer trust account at a federally insured financial institution (HRS §437-7(e)).
Can I sell on another island with my Hawaii Dealer License?
Not on the same license. A Hawaii license authorizes business “only in the county for which the license is issued” (HRS §437-2). A second county needs the Board's prior approval on record for a branch or a commonly-owned location. Dealer plates are a county matter too, priced by each county's Director of Finance.
Support
The Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board issues every license on this page, through DCCA's Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Dealer plates and vehicle registration are a county matter, handled by each county's Director of Finance, and zoning is the county planning department.
| Contact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Department | Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division |
| Phone | (808) 586-3000 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 3469Honolulu, HI 96801 |
| Office | 335 Merchant Street, Room 301Honolulu, HI 96813 |
Additional sources (7)
The forms and the Board pages for each step are linked in the steps. These are the law, the rules, and the agency pages the page was checked against.
- HRS §437-23, expiration and renewal — the June 30 even-year expiration date, and the statute's version of a missed renewal
- HRS §437-26, nontransferable — no license issued under chapter 437 is transferable
- HRS §436B-10, application requirements — the age of majority, the SSN, and the citizenship or work-authorization rule that apply to every DCCA license
- HRS §436B-12, criminal conviction — the rehabilitation affidavits the Board may request
- HRS §436B-19, grounds for refusal — the general licensing law's “may” deny for a conviction directly related to the licensed vocation, including a no-contest plea
- HRS §437-28, suspension and revocation — chapter 437's own grounds, hearing rights, and who they reach
- Motor Vehicle Salesperson Application and Instructions (MOVE-01, PDF) — the salesperson license: $20 to apply, the SSN box, and the temporary license
