Georgia Dealer Licensing Guide
Getting Your Georgia Used Motor Vehicle Dealer License
An orientation to the process, what to expect, in what order, and who to ask.
Before You Begin
This guide is a general orientation only. It is not legal, financial, tax, or licensing advice. Requirements, fees, and bond amounts are set by the State of Georgia and change from time to time. Some changed as recently as July 2026.
Always confirm every current requirement directly with the Georgia State Board for the Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers before you spend money or submit anything.
The authority on this process
Georgia Secretary of State
Professional Licensing Boards Division
Board for the Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers
3920 Arkwright Rd., Suite 195
Macon, GA 31210
Phone:
404-424-9966
Georgia Secretary of State · GOALS Portal
Welcome and Congratulations
Opening a dealership is a serious undertaking, and the licensing process is the first real test of it. Most people find it takes somewhere in the range of several months from the decision to open to the day the license is in hand. There is a lot to do, and the order matters.
Wayne Reaves has worked alongside Georgia independent dealers for years. We are not a licensing service and we do not file on your behalf, but we have watched thousands of people go through this, and we know what the road looks like. This guide lays out the shape of it so you know what is coming.
When you are licensed and ready to open your doors, we would like to be the software that runs your dealership. Until then, we are happy to be a familiar voice.
Georgia no longer accepts paper applications. Everything is filed through the state's online GOALS portal . If you have an older printed checklist that tells you to mail a packet and a check, it is out of date.
The Shape of the Process
Georgia's requirements fall into six broad groups. They do not all happen in strict sequence, and several can run in parallel, but the general flow is:
- 01 Education Complete a state-approved pre-licensing seminar and keep your certificate.
- 02 Business Formation Set up your legal entity, obtain a federal EIN, and register for a Georgia sales tax number.
- 03 Location Secure a place of business that satisfies the state's zoning and physical requirements, and document it with photographs.
- 04 Bond & Insurance Obtain a surety bond and garage liability insurance in the amounts the state requires.
- 05 Application & Background Check File through GOALS, then complete fingerprinting.
- 06 Inspection & Issuance A state inspector visits your location, and the Board reviews your application at a scheduled meeting.
Why we do not list dollar amounts here: Bond amounts, fees, and insurance minimums are set by statute and rule, and they change.
Georgia raised the dealer surety bond requirement effective July 1, 2026, and the license renewal cycle changed as well. Any printed figure can be wrong within weeks.
Get current numbers from the Board's fee schedule and from a licensed surety or insurance agent.
Pre-Licensing Education
Georgia requires new applicants to complete an approved pre-licensing seminar and submit proof of completion with the application.
Keep your certificate. You will need a copy for the application, and dealers typically post the original at the dealership.
Certificates have a shelf life. If too much time passes between the class and your application, you may have to take it again, so it is worth confirming the current window before you schedule.
Where to find approved providers
The Board maintains the list of approved seminar providers. The Georgia Independent Automobile Dealers Association is listed by the Board as an industry resource and is a common starting point.
Business Formation, EIN & Sales Tax
Most applicants form a legal entity, such as an LLC, corporation, or partnership, before applying, though sole proprietorships exist.
Which structure is right for you is a question for an attorney or CPA, not for a software vendor. It affects your taxes, your liability, and which affidavit you file with the state, so it is worth a real conversation with a professional.
- Entity registration is handled through the Georgia Secretary of State's Corporations Division.
- A federal EIN is obtained free of charge directly from the IRS . Be cautious of third-party sites that charge for this.
- A Georgia sales tax number is obtained through the Georgia Department of Revenue.
The single most common delay: name and address mismatches.
Your legal name, DBA, and full address, including suite number, must match exactly across every filing.
The name on your bond, your insurance certificate, your sales tax registration, and your application must all match exactly.
A missing suite number or an abbreviated business name is enough to trigger a deficiency letter.
Established Place of Business
Georgia requires a genuine, dedicated place of business, not a P.O. box and not a residential address.
The state verifies this two ways: through zoning approval and through photographs submitted with your application.
Zoning approval
Zoning approval comes from your city or county zoning office, confirming the location is properly zoned for a used motor vehicle dealership.
Get this early. Discovering a zoning problem after you have signed a lease is an expensive way to learn.
Preparing the location
The state also expects the location to look and function like a dealership office.
That includes:
- Proper exterior signage identifying the business
- A working office
- Seating for customers
- Secure file storage
- A telephone at the location
An inspector will visit, and the current expectations for what they check are worth confirming with the Board before you build out.
