Every state licenses used-car dealers, and the agency, license name, bond and sales trigger differ in almost every case. Below is the full list: 51 jurisdictions with the agency, the license names the state uses, the bond amounts listed, and the sales count that triggers the requirement. Of the 51, 47 have a verified bond figure, 42 a verified license name, and 29 a numeric sales threshold. Where a fact was not verified on an official page, the cell says "Confirm with agency."
LocalIQ™ market snapshot
What top flip candidates are asking right now
| Model | Listings | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 632 | $29,972 |
| Honda Civic | 5,396 | $15,000 |
| Honda Accord | 4,176 | $15,999 |
| Ford F-150 | 3,134 | $24,000 |
| Toyota Corolla | 3,040 | $14,500 |
| Nissan Sentra | 3,004 | $9,880 |
| Toyota Camry | 2,510 | $17,082 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 2,396 | $9,499 |
LocalIQ™ asking-price median · 24,288 listings · updated every 6 hours. National, last 8 model years; asking price is your resale ceiling.
How to read the table
- Bond range is the lowest and highest bond amount listed for that state. Some states list lower figures for motorcycle-only or low-volume dealers (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Wisconsin) and a higher one for general dealers. The state guide shows each amount with its label. Kentucky's entry is a bond or assets "up to" $100,000.
- Threshold is the number of vehicles sold in the stated period that makes a person a dealer. It is the state's wording, not a safe harbor: some states count differently (calendar year, fiscal year, or evidence of dealing). See dealer license requirements, state vs federal for the wording in seven states.
- License name shows up to two names. Wholesale and other categories are on the state page. For what the names mean, see dealer license classes explained.
- Every non-empty cell was read on an official state source (agency page, statute, or administrative code) and last checked on or before 2026-09-24. Never use this table as a substitute for the application form.
Dealer license list by state
| State | Agency | License name(s) | Bond range | Sales threshold (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Revenue | Master Dealer License | $50,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Alaska | Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles | Motor Vehicle Dealer License | $25,000 to $100,000 | 5 per year |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Transportation | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License; Wholesale Motor Vehicle Dealer License | Confirm with agency | 7 per year |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Public Safety / Division of Arkansas State Police | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License; Wholesaler (endorsement, not a distinct license type) | $25,000 to $100,000 | 5 per year |
| California | California Department of Motor Vehicles | Used Vehicle Dealer License; Dealer Wholesale-Only License | $10,000 to $50,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Revenue | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License; Wholesaler's License | $5,000 to $50,000 | 3 per year |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles | Used Car Dealer's License | $60,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Delaware | Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles | Used vehicle dealer; Wholesale dealer | Confirm with agency | 5 per year |
| District of Columbia | DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection | Motor Vehicle Dealer (Basic Business License endorsement) | $25,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Florida | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles | Independent Motor Vehicle Dealer (VI); Wholesale Motor Vehicle Dealer (VW) | $25,000 | 3 per year |
| Georgia | Georgia Secretary of State – State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer | $35,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board | Confirm with agency | Confirm with agency | 3 per year |
| Idaho | Idaho Transportation Department | Confirm with agency | $20,000 to $40,000 | 5 per year |
| Illinois | Illinois Secretary of State | Confirm with agency | Confirm with agency | Confirm with agency |
| Indiana | Indiana Secretary of State | Confirm with agency | $25,000 | 12 per year |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Transportation | Motor Vehicle Dealer License; Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License | $75,000 | 7 per year |
| Kansas | Kansas Department of Revenue | New/Used Vehicle Dealer; Used Vehicle Dealer | $50,000 | 5 per year |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer (includes wholesale); Wholesale Motor Vehicle Dealer (by itself) | $100,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License; Wholesale (Dealer) | $50,000 | 5 per year |
| Maine | Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Used Car License | $25,000 to $75,000 | 6 per year |
