Getting a used car dealer license in Hawaii

In Hawaii, used-car dealers are licensed by Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing, Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.

Before your first retail sale you’ll need a $50,000 surety bond and a business location that meets the state’s rules.

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

Sources checked

At a glance

License
Used Motor Vehicle Dealer cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Issued by
Hawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing, Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Surety bond
Primary financial route is $50,000 inventory/flooring credit line. If applicant cannot reasonably obtain it, Board may approve bond instead: $25,000 below 60 vehicles/month on annual basis; $100,000 at 60 or more. Do not treat bond alternative as automatic. cca.hawaii.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.
Official fees
Used dealer applications July even-year–June odd-year: Honolulu $588, other counties $393. July odd-year–June even-year: Honolulu $319, other counties $221. October 2026 falls in $588/$393 period. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Renewal
Renew by June 30 every even-numbered year regardless of issue date. Missing deadline requires new application. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Site inspection
Self-inspection report and photos required. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Step by step

  1. Make sure you need a used dealer license

    Hawaii's Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, part of DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing, licenses used motor vehicle dealers. New and franchise dealers, auctions, salespersons and manufacturers are separate, and a corporation or LLC dealer also needs a licensed salesperson. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Line up financing first

    This is the hard part, so start before you sign a lease. The main route is a $50,000 inventory or flooring line of credit, with the financing and security documents. Only if you can't reasonably get one can the Board approve a bond instead: $25,000 below 60 vehicles a month on an annual basis, $100,000 at 60 or more. Don't count on the bond as automatic. You also need a financial statement from a CPA or public accountant, no more than a year old. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Secure the premises

    Sign a lease of at least one year from the date you apply, with sublease authority if you need it. Without a showroom you need at least three display stalls sized for cars with a 90-inch wheelbase, marked with your dealer name. If another business shares the premises, you need a separate office; a portable office must have its wheels removed and sit on blocks. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  4. Measure and photograph the site

    Submit a measured site drawing and photographs showing the stalls, toilets and access, plus a self-inspection report. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  5. Register the business and your salesperson

    Register the entity or DBA, and if you're a corporation or LLC, file the salesperson application. Convictions you disclose may require criminal history or court records. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  6. Submit the packet

    Send the MOVE02 application (instructions on MOVE12) with the self-inspection report and the fee for the Board to review. The fee depends on timing and county: from July 2026 to June 2027 it's $588 in Honolulu and $393 elsewhere; from July 2027 to June 2028, $319 and $221. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  7. Keep it current

    Every license renews by June 30 of each even-numbered year, whenever it was issued. Miss the deadline and you have to apply again. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

The location

Display lot
Without showroom, at least three display stalls for average 90-inch-wheelbase cars; submit measured site drawing and photographs. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Office
Separate office if another business occupies premises; toilets and access shown on plan/photos. Lease at least one year from application; portable office wheels removed and structure on blocks. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Sign
Designated display stalls marked with dealer name. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you apply

Entity/DBA registrations; CPA/public-accountant financial statement no more than one year old; $50,000 credit line and financing/security documentation or approved alternative; LLC/corporation salesperson. Conviction disclosures may require criminal-history/court records. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Forms

MOVE02 Motor Vehicle Dealer/Auction application; MOVE12 instructions; self-inspection report and related attachments in combined packet. Supporting financing/security documents and salesperson application as applicable. cca.hawaii.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Get the current versions from cca.hawaii.gov; we don’t host copies.

Not the license you’re after?

New dealer/franchise, auction, salesperson and manufacturer/distributor are separate categories; corporate/LLC dealer also needs licensed salesperson. cca.hawaii.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: obtaining financing and accountant-prepared financial evidence before taking on a one-year lease.

Easy mistakes:

Questions

How much does a Hawaii dealer license cost?

The application fee depends on timing and county: $588 in Honolulu and $393 elsewhere for applications filed between July 2026 and June 2027. The $50,000 credit line, the accountant's financial statement and a one-year lease are the bigger costs. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Can I just get a bond instead of a credit line?

Only if you can't reasonably get the $50,000 credit line and the Board approves the bond instead. It isn't automatic. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

When do I renew?

By June 30 of every even-numbered year, no matter when you were licensed. cca.hawaii.gov › Require-App-for-MV-Dealer-or-Auction_07.24R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Sources

Not affiliated with the County of Hawaii or any Hawaii county. Not legal advice. Requirements change; always confirm with the state.