Official Code of GA Annotated, O.C.G.A 43-47-2 (3), states that a dealer must maintain an “established place of business” and defines one as “a salesroom or sales office in a building or on an open lot of a retail used car dealership or at which a permanent business of bartering, trading, offering, displaying, selling, buying, dismantling, or rebuilding wrecked or used motor vehicles or parts is carried on, or the place at which the books, records, and files necessary to conduct such business are kept. Each such place of business shall be furnished with a working telephone listed in the name of the licensee for use in conducting the business and shall be marked by an appropriate permanent sign as prescribed by the appropriate division under this chapter.”

Typically, we are able to complete your new business and dealer license setup within 60 days, start to finish. We have seen completed licenses come back in as little as 30 days, however, there are a number of variables. There are items that the client/licensee must complete such as take the 4 hour pre-license seminar, and background check. As part of our turnkey service and project management, we will register you for these activities, but the client must complete them. Speed of licensure is subject to client completing these requirements in a timely manner. Further, if the licensee has any criminal background which must be documented, the board must review the application at the subsequent board meeting which may require additional processing time.

According to the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, dealer plates/tags may be used for “personal use by owners, officers or employees of the business on vehicles owned by the business. Employees are defined as persons working for these businesses at least thirty-six hours per week.”

You may not sell any vehicles with the intent to make a profit before becoming a licensed dealer. O.C.G.A. 43-47-2 (17)(A) defines a used motor vehicle dealer as “any person who, for commission or with intent to make a profit or gain of money or other thing of value, sells, exchanges, rents with option to purchase, offers, or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in used motor vehicles or who is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling used motor vehicles, whether or not such motor vehicles are owned by such person. A motor vehicle broker shall be deemed to be a used motor vehicle dealer or a used car dealer for the purposes of this chapter.”

Yes, you can.

Not necessarily. Violations and typically most conviction which is older than 7 years old, especially misdemeanors, will not result in denial of licensure, however the Used Auto Dealers Board has final review and approval authority over all applications and reviews each case individually.

The bond is the most variable cost in the process of obtaining a Used Auto Dealers License. In terms of guidelines, credit scores over 600 generally result in bond prices which are manageable… in the $300/yearly range.

If your credit results in a bond price that is either too expense or denied outright, you can still be the licensee of the company while having another affiliate/member/partner of the company, presumably with better credit, apply for the bond on behalf of the company. You may elect to make anyone you choose an affiliate/member/partner of your company.

The Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License allows a dealer to sell wholesale or retail. The Georgia Board of Used Car Dealers makes no distinctions between wholesalers and retailers on the license. One caution: Because the Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License allows a dealer to sell both wholesale or retail, Board Rule 681-1-.01 states that you may not use the word “wholesale” in the name of the business, or in any advertising.