How to Get a Dealer License in New Mexico (2026)
In New Mexico, dealers are licensed by New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department). The bond is $50,000 (Vehicle dealer bond). State law sets a sales count that makes you a dealer; the exact wording is below. Every fact below links to the official page it came from.
New Mexico dealer license facts
| Licensing agency | New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department) |
|---|---|
| License name | Retail Dealer · Wholesale Dealersource |
| Sales that trigger a license | Official threshold: 5 or more sales in a year. Official wording: “not more than four per year of their own vehicles”source |
| Surety bond | $50,000 (Vehicle dealer bond)source |
| Application / license fees | Dealer license application fee: $50source |
| Pre-licensing education | Applicants for a used/pre-owned dealer license must obtain a Pre-Licensing Education certificate, renewed every two years.source |
| Place of business | Applicants must submit photographs or diagrams of the business site, vehicle display area, office building, inside office space, and signage, and the signage must match the DBA name on file.source |
| Wholesale-only license | A Wholesale dealer license type exists and still requires a physical location like other dealer license types.source |
| Last checked | 2026-09-24 |
Steps to get licensed in New Mexico
- Pick the license. New Mexico issues: Retail Dealer, Wholesale Dealer. A wholesale-only license is available if you only sell to dealers.
- Set up the place of business. Applicants must submit photographs or diagrams of the business site, vehicle display area, office building, inside office space, and signage, and the signage must match the DBA name on file.
- Finish the required course. Applicants for a used/pre-owned dealer license must obtain a Pre-Licensing Education certificate, renewed every two years.
- Buy the surety bond. Required amount: $50,000 (Vehicle dealer bond).
- Apply to New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department). Published fees: Dealer license application fee: $50.
Flipping without a license in New Mexico
Official threshold: 5 or more sales in a year. Official wording: “not more than four per year of their own vehicles”source Selling past that line without a license is curbstoning.
New Mexico data on CarFlipIQ
FAQ
Who issues dealer licenses in New Mexico?
New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department) licenses motor vehicle dealers in New Mexico. License types include: Retail Dealer, Wholesale Dealer.
How many cars can I sell in New Mexico without a dealer license?
Official threshold: 5 or more sales in a year. Official wording: "not more than four per year of their own vehicles" Confirm how it applies to you with New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department).
How much is the dealer bond in New Mexico?
The New Mexico dealer surety bond is $50,000 (Vehicle dealer bond). You pay a surety company a yearly premium, not the full bond amount.
How much does a dealer license cost in New Mexico?
Published state fees: Dealer license application fee: $50. Add the bond premium, insurance, and the cost of your place of business.
Do I need to take a course to get a New Mexico dealer license?
Applicants for a used/pre-owned dealer license must obtain a Pre-Licensing Education certificate, renewed every two years.
Is there a wholesale-only dealer license in New Mexico?
A Wholesale dealer license type exists and still requires a physical location like other dealer license types.
Price New Mexico cars before you buy them
Check any vehicle against live New Mexico listings, then decide what to bid.
Not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm with New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department) before you apply. Last checked 2026-09-24.