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 Florida and change from time to time.
Always confirm every current requirement directly with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles before you spend money or submit anything.
The authority on this process
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), Bureau of Dealer Services. Applications are submitted to the Motorist Services Regional Office responsible for your dealership — not to a single central address. Find your regional office and your compliance examiner through the locations page at flhsmv.gov.
The governing law: Sections 320.27, 320.77, and 320.771, Florida Statutes, and Florida Administrative Code 15C-7.003 and 15C-7.004. The physical requirements for your location, display space, and office are spelled out in the Administrative Code — read them before you sign a lease.
Welcome — and congratulations
Opening a dealership is a serious undertaking, and the licensing process is the first real test of it. Florida's process has a distinctive feature: much of it runs through a regional office and a compliance examiner assigned to your area, and that examiner is a resource, not just an obstacle.
Wayne Reaves has worked alongside independent dealers for years. We are not a licensing service and we do not file on your behalf — but we have watched a lot 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.
We would like to be the software that runs your dealership — and the smart move is to put us in place before you open, not after. While you work through licensing, we can be getting your system, your website, and your training ready, so opening day is a sale, not a setup project.
The Shape of the Process
Florida divides this into pre-license steps and license steps. That structure is worth respecting — the pre-license work genuinely comes first.
- 01
Before you apply
identify your regional office and compliance examiner, confirm your location will meet the physical requirements, obtain a federal EIN, obtain a Florida sales tax number, complete an approved pre-licensing dealer training course, and complete electronic fingerprinting for all officers of the dealership.
- 02
Then apply
submit the application form with your fee, garage liability insurance, surety bond on the state's own form, proof of business entity and fictitious name registration, your training certificate, your lease agreement, and your fingerprinting receipt — all to your regional office.
Step 1
Choosing your license type
Florida issues distinct dealer license categories. The one most independent used car dealers need is the independent dealer license, for businesses selling used motor vehicles. Other categories cover franchise dealers selling new vehicles under a manufacturer agreement, wholesale dealers who sell only to other licensed dealers, auctions, salvage dealers, and separate categories for mobile homes and recreational vehicles.
The category matters because requirements differ. Training course length differs by category. Insurance options differ — independent, auction, and wholesale applicants have a flexibility that franchise dealers do not. Salvage dealers are exempt from the insurance requirement entirely.
Get this right first. Everything downstream depends on which license you are applying for. If you are unsure which fits your business plan, ask your regional office before you spend anything.
Step 2
Your business location
Florida sets specific standards for your location, display space, and office, published in Florida Administrative Code 15C-7.003 for motor vehicle dealers. The state does not treat this loosely — a compliance examiner will inspect the property.
The location must also satisfy local zoning, which is a separate matter from state licensing and handled by your city or county. You will generally need written proof of zoning approval.
The order here is the whole point. Locate your regional office and compliance examiner first. Review the physical requirements in the Administrative Code. Have the location looked at. Then sign the lease. Florida's own guidance tells applicants to hold off on signing until the location has been through this — and a copy of the executed lease is part of your application packet, so the property decision is locked in early.
Step 3
Pre-licensing dealer training
Florida requires all applicants to complete a pre-licensing dealer training course from a school approved by FLHSMV. Course length depends on your license category — franchise applicants take a shorter course than independent, wholesale, auction, and salvage applicants.
You receive a certificate of completion, and a copy goes in your application packet. The certificate is valid for a limited period after you complete the class, which means the training is not something to knock out years ahead of time. Confirm the current validity window and the approved school list with FLHSMV before you register.
Where to find approved schools: FLHSMV publishes the list of approved dealer training schools. The Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association is one industry option among several — compare and choose for yourself.
Step 4
EIN, sales tax, and business registration
A federal EIN is obtained free of charge directly from the IRS — be cautious of third-party sites that charge for this. A Florida sales tax number is obtained from the Florida Department of Revenue. Your business entity — and your fictitious name, if you use one — must be registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, and you provide proof of that registration with your application.
Which business structure is right for you is a question for an attorney or CPA, not for a software vendor. It affects your taxes, your personal liability, and which corporate documents you must supply. Corporations, for example, are generally asked for articles of incorporation and minutes reflecting current officers.
Step 5
Surety bond and garage liability insurance
Florida requires a surety bond, submitted on the state's own bond form — and the correct form differs depending on whether you are licensing as a motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or mobile home dealer. Motor vehicle and mobile home dealer applicants may submit an irrevocable letter of credit instead of a bond, on a separate state form.
