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All state guides Nevada dealer license

How to get a used car dealer license in Nevada

You file the Nevada DMV's OBL 335 packet with Occupational and Business Licensing for a vehicle dealer license marked for used motor vehicles. Plan on a $100,000 bond or deposit, fingerprints for every principal, a city or county business license first, and a DMV site inspection.

  • Sourced to Nevada DMV
  • Checked October 2026
  • Free
License
Vehicle dealer license, used motor vehicle
Surety bond
$100,000
State fee
$125
Pre-license course
None listed by the DMV
Background check
Fingerprints, every principal
License term
Expires December 31 each year
What the state asks for

Nevada dealer license requirements

The figures a first-time used car dealer needs before applying to Nevada DMV. Each row shows how well it is supported.

Surety bond
$100,000Official source

Filed on form OBL210 for dealers of cars and trucks. In place of a bond you may deposit cash or a Nevada bank savings certificate for the same amount. After 5 years in good standing the DMV may reduce the bond by up to half.

State license fee
$125Official source

New license fee, non-refundable. Add a $40 fingerprint processing fee for each principal. Renewal is $50 a year. City or county business license costs are separate.

Pre-license education
None listed by the DMVOfficial source

The DMV's dealer packet lists 17 licensing requirements and none is a course or exam. NRS chapter 482 does not set a training requirement for vehicle dealers either.

Background check
Fingerprints, every principalOfficial source

Each principal on the application files a Personal History Questionnaire (OBL242), the DPS fingerprint waiver (OBL256) and one set of fingerprints taken by a DMV representative or a law enforcement agency.

Insurance
$95,000 CSL or 25/50/20Official source

A garage liability or commercial auto certificate with the DMV as certificate holder: at least $95,000 combined single limit, or $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident bodily injury plus $20,000 property damage.

Business location
Office, display space, 8-inch signOfficial source

An established place of business in Nevada with a permanent enclosed building big enough for an office, space to display one or more vehicles, clearly marked boundaries and a permanent sign. The DMV inspects the site.

License term and renewal
Expires December 31 each yearOfficial source

Every license expires December 31. Renew before that date with the DMV's renewal application and a $50 annual fee. A lapsed license can be reinstated with the renewal application, the renewal fee and a $25 late fee.

Sales allowed without a license
3 in 12 monthsOfficial source

The dealer definition leaves out a person who sells no more than three personally owned vehicles in any 12-month period, and a person who is disposing of vehicles bought for personal use rather than as a business.

Processing time
Not publishedConfirm with the agency

The DMV does not publish a processing time for a new dealer license. Fingerprint results and the site inspection both have to be completed first.

“Official source” means the state agency’s own page, form or law. Where the state’s sources did not settle a point, the row says so instead of showing a guess.

Who issues the license

Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, Occupational and Business Licensing

License you apply for

Vehicle dealer license, used motor vehicle

Official licensing page

Local licensing comes first and differs by city and county

Nevada law requires a license or permit from every city or county where you keep a place of business before the DMV will issue a dealer license. Zoning and local license rules vary and are not in the DMV packet, so check them before you sign a lease. The DMV packet also does not spell out lease or deed documents, so ask Occupational and Business Licensing what proof of the location it wants.
Step by step

How to get a Nevada dealer license

The order that works for a first application. Tick each step off as you finish it.

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  1. Set up the business and list every principal

    Form the entity, file any fictitious firm name and get your FEIN. The DMV asks for the Secretary of State filing that names the officers (if you are incorporated), the FEIN and a business email address. List each owner, partner, officer or director who helps direct the business, because each one files background paperwork.

    OBL237 application

  2. Secure the site and the local business license

    Find a location with a permanent enclosed building for an office, room to display at least one vehicle and clearly marked boundaries. Then get the city or county business license for that address. The DMV accepts a copy of the approved local application while the license itself is pending, using its OBL265 form.

    NRS 482.322 · OBL265

  3. Install the sign and photograph the location

    Put up a permanent sign with the business name in 8-inch letters, with strokes at least 1 inch wide, readable from the center of the nearest street or roadway. Take two color photographs that clearly show the outside of the business and the sign.

  4. Arrange the bond or deposit and the insurance

    File a $100,000 surety bond on form OBL210, or deposit cash or a Nevada bank savings certificate for the same amount. Have your agent issue a certificate of liability insurance that lists the DMV as certificate holder, shows garage liability or commercial auto coverage at the required limits and uses your DBA name exactly as it appears on the application.

    OBL210 bond · OBL273 insurance sheet

  5. Complete the background forms for each principal

    Every principal completes the Personal History Questionnaire (OBL242) and the DPS fingerprint waiver (OBL256) and submits one set of fingerprints, taken by an authorized DMV representative or a law enforcement agency. The DMV charges $40 per principal for processing. The agency that takes the prints may charge its own fee.

