Business Licenses for New Vehicle Dealers

Follow the steps above for the new location, starting with the Business Licensing Packet - Dealer's License - PDF - 845.68 KB application. Contact Business Licensing & Compliance - PDF - 845.68 KB if you have further issues or questions about adding a location.

Submit the following information and fees to Business Licensing & Compliance - PDF - 845.68 KB:

• A completed application for Business Licensing Packet - Dealer's License - PDF - 845.68 KB adding the new franchise.
• Franchise approval letter(s) from the licensed manufacture giving you permission to sell their vehicle. This letter must have the dealership's full name and address.
• Criminal Record Request Forms must be completed for all officers on the application if the latest one on file is more than five years old.
• The present Dealer’s Wall License must be submitted with packet.
• The applicable fee for a corrected Dealer’s Wall License.

Once the addition of a franchise has been approved, the Business Licensing and Compliance division will mail a new dealer’s license to you. 

Contact Business Licensing & Compliance - PDF - 845.68 KB if you have further issues or questions about adding (or deleting) a franchise.
 

The Business Licensing and Compliance division will mail you a renewal packet about 60 days prior to the expiration date of your licenses. If you do not receive a renewal packet, please contact the Business Licensing and Compliance division.

Complete the Business License Renewal form and submit it with applicable fees and documents to the Business Licensing and Compliance division via the Business Portal. You must submit these items at least 15 working days prior to your license expiration date. Note that the MVA will assume your dealership is going out of business if you do not request renewal before your expiration date.

Once your renewal request has been approved, the Business Licensing and Compliance division will mail a new dealer’s license to you.

Maryland law requires that you report all changes affecting your dealership license to the MVA within 30 days after the change occurs. If the change occurs during your license renewal period, you may indicate the change on the Business License Renewal form. Otherwise, co​ntact the Business Licensing and Compliance division to report the changes.

• The Business Licensing and Compliance division will send you a packet of forms to be completed, as well as instructions for other actions that you must take in order to request the change. The documents required vary by the type of change involved.
• Once your change request has been approved, the Business Licensing and Compliance division will mail you a new dealer’s license, a new salesman license and/or corrected registration cards for your interchangeable tags.

Co​ntact the Business Licensing and Compliance division, as soon as possible, and report the corrections needed. The unit will send you instructions with a packet of forms to be completed to request the corrections.

Once your correction request has been approved, the Business Licensing and Compliance division will mail you a new dealer’s license and/or corrected registration cards for your interchangeable tags, if these items needed correction. Some corrections will not require the reprinting of these documents (e.g., your dealership phone number).

Co​ntact the Business Licensing and Compliance division and request an Application for Duplicate Vehicle Dealer’s and/or Salesperson’s License. Written requests for duplicate dealer’s licenses will be accepted when submitted on company letterhead and accompanied by the appropriate fee.

Once your duplicate request has been approved, the Business Licensing and Compliance division will mail you a new dealer’s license.

If your dealership is forced out of business, the Business Licensing and Compliance division will contact you. Otherwise, co​ntact the Business Licensing and Compliance division and indicate that you are going out of business. 

The Business Licensing and Compliance division will advise you which materials must be returned to the MVA. Typically, you must return the following items which are considered State properties:

• New Vehicle Dealer License (existing) - This document is often referred to as a “wall license”.
• Vehicle Sales License – Owner (existing) - This document is often referred to as a “gratis salesman license”.
• Interchangeable tags - All tags must be returned to an MVA branch office. The receipts showing that you returned the tags then must be submitted to the Business Licensing and Compliance division.
• Unused Temporary Registration Permits (form #CS-124) - If some of these items are not returned, the dealer must submit a statement indicating which items are missing.
• Unused MVA Odometer Disclosure forms (form #VR-197) - If some of these items are not returned, the dealer must submit a statement indicating which items are missing.
• Unused Dealer’s Bill of Sale and/or Reassignment for New and Used Vehicles (form #VR-182) - If some of these items are not returned, the dealer must submit a statement indicating which items are missing.
• Paid Salesman Licenses – If you employed salesmen, then their licenses, issued by the MVA, must be returned.