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All state guides Utah dealer license

How to get a used car dealer license in Utah

You file Form TC-301 with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division (MVED) of the Utah State Tax Commission for a used motor vehicle dealer license. Utah requires a $75,000 bond, an eight-hour orientation class and fingerprints for every owner, and MVED inspects the lot before it issues the license.

  • Sourced to MVED
  • Checked October 2026
  • Free
License
Used motor vehicle dealer license
Surety bond
$75,000
State fee
$152
Pre-license course
8-hour orientation class
Background check
Fingerprints, every owner
License term
Expires June 30 each year
What the state asks for

Utah dealer license requirements

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

Surety bond
$75,000Official source

A corporate surety bond on Form TC-450, from a surety licensed in Utah and rated at least B+ by A.M. Best. Motorcycle, off-highway vehicle and small trailer dealers post $10,000 instead.

State license fee
$152Official source

Used motor vehicle dealer license fee on MVED's fee page. Fingerprints are $35 per person and dealer plates are $12.52 each plus a handling fee. The license fee is not prorated.

Pre-license education
8-hour orientation classOfficial source

Every owner, partner, corporate officer and manager completes an MVED-approved eight-hour class, online or in person, and the certificate goes in with the application. Renewal takes a three-hour class each year.

Background check
Fingerprints, every ownerOfficial source

Each owner, partner, corporate officer or member submits a standard FBI fingerprint card taken by law enforcement, a signed Fingerprint Waiver (TC-465) and the fingerprint fee, listed at $35 on MVED's fee page.

Insurance
Plate insurance for dealer platesOfficial source

To order dealer plates you submit the declaration page of your plate insurance, issued in the name of the licensed business. MVED's pages do not state a coverage amount. Confirm with MVED.

Business location
Office, 3-vehicle display, 24 sq ft signOfficial source

A site used only for the dealership, with a permanent enclosed office, a marked display area for at least three vehicles and a permanent sign of at least 24 square feet.

License term and renewal
Expires June 30 each yearOfficial source

Every MVED license expires on June 30 and the fee is not prorated. To renew, the dealership completes a three-hour class each year and pays the renewal fee.

Sales allowed without a license
2 in 12 monthsOfficial source

Utah defines a dealer as a person in the business who sells, displays or offers three or more vehicles in any 12-month period. The third vehicle is where the license requirement starts.

Processing time
Inspection in 5 to 10 working daysOfficial source

MVED asks you to allow five to ten working days after it receives the packet for the site inspection. After the site passes, the license follows within three to five working days.

“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

Utah State Tax Commission, Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division

License you apply for

Used motor vehicle dealer license

Official licensing page

MVED pages show two different license fees

MVED's Business License Fees page lists $152 for a used motor vehicle dealer license and $35 for fingerprints. Its Dealer License page still shows $127 and $30. Form TC-301 no longer prints a fee and points to the fee page, so budget for the higher figures and confirm the amount with MVED at 801-297-2600 before you pay.
Step by step

How to get a Utah dealer license

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

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  1. Clear the name and register the business

    Call MVED before you register a name, because it will not license a name too close to an existing dealer. Then register the entity and trade name with the Utah Department of Commerce, get a federal ID number and apply for a sales tax number with Form TC-69.

    Form TC-69 · Dept. of Commerce

  2. Set up the principal place of business

    Confirm local zoning for motor vehicle sales. You need a permanent enclosed office, a marked display area for at least three vehicles and a permanent sign of at least 24 square feet with the exact licensed name. Photograph the location with the sign in view.

    Utah Code 41-3-102 and 41-3-204

  3. Complete the eight-hour orientation class

    Each owner, partner, corporate officer or member takes the eight-hour class from an MVED-approved provider, online or in person. Submit the signed original certificate or the web training printout with the application. Only a class approved by MVED counts.

    Utah Code 41-3-201(10)

  4. Get fingerprints and photos for every owner

    Each owner, corporate officer or member completes a standard FBI fingerprint card, signed by the applicant and the officer who took the prints, plus a Fingerprint Waiver (TC-465). Add a passport-type photo of each person, labeled with their name.

