How to get a dealer license in Georgia

It is unlawful to operate as a used motor vehicle dealer in Georgia without first getting a license from the Board (O.C.G.A. 43-47-7). A used dealer is anyone who, for commission or profit, sells, exchanges, offers, or tries to negotiate a sale of used motor vehicles, whether or not they own them. Selling five or more used vehicles in one calendar year is prima facie evidence that a person is in the business (O.C.G.A. 43-47-2(17)(A)).

• Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License: Anyone selling or exchanging used vehicles for profit. Wholesalers, brokers, independent leasing agencies that sell used vehicles, and auctions that sell to independent dealers or consumers are treated as used dealers.
• Supplemental License: Each additional lot that is not next to your licensed location and operates for more than 96 hours in a row. It needs its own bond and insurance.
• Temporary Site Permit: A licensed dealer selling at a temporary site for up to 96 hours in a row in a 30-day period, up to three times a year, within one county of the county where the dealer's licensed location is. Apply at least 60 days ahead.
• Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealer License: Businesses that deal in used motor vehicle parts. The bond is $10,000.
• Franchised New Motor Vehicle Dealer: Franchised dealers operating in the county of their franchise are outside the used dealer licensing law. They register with the Department of Revenue for dealer plates.

Surety bond. Each license and supplemental license needs a bond from a surety authorized in Georgia. The amount rose from $35,000 to $50,000 on July 1, 2026 (O.C.G.A. 43-47-8(d)(1), as amended by SB 293). Used parts dealers post $10,000. You must notify the Board by certified letter at least 30 days before canceling a bond, and a canceled bond must be replaced within 10 days or the license may be revoked (O.C.G.A. 43-47-8(d)(2) and (3)). Board Rule 681-3-.01 still lists $35,000, but the statute controls.

Insurance. Each license and supplemental license needs public liability and property damage insurance of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for personal injury, plus $25,000 for property damage (O.C.G.A. 43-47-8(e)(1)). The certificate must list the State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217, as certificate holder. Dealers who sell rebuilt vehicles must show garage liability coverage (Rule 681-3-.01).

Place of business. You need an established place of business in a permanent building where records are kept and sales are negotiated. Modular or manufactured office buildings tied down on blocks with the wheels removed are allowed; storage buildings are not. It needs a working landline listed in your trade name and a permanent sign with your trade name in letters at least 6 inches high, professionally made, securely mounted, and visible from the street. Open-lot dealers must do business from a building on the same property, and only one dealer may operate an open lot on a single plat. An office suite in an office complex can qualify. So can a separate office building detached from a residence, if local rules allow, with its own business phone line and the Board license, sales tax number, and local business license displayed. If you share a building with another business, you need your own outside entrance, suite number, and phone. The location must meet local zoning, and the Board may set minimum size standards (Rules 681-3-.05, 681-6-.01, and 681-9-.02; O.C.G.A. 43-47-2(3)).

Background check. Applicants submit fingerprints scanned at a GAPS print site. The Board sends them to the Georgia Crime Information Center, which forwards them to the FBI if no state record is found, and the applicant pays the fees. The application is made under oath and must list any arrest or conviction, including nolo contendere and first offender pleas. Board rules sort crimes into categories with sanction periods of 12, 10, 5, or 3 years from the date of conviction, during which an application is not routinely considered unless pardoned. Other misdemeanors (Category E) generally do not affect an application unless there are more than three (Rule 681-14).

Pre-license education. Required. Approved courses and details.

1. Find a location that meets the established place of business rules in Board Rule 681-6-.01 and local zoning.
2. Form your business, get a local business license, and register for sales and use tax with the Georgia Department of Revenue in the same name you will use on the dealer application.
3. If you are not a Georgia resident, name a Georgia resident as your agent for service of process.
4. Attend a Board-approved licensing seminar (4 to 6 hours) or pass a Board-approved exam within 12 months before you apply.
5. Buy a $50,000 surety bond on the Board's bond form and get liability insurance that lists the Board as certificate holder.
6. Submit the Used Motor Vehicle Dealer application with the fee, bond, insurance certificate, seminar proof, and photos of the full facility, sign, and display area.
7. Get fingerprinted at a GAPS print site for the state and FBI background check.
8. After the Board approves your license, apply for dealer plates with the Department of Revenue on Form MV-6 through DRIVES e-Services.

Official forms:

• Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Application (Rev. April 2024)
• Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Surety Bond, $50,000 (Rev. 5-2026)
• Dealer, Distributor and Manufacturer License Plate Application (MV-6)

Georgia requires an established place of business, not a car lot. A broker who will not display inventory must meet every place of business rule except the display area, and an office suite or a detached office at a residence can qualify where local rules allow (Rule 681-6-.01).

Georgia treats auction companies that sell used vehicles to independent dealers or consumers as used dealers that need a license (O.C.G.A. 43-47-2(17)(A)). Dealer-only auctions are for licensed dealers, and AuctionACCESS (auctionaccess.com) restricts membership to licensed vehicle dealers and their authorized representatives.

Licenses renew every two years (O.C.G.A. 43-47-8(g)). Board Rule 681-8-.01 says used dealer licenses expire March 31 of even-numbered years and renewal must be filed before then. Renewing within two months after expiration may require a penalty fee; after that you must file a new application and pay a penalty fee. You need at least 6 hours of Board-approved continuing education within 9 months before renewal, including at least 1 hour on tags and titles. Missing it can bring 6 months of probation, a private reprimand, and a $100 penalty fee.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm the details with the Georgia State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers before you apply. Last verified October 20, 2026.

Planning the business side too? Read how to start a car dealership. Used cars you offer for sale need an FTC Buyers Guide in the window. Selling your own car instead? See how to sell a car in Georgia.