    $40 per principal

  6. File the OBL 335 packet and pay the fee

    Submit the Application for Business License (OBL237) with the dealer activity marked as used motor vehicle. A sole owner, partner or corporate officer signs it before a notary or an authorized DMV representative. Include the bond or deposit, insurance certificate, local license, photographs and background forms. The $125 new license fee is non-refundable.

    OBL 335 · $125

  7. Pass the DMV site inspection

    A site inspection by the DMV is one of the licensing requirements. Have the office set up, the display area and boundaries marked and the sign installed before the visit, and correct anything the inspector points out.

  8. License your salespeople and set up DMV access

    Each salesperson needs a DMV salesperson license, applied for with the OBL 337A packet (original license fee $75). When a salesperson leaves, you must surrender that license to the DMV within 10 days. The DMV's Motor Vehicle Industry Portal is its online hub for licensed dealers.

    OBL 337A · $75 per salesperson

Practical advice

Start the city or county business license first, because the DMV cannot issue its license without it. Compare a surety bond with the deposit option before you choose: a deposit ties up the full $100,000 and is released only by order of the Director, 3 years after you stop being licensed, or by a court. Check that the insurance certificate shows your DBA name exactly as it appears on the application.

Before you apply

Seven things to settle before any state application: the business, the owners, the money and the property.

Read the startup playbook
The lot and the office

Nevada dealer location requirements

What the state checks at the business address.

  • An established place of business in Nevada with a permanent enclosed building large enough for an office.
  • Enough space to display one or more vehicles, with boundaries that are clearly marked.
  • A permanently affixed sign with the business name in letters 8 inches high, strokes at least 1 inch wide, legible from the center of the nearest street.
  • Two color photographs of the location that clearly show the exterior of the business and the display sign.
  • A city or county business license for the location. State law bars the DMV from licensing you until the local license is issued.
  • A site inspection conducted by the DMV.

Zoning comes first

A site that meets the state’s rules can still fail local zoning. Get written approval for vehicle sales from the city or county, and ask the landlord for a lease that depends on the license being issued, before you sign.
Once you are licensed

Keeping a Nevada dealer license

Renewal and ongoing duties

Renew before December 31 every year with the DMV's renewal application and the $50 fee. Keep the bond or deposit at the full required amount, keep the liability policy current and notify the DMV of any ownership change. If you use a deposit, a reduced balance or an unpaid judgment suspends the license automatically. After 5 years you may ask for a bond reduction of up to half.

Federal rules that apply here too

  • The FTC Buyers Guide, posted on every used vehicle you offer for sale.
  • The FTC Safeguards Rule: a written plan for protecting customer financial information.
  • IRS Form 8300 when a customer pays more than $10,000 in cash.
  • A federal odometer disclosure on each transfer.
How each federal rule works
FAQ

Nevada dealer license FAQ

The questions first-time dealers ask most.

How do I get a used car dealer license in Nevada?

File the Nevada DMV's OBL 335 business license packet with Occupational and Business Licensing and mark the dealer activity as used motor vehicle. You need a city or county business license, an office and display space with a compliant sign, a $100,000 bond or deposit, liability insurance, and fingerprints and a personal history form from every principal. The DMV inspects the site before it issues the license.

How much is the dealer bond in Nevada?

$100,000 for a dealer who sells vehicles other than motorcycles and trailers. You can file a surety bond on form OBL210 or deposit cash or a Nevada bank savings certificate for the same amount. After 5 years of business conducted to the DMV's satisfaction, the DMV may agree to reduce the bond, but not below 50 percent.

How much does a Nevada dealer license cost?

The DMV's new license fee is $125 and is non-refundable. Fingerprint processing is $40 for each principal, and the agency that takes the prints may add its own charge. Renewal is $50 a year, with a $25 late fee if the license lapses. Your bond premium, insurance and local business license are separate costs.

Do I need a pre-licensing course in Nevada?

The DMV's dealer licensing packet (OBL 335) does not list a course or exam among its licensing requirements, and NRS chapter 482 does not set a training requirement for vehicle dealers. If you have been told otherwise, confirm with DMV Occupational and Business Licensing at (775) 684-4690.

Can I get a Nevada dealer license without a car lot?

No. The DMV requires an established place of business in Nevada with a permanent enclosed building large enough for an office and enough space to display one or more vehicles, with clearly marked boundaries and a permanent sign. The DMV inspects the site as part of licensing.

How many cars can I sell in Nevada without a dealer license?

Three. Nevada's definition of a dealer in NRS 482.020 does not include a person who sells not more than three personally owned vehicles in any 12-month period. Selling a vehicle you do not personally own is treated as evidence that you are acting as a dealer.

Sources

Checked October 2026. This is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Fees, bond amounts and forms change, and local zoning rules vary. Confirm current requirements with Nevada DMV or your attorney before you sign a lease or pay a fee.

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