    Form TC-465 · $35 per person

  5. Buy the $75,000 bond on Form TC-450

    Have your surety complete the Bond of Motor Vehicle Dealer, Crusher or Body Shop. The company name must read exactly as it does on Form TC-301, including the entity name and the DBA. An owner signs as principal in front of a notary, and the surety signs the affidavit or attaches a power of attorney.

    Form TC-450 · $75,000

  6. File Form TC-301 with MVED

    Every owner signs the application. Send it with the bond, class certificates, fingerprint cards and waivers, photos and fees to MVED at 210 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City. To get dealer plates, fill in the plate section and attach your plate insurance declaration page. If any owner is not a U.S. citizen, you must apply in person.

    Form TC-301 · $152

  7. Pass the site inspection

    An MVED officer inspects the principal place of business, usually five to ten working days after the packet arrives. The license cannot be issued before that. Once the site passes, expect the license in three to five working days. Each owner gets an owner license to sell, and other salespeople need their own license.

    MVED on-site inspection

Practical advice

Watch the calendar. Every license expires June 30 and the fee is not prorated, so a license issued in May costs the same as one issued in July. Have the sign up before you file, because MVED wants a photo and then inspects in person. Order dealer plates with the first application: MVED says later plate orders can take 4 to 6 weeks.

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

Utah dealer location requirements

What the state checks at the business address.

  • A Utah site zoned for motor vehicle sales and used only for the dealership and business incidental to it.
  • A permanent enclosed building large enough for the office, with a safe place to keep the books and records.
  • Display space for at least three vehicles, used only for display and marked off by a fence, chain, posts or a similar boundary.
  • A permanent sign of at least 24 square feet showing the dealership name as licensed, painted on or fixed to the office or set on anchored posts.
  • The sign, office and display area must be contiguous, with no common area shared with another dealer or an unrelated business.
  • A photo of the location that shows the sign goes in with the application, and MVED inspects the site before it issues the license.

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 Utah dealer license

Renewal and ongoing duties

Every MVED license expires on June 30 and is not prorated. To renew, the dealership completes a three-hour class each year and pays the renewal fee. Keep the bond in force: losing the bond or the principal place of business suspends the license automatically. Tell MVED right away if you move, and license each salesperson before they sell.

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

Utah dealer license FAQ

The questions first-time dealers ask most.

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

File Form TC-301 with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Utah State Tax Commission. Before you file, set up a principal place of business with an office, a display area for three vehicles and a 24 square foot sign, complete the eight-hour orientation class, get fingerprint cards for every owner and buy a $75,000 bond on Form TC-450. MVED inspects the site before it issues the license.

How much is the dealer bond in Utah?

$75,000 for a new or used motor vehicle dealer, set by Utah Code 41-3-205. The surety must be licensed in Utah and rated at least B+ by A.M. Best. Dealers that sell only motorcycles, off-highway vehicles or small trailers post $10,000.

How much does a Utah dealer license cost?

MVED's fee page lists $152 for a used motor vehicle dealer license, $35 for each set of fingerprints and $12.52 for each dealer plate, plus a small plate handling fee. Licenses expire June 30 and are not prorated. An older MVED page still shows $127, so confirm the amount with MVED before you pay. The orientation class and the bond premium are separate costs.

Do I need a pre-licensing course in Utah?

Yes. A new applicant for a used motor vehicle dealer license must complete an eight-hour orientation class approved by MVED. The class is required for the applicant and the applicant's partners, corporate officers, bond indemnitors and managers. To renew, the dealership completes a three-hour class each year.

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

No. Utah requires a principal place of business with a permanent enclosed office, a marked display area for at least three vehicles and a permanent sign of at least 24 square feet. The site cannot share common areas with another dealer or an unrelated business, and a dealer cannot offer vehicles for sale from home or any place that is not licensed.

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

Two in any 12-month period. Utah law defines a dealer as a person whose business involves selling vehicles and who sells, displays or offers three or more new or used motor vehicles in any 12-month period.

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 MVED or your attorney before you sign a lease or pay a fee.

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