Getting a used car dealer license in Oregon

In Oregon, used-car dealers are licensed by Oregon ODOT DMV Business Licensing.

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.

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
Three Year Vehicle Dealer Certificate, used vehicles oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Issued by
Oregon ODOT DMV Business Licensing oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Surety bond
$50,000 bond or qualifying letter of credit. apps.oregon.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
Eight hours through approved provider: A Certified Dealer Education School (ordealers.net) or At Your Pace Online (onlineautodealered.com). oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Exam
Statute requires course tests within one year before application. oregonlegislature.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Official fees
August2026 application: $1,188 original certificate including one plate; $350 additional location; additional plate $55. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Renewal
Three years; 12 hours CE during term. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Step by step

  1. Make sure you need a dealer certificate

    Oregon's ODOT DMV Business Licensing issues used-car dealers a Three Year Vehicle Dealer Certificate. Rebuilders, franchise dealers and extra locations need different permissions. oregon.gov › dealerbecome.aspx (source, opens in a new tab) oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Take the 8-hour course and its tests

    Complete eight hours with an approved provider, A Certified Dealer Education School (ordealers.net) or At Your Pace Online (onlineautodealered.com), and pass the course tests within one year before you apply. oregon.gov › dealerbecome.aspx (source, opens in a new tab) oregonlegislature.gov › ors822.html (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Set up the business

    Register the entity or assumed business name, get an FEIN and gather photo ID for every owner. oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  4. Set up the location

    You need display space for at least one vehicle (an exemption can be requested on form 735-7178), and the public must be able to reach you during normal business hours, with your certificate on display. Put an exterior sign with the business name on the building unless you have an approved exemption. oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  5. Get local approval

    The city or county signs your application to approve the location. Don't change the address afterward: an altered address voids that approval. oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  6. Get the bond and insurance

    You need a $50,000 bond or qualifying letter of credit, and an insurance certificate. DMV rejects unsigned bonds and won't accept an ordinary ACORD certificate or an insurance binder, and the names have to match everywhere. You don't pay that amount: a surety company charges you a premium, a fraction of it, set mainly by your credit. apps.oregon.gov › 1122 (source, opens in a new tab) oregonlegislature.gov › ors822.html (source, opens in a new tab)

  7. Apply

    Mail or deliver the complete application (form 735-370, instructions on 735-370A) with the fees: $1,188 for the original certificate including one plate, $55 for each additional plate and $350 for each additional location. oregon.gov › dealerbecome.aspx (source, opens in a new tab) oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  8. Wait for approval before you sell

    Don't do business until DMV approves you. DMV says complete applications take 2–3 weeks; the state's license directory says about a month. oregon.gov › dealerbecome.aspx (source, opens in a new tab) oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  9. Keep it current

    The certificate runs three years, and you need 12 hours of continuing education during that term. oregon.gov › Chapter_R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

The location

Display lot
Display space for one or more vehicles; exemption request possible, separate from zoning approval. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Office
Public must be able to reach dealer during normal hours; certificate conspicuously displayed. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Sign
Affixed exterior business-name sign unless approved exemption. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Zoning and home-based lots
City/county approval signed on application. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you apply

Entity/assumed-name registration, FEIN, owner photo IDs and insurance certificate; ordinary ACORD/binder not accepted. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Forms

735-370 application; 735-370A instructions; bond/insurance attachments in packet; 735-370C education exemption; 735-7178 location exemption if applicable. oregon.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

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

Not the license you’re after?

Rebuilder, franchise and supplemental-location permissions differ. oregon.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: matching names and obtaining acceptable original insurance/bond documents.

Easy mistakes:

Questions

How much does an Oregon dealer certificate cost?

$1,188 for the original three-year certificate, including one plate. The premium on the $50,000 bond, the insurance, the course and the location are extra. oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) apps.oregon.gov › 1122 (source, opens in a new tab)

How long does it take?

DMV says 2–3 weeks for a complete application; the state's license directory says about a month. oregon.gov › dealerbecome.aspx (source, opens in a new tab) apps.oregon.gov › 1122 (source, opens in a new tab)

What insurance document does DMV accept?

An insurance certificate, but not an ordinary ACORD certificate or a binder. oregon.gov › 370grpfill.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Do I need continuing education?

Yes: 12 hours during each three-year term. oregon.gov › Chapter_R.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Sources

Not affiliated with the Oregon DMV. Not legal advice. Requirements change; always confirm with the state.