How to get a dealer license in Ohio

Ohio requires a dealer license to sell, display or offer used motor vehicles for sale as a business, at retail or wholesale. A license is also required to make more than five casual sales of motor vehicles in a twelve-month period (R.C. 4517.02).

• New Motor Vehicle, Motorcycle, APV, or Camping Trailer Dealer License: Dealers who sell new vehicles under a contract with the manufacturer, remanufacturer or distributor.
• Leasing Motor Vehicle Dealer License: Businesses that lease motor vehicles to others for terms of 30 days or more.
• Adaptive Mobility Dealer License: Dealers that sell, equip and service vehicles adapted for drivers and passengers with disabilities.
• Auction Owner License: Businesses that run wholesale motor vehicle auctions. The fee is $100 per location.
• Construction Equipment Auction License: Auction businesses that mainly sell large construction and transportation equipment.
• Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealer, Auction, or Pool License: Businesses that deal in salvage vehicles and salvage parts, including salvage auctions and pools.
• New Motor Vehicle/Motorcycle Distributor License: Businesses that distribute new motor vehicles or motorcycles from the manufacturer to franchised dealers.

Surety bond. Used dealers need a surety bond of at least $75,000 (OAC 4501:1-3-11, in effect since April 1, 2026). File the original bond with the Ohio Attorney General (Consumer Protection Section, TDRF Unit) in the exact business name and keep it for the life of the license. The bond can also meet the $75,000 net worth rule. No bond is needed if an owner or officer holds or held a new, adaptive mobility or leasing dealer license in the year before applying and that license was not suspended or revoked (OAC 4501:1-3-11). An older BMV form, BMV 4443 (revised 1/25), still shows the earlier, lower amount.

Insurance. We found no set liability insurance amount for used dealers. On BMV form 4443, dealers affirm that vehicles the business owns will be insured or have other financial responsibility coverage.

Place of business. You need a display lot of at least 3,500 square feet with a hard surface, not counting driveways or the office. The lot needs a permanent office of at least 180 square feet with a desk, three chairs and a filing cabinet. A permanent barrier must separate the lot from homes and unrelated businesses. You also need a sign with letters at least 6 inches high, a business phone answered in the dealership's name, and posted hours of at least 5 hours a week, with at least 2 of them between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Show a lease of at least three months or a deed, and meet local zoning (OAC 4501:1-3-08).

Background check. Everyone listed in the ownership section needs a criminal history check through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI). Ohio residents are fingerprinted electronically, with results sent to BMV Dealer Licensing. Out-of-state applicants and those with an exemption send a fingerprint card, an exemption form and a $22 fee. An FBI record is not accepted in place of the BCI check, and disqualifying offenses can lead to denial (R.C. 4517.12).

Pre-license education. Required (6 hours). Approved courses and details.

1. Complete a BMV-authorized used motor vehicle dealer training course of at least 6 hours within six months before you apply, unless an exemption applies.
2. Register the business and any trade name with the Ohio Secretary of State.
3. Lease (for at least three months) or buy a location that meets OAC 4501:1-3-08, with a 3,500 square foot lot, a 180 square foot office, a barrier, a sign and a business phone.
4. Buy a $75,000 bond on the Motor Vehicle Title Defect Surety Bond form and send the original to the Ohio Attorney General's TDRF Unit.
5. Have each person listed as an owner complete a BCI criminal history check, with electronic fingerprint results sent to BMV Dealer Licensing.
6. Apply online through the BMV Dealer Licensing portal, upload the lease or deed, Secretary of State certificates, bond copy, course certificate and photos, and pay the fees.
7. Pass the BMV Investigations site inspection, which can happen before or after the license is issued.

Official forms:

• Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License application (online only)
• Motor Vehicle Title Defect Surety Bond
• Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Application for Address Change (BMV 4443)

No. A used dealer license requires an established place of business with a display lot of at least 3,500 square feet and an office of at least 180 square feet on the lot, and Ohio's used dealer license covers wholesale as well as retail sales (R.C. 4517.01).

Dealer-only auctions sell only to licensed dealers, so you need a dealer license to buy there. Many of these auctions use AuctionACCESS (auctionaccess.com), which limits membership to licensed vehicle dealers and their authorized representatives.

Licenses renew every two years for $50 (R.C. 4517.10). At each renewal the BMV audits the prior year's sales and may lower the number of dealer plates you can keep.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm the details with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Dealer Licensing Section 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 Ohio.