Motor vehicle wholesaler

Who needs a license

Businesses must have a motor vehicle wholesaler license to sell the following items to licensed dealers at wholesale only:

• Used cars
• Used trucks
• Used motor homes

If you don’t have a wholesaler license, it is illegal to:

• Sell more than 4 vehicles registered to you in any 12 months.
• Buy and sell vehicles for the purpose of making a profit.
• Sell any number of vehicles that aren’t registered to you.

Business site requirements

• Your business site must maintain a telecommunications system at all times. This system must be capable of answering and/or relaying incoming calls, such as an answering service, telephone answering machine, or voice or beeper pagers.
• You must have an office facility in a commercial building within the state and meet local zoning and land use laws.
• You must list all storage facilities for inventory with the Department of Licensing.
• You aren’t required to maintain normal business hours or maintain a telephone listing in the local phone book.

Licensing requirements

To get a license, you must have all of the following:

• $30,000 bond. Bonds are available through many insurance companies. We recommend you research the cost of your bond before you apply for a license.
• Copy of your property tax statement, or the rental/lease agreement for the business site, as proof of ownership. The rental/lease agreement must be valid for at least 1 year.
• The following completed forms:
  • Business License Application
  • Vehicle, Vessel, Vehicle Manufacturer, Registered Tow Truck Operator, or Wrecker Bond
  • Vehicle Dealer Manufacturer Addendum
    • For help completing this form, see the Instructions for completing the Vehicle Dealer/Manufacturer Addendum.
  • A separate Financial/Source of Funds Statement for each owner, partner, corporate officer and member of the business.
    • If the business is a sole proprietor or partnership, each owner or partner must submit a separate form listing all of their personal assets and liabilities.
    • If the business is a corporation, LLC, or LLP, submit one form that includes only the assets and liabilities of the business.
  • A separate Personal Criminal History Statement for each owner, partner, corporate officer and member of the business.
  • Fingerprint Card
    • Fingerprint cards are available by U.S. Mail only. To request fingerprint cards, call the Business Licensing Service at 1-800-451-7985.
  • If the business is a Profit Corporation, Corporate Information form.
  • If the business is a Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Company Information form.

How to apply

Mail all of the application materials listed above with a check or money order for the fee (payable to the Department of Revenue) to:

• State of Washington
  Business Licensing Service
  PO Box 9034
  Olympia, WA 98507-9034

It’s a good idea to use the Dealer Checklist to make sure you’ve included everything in your application.

Note: Please let us know, in writing, if you have a change of address so we can reach you with information about your license.