In order get a used motor vehicle dealer license in Ohio, you must establish your business entity, take a 6-hour BMV approved training course, obtain an Ohio Dealer Surety Bond, submit dealer license documents to the BMV in Columbus, then open for business.
You can establish an Ohio Business Entity by registering your new business with the Ohio Secretary of State, obtain a Federal Tax ID from the IRS, apply for an Ohio Vendor License, and get your local business license. If you need assistance with becoming an Ohio business entity, you can find our recommended business filing service provider.
An Ohio used motor vehicle dealer license costs $50 for two years. You are required to order a master dealer plate of $50.25 and are required to pay $150 to the Ohio Title Defect Rescission Fund. The total application fee for the dealer license permit is $250.25. Each additional dealer license plats is $10.25. The charge for your Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) fingerprints run $22 to $55 depending on the office you select for fingerprints. The tuition for the dealer pre-license course is $295 and includes all the additional benefits you see on our Pricing Page. The business entity filing service to register with the Ohio Secretary of State, obtain an Ohio Vendor Number, and an IRS Tax ID starts at about $269 depending on options such as expedited services and state filing fees. Bond pricing starts at about $500 per year or $50 per month for 10 months with good credit. If you have good credit and decide to make monthly payments on your dealer surety bond the minimum amount you will need to obtain an Ohio dealer license is about $919. If you have good credit and pay for your bond in advance your minimum cost for a license is about $1,419. This price does not include your location.
Yes, you must take a dealer training course to get an Ohio dealer license. Ohio state law requires you complete the training course before you can apply for an Ohio dealers license. This law has been in effect since 2015.
You can take the Ohio used motor vehicle dealer training course by watching a series of videos entirely online. You will sign up, create a username and password, then watch a series of videos that take about 6 hours to complete. You can start and stop the course or watch all 6 hours of video at one time. When you have completed the final video your official Ohio Dealer Pre-License Certificate of Completion will pop up on your screen to download then submit to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Dealer Licensing Section in Columbus.
Your Ohio dealer training course covers all the dealer pre-license steps in depth, you will learn how to complete all the dealer license application documents, then you are shown step-by-step how to apply for your dealer license online correctly. The BMV Dealer Licensing Section no longer accepts mailed in dealer license applications. Then you will learn how to complete a deal with your customer, you will learn how to completed titles as an Ohio dealer, the course covers how to easily maintain your Ohio dealer records, use your new dealer license plates, issue temporary tags on vehicles you sell, how to export vehicles to other countries, and how specialized dealer software can run your dealership with a few clicks of the mouse.
Please visit our Dealer Course Pricing page to view our full, upfront, and transparent tuition pricing along with all the other benefits that are included.
Yes you need a physical location to get an Ohio used car dealer license. The State of Ohio would never allow a cloud based with no physical location to operate as a licensed Ohio motor vehicle dealer. The BMV wants to ensure your customers know where you are after you sell a vehicle, the is why you must have a physical location that is zoned for a dealer license.
Ohio Revised Code requires a used motor vehicle dealer lot to be at least 3500 square feet. Your lot can be on the outside of the building, the inside of the building, or a combination of inside and outside your building.
Yes, an Ohio used car dealer license will allow you to buy vehicles at wholesale dealer auctions. Your Ohio dealer license will allow you to enter Ohio dealer auctions and you can also you to purchase vehicles any other dealer auction in the United States. Once you are licensed you can enter the physical dealer auctions and buy vehicles in person, or you can view all dealer auction inventories through out the United States, purchase the vehicles online, then easily have them shipped to your license location in Ohio. You can also by vehicles from individuals and sell them at dealer auctions which can create a large amount of additional revenue.
Most cities in Ohio will not allow you to have a dealer license at your home address. However, if you live in a rural area of Ohio you may be able to get a dealer license at your home if it is zoned correctly. But no matter where your license is located, you must meet and maintain all dealer licensing requirements and your location must be zoned for a dealer license.
