How to Get a Dealer License in Ohio: Cost & Requirements

Last updated: October 2, 2026

Ohio’s used motor vehicle dealer license costs $50 — and that is the smallest number on this page. On April 1, 2026 the required surety bond tripled from $25,000 to $75,000, and Ohio separately requires $75,000 in verifiable net worth, a 6-hour training course, a 3,500 sq ft display lot, and a 180 sq ft office. If you are reading older guides that still say $25,000, they are out of date.

The 2026 Bond Increase, In Plain Terms

Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-3-11 is titled “Net worth and bond,” and it asks for both. A used motor vehicle dealer must post a surety bond of not less than $75,000 with the Attorney General’s office (not the BMV), and must show a net worth — assets less liabilities — of at least $75,000, verifiable upon application.

Two details save people real money here. First, the bond may also be used to comply with the net worth requirement, so one $75,000 bond can answer both demands rather than needing $150,000 of showing. Second, the bond is waived if you or your principals currently hold — or held within the preceding year — an Ohio new motor vehicle, adaptive mobility, or leasing dealer license that was not suspended, revoked, or found in violation.

What Ohio Actually Requires

• Dealer license ($50, biennial) — through the Ohio BMV; auction owner licenses run $100 per location. Licenses expire biennially on a day the registrar prescribes within the two-year cycle.
• $75,000 surety bond posted with the Attorney General’s office, effective for all applicants April 1, 2026.
• $75,000 net worth, verifiable when you apply — or satisfied by the bond itself.
• 6-hour training course — no less than six hours, classroom or equivalent online, from an authorized provider. Providers must be an institution of higher learning or a trade association that has existed more than five years with a majority of members holding Ohio dealer licenses.
• Display lot of 3,500+ sq ft, excluding driveways and the office. You may extend the display area to adjacent land or anywhere within 200 feet of your property line.
• Office of 180+ contiguous sq ft with hard-surface walls, not doubling as storage or a utility area, in a location that satisfies local building and zoning rules.
• Posted hours — open to the public at least 5 hours a week, at least 2 of them between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a weekday, with hours and telephone number displayed conspicuously.

What It Costs

Item	Cost	Term
Used motor vehicle dealer license	$50	Biennial ($50 renewal)
Surety bond (penal sum $75,000)	Premium varies by credit	Continuous requirement
Net worth showing	$75,000 — or use the bond	Verified at application
Pre-licensing training (6 hours)	Provider-set	One-time
Ohio LLC (Articles of Organization, Form 533A)	$99	No annual report

How to Get Licensed, In Order

1. Form the entity at Ohio Business Central ($99). The bond and license issue against this name, and Ohio charges no annual report to keep it alive.
2. Complete the 6-hour course through an authorized provider and keep the certificate.
3. Secure a location that clears both size tests — 3,500 sq ft of display area and a 180 sq ft hard-walled office — and confirm zoning before you sign a lease.
4. Post the $75,000 bond with the Attorney General’s office, which can double as your net worth showing.
5. Apply to the BMV ($50) with the certificate, bond, net worth verification, and premises documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cars can I sell in Ohio without a dealer license?

Five. Ohio Revised Code 4517.02(A)(6) makes it unlawful to make more than five casual sales of motor vehicles in a twelve-month period without a license. A casual sale means selling a vehicle you own and titled yourself — buying vehicles specifically to resell is dealing, not a casual sale, no matter the count.

How much does an Ohio dealer license cost?

The license fee itself is only $50, and it renews biennially for $50 (motor vehicle auction owner licenses are $100 per location). The real cost is the $75,000 surety bond premium plus proving $75,000 in net worth, a 6-hour training course, and a lot and office that meet the state’s size rules.

Did the Ohio dealer bond really increase to $75,000?

Yes. Effective April 1, 2026, Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-3-11 requires used motor vehicle dealers to post a surety bond of not less than $75,000 with the Attorney General’s office — triple the previous $25,000. The same rule requires $75,000 in verifiable net worth, and the bond may also be used to satisfy that net worth requirement.

What are the lot and office requirements for an Ohio dealership?

Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-3-08 requires a display lot of no less than 3,500 square feet (not counting driveways or the office) and a permanent usable office of at least 180 contiguous square feet with hard-surface walls that is not used for storage. You must be open to the public at least 5 hours a week, with at least 2 of those hours falling between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Taxes, workers’ comp through Ohio’s monopolistic bureau, county vendor’s licenses, and hiring are covered in our full guide to starting a business in Ohio.

Sources

Source	What It Covers
Ohio Admin. Code 4501:1-3-11	$75,000 bond effective April 1 2026, $75,000 net worth, bond-satisfies-net-worth, exemptions
Ohio Admin. Code 4501:1-3-08	3,500 sq ft lot, 180 sq ft office, required hours, zoning
Ohio Admin. Code 4501:1-3-02	6-hour training course and authorized provider rules
Ohio Rev. Code 4517.02	Five casual sales per twelve months before a license is required
Ohio Rev. Code 4517.10	$50 license and renewal fees, biennial expiration

Comparing states? See our dealer license guides for every state we cover.