Motor vehicle dealer licence

When you apply for a motor vehicle dealers licence you will need to specify the category of licence you are applying for.  

Motor vehicle dealer categories flowchart of changes 2021
Motor vehicle dealer categories flowchart of changes 2021, by Consumer Protection

Changes to motor vehicle dealer regulations

More information about the recent changes to the regulations and a flowchart showing the changes to dealer categories is available Changes to motor vehicle dealers regulations 2021.

Dealer licence categories

Dealers can be issued a license endorsed with one or more of the following categories:

Categories from 25/09/2021

Dealer licence categories since 25 September 2021
  Category of licence Description of business
Category A Vehicle sales Buying, selling and auctioning vehicles
Category B Vehicle wrecker (dismantler) Buying any vehicles for the purpose of dismantling them and selling off the parts
Category C Vehicle broker/agent Acting as an agent to facilitate the selling or purchase of any vehicles on behalf of members of the public
Category D Vehicle hire and sales Hiring out vehicles, buying vehicles for hiring out, and selling and auctioning any vehicles that have been hired out by the dealer
Category E 
(commenced from 1 March 2023)
Consignment sales Selling (including by auction) vehicles under consignment agreements 
Find out more about consignment selling
Combination Any combination of A, B, C, D and E, as nominated by the dealer The business subject of the nominated categories.

 

Categories before 25/09/2021

These licences remain valid until expiry and no action is required to be taken by dealers at this time. When a licence is renewed, it will be endorsed with the new categories as listed in the table under Categories from 25/09/2021.

Dealer licence categories prior to 25 September 2021
  Category of licence Description of business
A Vehicle sales Buying, selling and auctioning vehicles other than motor cycles, caravans or campervans.
B Motor cycle sales Buying, selling and auctioning motor cycles.
C Caravan sales Buying, selling and auctioning caravans and campervans.
D Vehicle wrecker (dismantler) Buying any vehicles for the purpose of dismantling them and selling off the parts. (Wrecker)
E Vehicle broker/agent Acting as an agent to facilitate the selling or purchase of any vehicles on behalf of members of the public. (Broker)
F Vehicle hire and sales Hiring out vehicles, buying vehicles for hiring out, and selling and auctioning any vehicles that have been hired out by the dealer.
Combination Any combination of A, B, C, D, E and F, as nominated by the dealer The business subject of the nominated categories.

How to apply

A motor vehicle dealer's licence application can be made by a sole trader, a partnership (firm) or a corporation.

To obtain a motor vehicle dealer licence, you must:

  • Complete the application form.
  • Pay the appropriate fee.
  • Identify (in the application form) the category/ies of licence you are seeking.
  • Successfully complete the motor vehicle dealer licensing course conducted by an accepted training provider (in the case of a partnership or corporation, this includes any partner or director engaged in the day-to-day running of the dealership).
  • Satisfy the Commissioner that you have sufficient resources to meet the obligations for the category/ies of licence you are applying for. For this to occur, the Commissioner will obtain a credit history report on the applicant.
  • Provide a National Police Certificate (less than three months old) for each individual (sole proprietor, partners or directors of a corporation) associated with the application. This will be used to consider whether the persons concerned in the management or conduct of the entity are of ‘good character and repute’ and ‘fit and proper persons’ to be in the business of buying and selling vehicles.
  • Specify the dealers' premises where you propose to carry on business.
  • Register the business name (if applicable).
  • Register the company (if applicable).

Mutual recognition

If you are registered or licensed as a motor vehicle dealer elsewhere in Australia or New Zealand, and want to be registered in Western Australia, you can find out more information about having your licence recognised in WA.

Need some assistance?

If you are thinking of becoming a motor vehicle dealer and want more information or require a car market operator registration application form, please phone the Licensing branch on 1300 304 064

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