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Auto Dealers and Vehicle Sales license requirements by state

Auto Dealers and Vehicle Sales licensing requirements can vary by state and by the services your company provides. Use this guide to compare possible requirements across jurisdictions, then confirm applicability, fees, and renewal timing with the issuing regulator.

Compare all 50 states and DC

Estimated entries are not human-approved evidence. How to read these statuses

Jurisdiction overview

A research starting point for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Industry license information by state and District of Columbia
StateLicense or requirementRegulator listedEstimated feeRenewalStatus
AlabamaALAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityAlabama state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
AlaskaAKAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityAlaska state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ArizonaAZAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityArizona state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ArkansasARAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityArkansas state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
CaliforniaCAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityCalifornia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ColoradoCOAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityColorado state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ConnecticutCTAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityConnecticut state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
DelawareDEAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityDelaware state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
FloridaFLAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityFlorida state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
GeorgiaGAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityGeorgia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
HawaiiHIAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityHawaii state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IdahoIDAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityIdaho state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IllinoisILAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityIllinois state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IndianaINAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityIndiana state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IowaIAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityIowa state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
KansasKSAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityKansas state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
KentuckyKYAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityKentucky state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
LouisianaLAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityLouisiana state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MaineMEAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMaine state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MarylandMDAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMaryland state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MassachusettsMAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMassachusetts state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MichiganMIAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMichigan state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MinnesotaMNAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMinnesota state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MississippiMSAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMississippi state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MissouriMOAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMissouri state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MontanaMTAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityMontana state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
NebraskaNEAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNebraska state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
NevadaNVAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNevada state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New HampshireNHAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNew Hampshire state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New JerseyNJAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNew Jersey state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New MexicoNMAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNew Mexico state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New YorkNYAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNew York state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
North CarolinaNCAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNorth Carolina state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
North DakotaNDAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityNorth Dakota state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
OhioOHAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityOhio state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
OklahomaOKAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityOklahoma state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
OregonORAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityOregon state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
PennsylvaniaPAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityPennsylvania state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
Rhode IslandRIAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityRhode Island state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
South CarolinaSCAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activitySouth Carolina state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
South DakotaSDAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activitySouth Dakota state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
TennesseeTNAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityTennessee state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
TexasTXAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityTexas state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
UtahUTAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityUtah state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
VermontVTAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityVermont state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
VirginiaVAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityVirginia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
WashingtonWAAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityWashington state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
West VirginiaWVAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityWest Virginia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
WisconsinWIAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityWisconsin state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
WyomingWYAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityWyoming state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
District of ColumbiaDCAuto Dealers and Sales licensing varies by activityDistrict of Columbia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $200 to $2,000Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02

Frequently asked questions

Do licensing requirements vary by state?

Yes. State rules can differ, and cities or counties may add permits or registrations. A license in one state does not automatically authorize work in another.

Does every business in this industry need the same license?

No. Requirements depend on the services offered, business structure, location, employees, and sometimes the credentials held by individual workers.

Who issues industry licenses?

The issuing office depends on the license. It may be a state licensing board or agency, a local government department, or a federal agency for a specific regulated activity.

How much does a business license cost?

Fees vary by license, jurisdiction, and application type. Check the issuing regulator’s current fee schedule for the applicable amount.

How often do licenses need to be renewed?

Renewal schedules vary. Check the license record and regulator instructions for the renewal period, due date, continuing education, and any required forms.

What should I do after finding a possible requirement?

Open the issuing regulator’s guidance and confirm that the requirement applies to your services and location. Then review the current eligibility rules, filing steps, fees, and renewal instructions before taking action.

Want it filed for you? Talk to a licensing expert

Top States for This License
Auto Dealers and Sales License in CaliforniaAuto Dealers and Sales License in TexasAuto Dealers and Sales License in FloridaAuto Dealers and Sales License in New YorkAuto Dealers and Sales License in IllinoisAuto Dealers and Sales License in Pennsylvania
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