You do not need a lot of money to become an Ohio used car dealer. However, the BMV wants the business net worth to be at least $75,000. You do not need to have $75,000 in cash, your total assets, or net worth, must be at least $75,000. To compute your net worth, total the value of all your assets, such as your home, all your cars, all your furniture, all your computer equipment, and everything you own then subtract your debt. If you are the only business owner you must be worth a minimum of $75,000. If you have multiple partners on the dealer license, then the total net worth of the partners must equal at least $75,000. For example if you have one partner worth $50,000 and one partner worth $25,000 you would meet the minimum net worth requirements. Of if you have 3 business partners and each is worth at least $25,000 then the minimum net worth would be met.
No, but when you submit your application for your used motor vehicle license you must agree that the business is worth a minimum of $75,000. But, for example, if the BMV Dealer Licensing Section learns you have declared bankruptcy or had a home foreclosed after you are licensed they may require some financial documentation at a later date.
Yes, state law requires you obtain a $75,000 dealer surety bond before you apply for your Ohio used motor vehicle license.
No, the $75,000 dealer surety bond does not cost anywhere near $75,000. Your dealer surety bond price is based on your credit score. With good credit dealer surety bond costs start at about $500 to $600. If you want to make payments on your bond, payments start as low as $50 per month with good credit, $150 per month with below average credit. If your credit score is below 500 we can help you find low monthly payment plans that may build your credit score leading to lower bond pricing when you renew your Ohio dealer license. Regardless of your credit score we should be able to find you the lowest price bond in the quickest manner with our recommended bond providers. You will receive a link for several resources when you complete your training course
You can obtain your fingerprints at offices throughout Ohio. You can find a fingerprint location near your home by viewing our Fingerprint Locations page. It is recommended to take the dealer pre-license training course before you compete any other licensing steps.
We complete each sample document you need to apply for your Ohio used motor vehicle dealer license in your dealer pre-license course. We also provide you a checklist to ensure you have the proper documentation completed before you apply to assist you in obtaining your Ohio dealer license in the quickest manner possible. When you complete the pre-license course, you will be confident and ready to apply for your dealer license.
The Automobile Dealer Training Association Ohio Dealer Pre-License course has been approved by the Ohio BMV since 2016. The course is vetted by the BMV Dealer Licensing Section in Columbus every year to ensure it is updated with the newest Ohio motor vehicle laws. Please read all the reviews from entrepreneurs just like you that have competed our training course
You must apply for your Ohio used motor vehicle dealer license a the BMV Dealer Licensing website. We show you step-by step instructions on how to apply for your dealer license in your Ohio dealer pre-license course.
After you complete the training, obtain your bond, and established your business entity you can apply for your license. The BMV Dealer Licensing Section in Columbus usually approves the license within 4 to 6 weeks.
If you are buying and selling cars for a profit, the State of Ohio requires you to have a used motor vehicle dealer license.
When you complete your Ohio dealer training course you will receive an email from us with several beneficial links. The email will contain links to our vetted third party partners that can expedite the process of becoming an Ohio used motor vehicle dealer. In the course you will learn how to file your business entity with the Ohio Secretary of State, the IRS, your vendor license, and local business license. However, for a nominal fee a third party will file your business entity documents for you, usually within 24 hours. You will also receive a link to our automated bond quoting system that will match your credit score with the bond carrier that issued bonds to dealers with your credit score. You will also receive a link to a dealer management software program that will make it much easier to run your Ohio dealership. In the 6 hour mandated portion of your Ohio dealer license training course you will learn about paperwork and compliance. After you complete your training you will have access so several hours of additional training content that will focus on increasing your profits as a licensed Ohio motor vehicle dealer. The additional profit training resources are available to our students as not additional charge. Please view our pricing page to find everything that is included in your onetime tuition investment.
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Call us at 800-369-2467, email info@ohiodealer.com or complete our Contact Us form. We would love to help you obtain your Ohio Used Dealer License.
Delus Johnson-Lead Instructor
Automobile Dealer
Training Association
