Getting a used car dealer license in Georgia

In Georgia, used-car dealers are licensed by Georgia Secretary of State, Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers.

Before your first retail sale you’ll need a $50,000 surety bond, a pre-licensing course and a business location that meets the state’s rules. The state also inspects the location.

This page gathers what a new independent lot needs, each fact linked to the official source it came from.

Details re-checked against official sources

At a glance

License
Used motor vehicle dealer (UCAR) sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Issued by
Georgia Secretary of State, Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Surety bond
$50,000 surety bond, payable to the Governor for the benefit of buyers, filed with a signed power of attorney. Raised from $35,000 by a 2026 amendment to O.C.G.A. 43-47-8, effective July 1, 2026. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab) That’s the bond’s face amount, not what you pay: a surety company charges a yearly premium, usually a small percentage of it, set mainly by your credit.
Pre-licensing course
Board-approved pre-license seminar required before application. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Official fees
Application fee $170, plus a $10 processing fee charged on every application. Expedited license verification costs $40 (3–5 business days) or $115 (same day). goals.sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Renewal
Two-year license. Renewal fee $150 (late renewal $100 more). 6 hours of continuing education are required to be eligible to renew. goals.sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Site inspection
Yes. Preliminary site inspection required by board application guide. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Step by step

  1. Make sure you need a used dealer license

    In Georgia, used-car dealers are licensed by the Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers, under the Secretary of State. The same license covers wholesaling; used-parts dealers are licensed separately. Selling online still needs the license. sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab) sos.ga.gov › used-motor-vehicle-dealers-used-motor-vehicle-parts-dealers-faq (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Attend the pre-license seminar

    Complete a board-approved pre-license seminar before you apply; you'll upload proof of completion with the application. sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Find a location and get zoning certification

    Local zoning controls where you can operate. On residential property the office must be a detached building that meets the rules, not part of the house, so ask the zoning office specifically about permanent signs. You need an established, furnished office with a working landline listed for the business, and a permanent business sign. sos.ga.gov › used-motor-vehicle-dealers-used-motor-vehicle-parts-dealers-faq (source, opens in a new tab)

  4. Get the $50,000 bond and insurance

    The bond is $50,000, payable to the Governor for the benefit of buyers, and is filed with a signed power of attorney. It rose from $35,000 on July 1, 2026, so check that your surety uses the current form. You don't pay that amount: a surety company charges you a premium, a fraction of it, set mainly by your credit. You also need a certificate of insurance. sos.ga.gov › Updated UCAR Bond 50K - Rev 5-2026.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab)

  5. Apply online in GOALS

    Submit the completed, signed and notarized application with the zoning certification, the bond and power of attorney, the insurance certificate, photographs of the business, proof of the seminar and a background check. The application fee is $170, plus a $10 processing fee. sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab) goals.sos.ga.gov › fee-schedules (source, opens in a new tab)

  6. Get fingerprinted when the agency asks

    Fingerprints come after you apply, once the agency tells you to; getting them earlier delays processing. sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab) sos.ga.gov › used-motor-vehicle-dealers-used-motor-vehicle-parts-dealers-faq (source, opens in a new tab)

  7. Inspection and review

    The board's guide calls for a preliminary inspection of the site. If anything in the application is missing, you have 60 days to fix it, and files going to the board must be complete 15 days before its meeting. sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab)

  8. Keep it current

    The license runs for two years. Renewal is $150 ($100 more if late) and needs 6 hours of continuing education. goals.sos.ga.gov › fee-schedules (source, opens in a new tab) sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab)

The location

Display lot
Office-suite model is permitted with display-rule exception. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Office
Established furnished office, business-listed working landline and separate inventory/records for shared dealer operations. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Sign
Permanent business sign required. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Zoning and home-based lots
Local zoning controls. Residential property requires detached compliant office, not dealership inside dwelling; ask zoning specifically about permanent signs. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you apply

Zoning certification, bond/POA, insurance, photos, identity/citizenship and background review. Fingerprint only after application and agency notice. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Forms

Apply online through GOALS, the Secretary of State's licensing portal: completed, signed and notarized application with fee, zoning certification (part of the application), surety bond with power of attorney, certificate of insurance, photographs of the business, proof of pre-licensing seminar completion, and a background check. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Get the current versions from sos.ga.gov; we don’t host copies.

Not the license you’re after?

Used-parts dealer is separate. Wholesaling uses same used-dealer license. Auction business may also need auction-company/auctioneer authority. sos.ga.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

What trips people up

Our read of the requirements above, not official guidance or statistics.

The hardest part: lining up everything the application needs before you file in GOALS: the zoning certification, the $50,000 bond with its power of attorney, the insurance certificate, photographs of the business and proof of the pre-licensing seminar.

Easy mistakes:

Questions

How much is the bond for a Georgia dealer license?

$50,000 since July 1, 2026, up from $35,000. You pay a surety company a premium, not the full amount. sos.ga.gov › Updated UCAR Bond 50K - Rev 5-2026.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

How much does a Georgia dealer license cost?

The application fee is $170 plus a $10 processing fee. The bond premium, insurance, the seminar and the location cost more and vary. goals.sos.ga.gov › fee-schedules (source, opens in a new tab) sos.ga.gov › Updated UCAR Bond 50K - Rev 5-2026.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Can I run a dealership from home in Georgia?

Only if local zoning allows it, and the office must be a separate building that meets the rules, not inside your house. sos.ga.gov › used-motor-vehicle-dealers-used-motor-vehicle-parts-dealers-faq (source, opens in a new tab)

How long does it take?

We couldn't find a published processing time. If your application is incomplete you have 60 days to fix it, and files needing board review must be complete 15 days before the board meets. sos.ga.gov › how-guide-used-motor-vehicle-dealers (source, opens in a new tab)

Sources

Not affiliated with the Georgia Department of Revenue. Not legal advice. Requirements change; always confirm with the state.