Surety Bond & Garage Liability Insurance
Every applicant must carry a surety bond and garage liability insurance, both in amounts set by the state.
A separate bond is generally required for each licensed location.
Important: The bond amount changed effective July 1, 2026, and bond expiration dates are tied to the state's renewal cycle rather than your purchase date.
Do not rely on any figure you find in an older document, including a bond quote generated before the change.
Confirm the current required amount with the Board or with a licensed surety agent before you buy.
Garage liability insurance
Garage liability coverage is what the state requires. A standard automobile liability policy alone will not satisfy it.
The certificate must name:
- The correct business entity
- The correct location
- The correct certificate holder
Ask your agent specifically for a Georgia used motor vehicle dealer garage liability policy and tell them it is for a Board licensing submission.
Choosing a provider
Wayne Reaves does not sell bonds or insurance and does not recommend a particular agent.
Your state association, an independent insurance broker, or a licensed surety agent can help you compare.
Get more than one quote. Pricing varies considerably.
Application & Fingerprinting
The application is filed through the GOALS portal . It must be complete, signed, and notarized, with the required fee and all supporting documentation attached.
Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting has a specific order that trips people up: you must have an application on file with the Board before you can be fingerprinted.
You pre-register for fingerprinting online, and once Board staff verifies your application is on file, you will receive notification to schedule your appointment.
Pre-registering is required, but the appointment follows the application, not the other way around.
Background disclosures
Read this part carefully.
If you answer yes to any question in the background section, any arrest or any charge at any point in your life, you must provide certified court documentation.
This applies even if:
- The charges were dropped
- The case was dismissed or dead-docketed
- You pled nolo contendere
- You were sentenced as a first offender
- The record was expunged
It does not matter how long ago it was.
If a court clerk cannot locate a very old matter, ask them for a letter on court letterhead stating that a diligent search was performed and no record was found. Submit that instead.
Incomplete disclosure here is the single most reliable way to have an application held up or denied.
If you are unsure whether something needs to be disclosed, disclose it or ask an attorney.
Do not guess, and do not omit.
Inspection, Board Review & Issuance
A state inspector will visit your location before the license is issued.
Do not submit your application until your location is genuinely ready to be inspected.
Applications are reviewed by Board staff and may go before the Board at a scheduled meeting.
The Board meets periodically through the year, and applications generally must be complete and received some days in advance to make a given meeting's agenda.
An incomplete file does not just cost you a few days. It can cost you a full meeting cycle.
If you receive a deficiency letter
Respond to every item at once rather than piecemeal.
Applications left incomplete for too long can be withdrawn entirely, which means starting over with new documents and new fees.
After you are licensed
Georgia dealer licenses run on a two-year cycle with continuing education requirements for renewal, and your bond and insurance must stay active for the whole licensure period.
Make a note of your renewal date the day your license arrives.
How Wayne Reaves Fits In
We want to be straightforward about what we do and do not do.
What we do not do
We do not:
- File applications
- Form business entities
- Sell bonds or insurance
- Provide legal or tax advice
- Interpret state requirements on your behalf
Those belong with the Board, your attorney, your CPA, and licensed agents.
What we do
We build dealer management software and dealer websites for Georgia independent dealers.
Our software supports:
- Inventory
- Deal tracking
- Customer records
- Reporting
- Compliance tools
- A website that puts your inventory in front of buyers
Where to Get Answers
Dealer licensing involves several different agencies and professionals. Use the appropriate source for the question you have.
404-424-9966
sos.ga.gov · goals.sos.ga.gov
giada.org
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended as a high-level overview of the dealer licensing process. It is not intended to be comprehensive and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial, insurance, regulatory, or licensing advice. Laws, regulations, agency procedures, forms, fees, bond and insurance requirements, deadlines, and other licensing requirements may change at any time and may vary based on license type, business structure, location, or individual circumstances.
Wayne Reaves Computer Systems Inc. does not represent or warrant that the information contained in this guide is complete, current, or applicable to every situation. Before making financial commitments, signing a lease, purchasing insurance or a bond, submitting an application, or otherwise acting in reliance on this information, verify all current requirements directly with the appropriate state and local licensing authorities and consult qualified legal, tax, insurance, or other professional advisors as appropriate.
Use of this guide does not create an attorney-client, advisory, fiduciary, or other professional relationship with Wayne Reaves Computer Systems Inc.