Garage liability insurance is required, with minimum combined single-limit liability coverage and personal injury protection set by the state. Independent, auction, and wholesale applicants have the option to satisfy this with a general liability policy paired with a business automobile policy meeting the same minimums. Salvage dealers are exempt.
Important: do not rely on any dollar figure you find in a document, including an older bond quote. Confirm the current required amounts and the correct form numbers with FLHSMV or a licensed agent before you buy. Ask your agent specifically for Florida motor vehicle dealer coverage and tell them it is for an FLHSMV licensing submission.
Coverage must stay continuous for the life of your license. A lapse in bond coverage — even a short one — puts the license at risk. If you change surety agencies, manage the transition deliberately.
Choosing a provider
Wayne Reaves does not sell bonds or insurance, does not recommend a particular agent, and receives nothing if you use one provider over another. Your state association, an independent insurance broker, or a licensed surety agent can help you compare. Get more than one quote — pricing varies considerably based on credit and business history.
Step 6
Electronic fingerprinting
All officers of the dealership must be electronically fingerprinted by a service provider approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The provider gives you a receipt and submits the prints to FDLE on your behalf.
Keep that receipt — a copy goes in your application packet. Note that this is a pre-license step in Florida: fingerprinting happens before you submit, not after.
Step 7
Submitting, and what comes after
The completed application, supporting documents, and fee go to the Motorist Services Regional Office responsible for your dealership. There is no single statewide mailing address for this, which is why identifying your regional office early matters.
Florida reviews applications regionally and there is no guaranteed turnaround, so build slack into your opening timeline. Assemble the packet completely before submitting rather than sending pieces as they arrive.
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, or interpret state requirements on your behalf. Those belong with FLHSMV, your attorney, your CPA, and licensed agents. We receive no compensation or referral fee from bond or insurance providers.
What we do
We build dealer management software and dealer websites for independent dealers — inventory, deal tracking, customer records, reporting, compliance tools, and a website that puts your inventory in front of buyers.
Get set up before you open
The best time to choose your software is now — while you are still getting licensed. Notice how much of this process is really about how your dealership will keep records: titles, deal files, tax paperwork, books kept at your location. That is exactly what Wayne Reaves handles from day one. Dealers who get set up with us during licensing open their doors ready — inventory loaded, forms and deal paperwork in place, recordkeeping organized the way inspectors and auditors expect, and a website already live when the first customer searches for you.
Sign up while your application is in motion and we will have your system configured, your team trained, and your website built by the time the license is issued — so your first sale runs like your hundredth. We have been helping independent dealers open and grow since 1987, and getting started is simple: request a demo or call us, and we will walk you through it.
Where to Get Answers
| Question about… | Ask |
|---|---|
| License type, requirements, fees, application status | FLHSMV Bureau of Dealer Services, via your Motorist Services Regional Office · flhsmv.gov |
| Whether your location will qualify | Your assigned compliance examiner — before you sign a lease |
| The physical standards themselves | Florida Administrative Code 15C-7.003; ss. 320.27, 320.77, 320.771, Fla. Stat. |
| Approved dealer training schools | The FLHSMV approved school list |
| Business structure and entity formation | An attorney or CPA; register with the Florida Division of Corporations |
| Sales tax registration | Florida Department of Revenue |
| Federal EIN | Directly with the IRS (free) |
| Surety bonds and letters of credit | A licensed surety agent |
| Garage liability insurance | A licensed insurance agent |
| Zoning at a specific address | Your city or county zoning office |
| Electronic fingerprinting | An FDLE-approved service provider |
| Federal advertising, Buyers Guide, and financing rules | An attorney or your state association |
| Dealer software and websites | Wayne Reaves Computer Systems Inc. |
Disclaimer
This guide is provided by Wayne Reaves Computer Systems Inc. as a general informational overview only. It is not legal, tax, financial, insurance, or licensing advice, and it does not create any professional or advisory relationship. Licensing requirements are established and administered solely by the State of Florida and are subject to change without notice. Wayne Reaves Computer Systems Inc. makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information here, and accepts no liability for any action taken in reliance on it. Verify all requirements directly with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and consult qualified professionals before acting.
Reviewed July 2026. Reviewed quarterly.