| Maryland | Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration | Confirm with agency | $15,000 to $35,000 | 3 per year |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles | Class 2 Used Car Dealer's License | $25,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of State | Class B (Used Vehicle Dealer); Class W (Wholesaler Vehicle License) | $25,000 | 5 per year |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Public Safety | Confirm with agency | $50,000 | 6 per year |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Revenue | Motor Vehicle Dealer Permit; Wholesale Dealer Permit (Wholesale Only) | $15,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Revenue | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer; Wholesale Motor Vehicle Dealer | $50,000 | 8 per year |
| Montana | Montana Department of Justice | Used Dealer's License; Wholesaler's License | $5,000 to $50,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board | Motor Vehicle Dealer License | $50,000 to $100,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles | Vehicle Dealer License | $10,000 to $100,000 | Confirm with agency |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles | Retail Vehicle Dealer License; Auto Wholesale Dealer License | $25,000 | 5 per year |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission | Used Car Dealership License; New and Used Car Dealership License | $10,000 | Confirm with agency |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division | Retail Dealer; Wholesale Dealer | $50,000 | 5 per year |
| New York | New York State Department of Motor Vehicles | Confirm with agency | $20,000 to $100,000 | Confirm with agency |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles | Motor Vehicle Dealer; Wholesaler | $25,000 to $50,000 | 5 per year |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Department of Transportation | New Motor Vehicle Dealer License; Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License | $25,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Ohio | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles / Ohio Motor Vehicle Dealers Board | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer | $75,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer; Wholesale Used Motor Vehicle Dealer | $25,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Oregon | Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services | Vehicle Dealer Certificate | $50,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of State | Dealer License | $20,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles | Confirm with agency | $50,000 | 5 per year |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles | Dealer License (retail); Dealer License (wholesale) | $50,000 | 6 per year |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Department of Revenue | Confirm with agency | $25,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission | Motor Vehicle Dealer | $50,000 | 6 per year |
| Texas | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | Independent Motor Vehicle GDN; Wholesale Dealers GDN | $50,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Utah | Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division | New or used motor vehicle dealer; New or used motorcycle/OHV/small trailer dealer | $10,000 to $75,000 | Confirm with agency |
| Vermont | Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles | Used Car (UCD) | $20,000 to $35,000 | 12 per year |
| Virginia | Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board | Independent Motor Vehicle Dealer | $50,000 | 5 per year |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Licensing | Motor Vehicle Dealer; Wholesale Vehicle Dealer | $30,000 | 5 per year |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles | Used Motor Vehicle Dealer (Duc); New & Used Motor Vehicle Dealer (D) | $25,000 | 10 per year |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Department of Transportation | Motor Vehicle Dealer; Wholesaler (Wholesale Dealer) | $5,000 to $50,000 | 6 per year |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Transportation | Used Vehicle Dealer; New Vehicle Dealer | $25,000 | 3 per year |
What the table shows
- Thresholds cluster at 3 to 6, with outliers. Five states list 3 (Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Wyoming), thirteen list 5, and five list 6. Arizona and Iowa list 7, Missouri 8, West Virginia 10, and Indiana and Vermont 12.
- Bond is a bigger spread than threshold. The lowest figure listed in any state is $5,000 (a Colorado and Wisconsin category tier) and the highest is $100,000. A bond amount is not the cost of the bond: you pay a premium to a surety company, and the agency pages do not list premiums.
- A sizeable group lists no verified threshold. Alabama, California, Texas, Georgia, Ohio and 17 others show "Confirm with agency." That is a limit of what an official source stated, not a statement that no limit exists.
How do you use this list?
- Find your state in the table and open its guide.
- Check the threshold against how many cars you sell in the state's window.
- Compare the bond and fees to your expected volume. A $50,000 bond is common in the table.
- Confirm the license name and the current form with the agency before applying.
For the application steps, see how to get a car auction and dealer license and the getting a dealer license guide. If you are under your state's limit and deciding whether to stay unlicensed, see how many cars you can flip without a dealer license. Already licensed and renewing? See dealer license renewal.
Where this fits in a flip
A license opens dealer-only inventory, but the bond, fees and plates become part of your cost per unit. Price each buy against its real resale with the max bid calculator before you commit to a state's license.