Arkansas Dealer License

Arkansas Dealer License Training Podcast

Arkansas Dealers Licenses are granted by the Arkansas Division of Finance and Administration Office of Motor Vehicles in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Arkansas Dealer License Steps

1. Request Arkansas Dealer License Application from Arkansas Department of Revenue
2. You must have a place of business to sell your motor vehicles
3. You must have a display lot for your vehicles
4. You need a permanent business sign
5. Obtain a dealer garage insurance policy for your vehicle inventory
6. Provide a dealer surety bond in the amount of $25,000
7. Mail Arkansas Dealer License Application Packet to Arkansas Division of Finance and Administration Office of Motor Vehicles

Click here for your Free Arkansas Dealer Surety Bond Quote

Request Arkansas Dealer License Application from the Arkansas Division of Finance and Administration Office of Motor Vehicles

You must obtain an Arkansas Dealers License Application from the Arkansas Division of Finance and Administration Office of Motor Vehicles. The easiest way to obtain your Arkansas Dealer Application is to download the Arkansas Dealer License Application. When you obtain your Arkansas Dealer License Application, you will need to fill it out correctly without mistakes. If you have questions about the form, just call and they will gladly walk you through the Dealer Application step by step. When you have completed all the steps below, you will mail your Arkansas Dealer License Application to the address above. Request your Dealer Application as soon as possible so you can start your AR Dealers License application process.

You must have a place of business to sell your motor vehicles

In order to obtain your Arkansas Dealer License, you must have a place of business to be used for the purpose of selling motor vehicles. You can locate your Arkansas Car Dealership in any commercially zoned area that allows an automotive business. Be sure to check your local zoning laws to make sure you will be allowed to operate you business in your chosen location. You must keep all books, records, and licenses in your building at all times. If the State of Arkansas wants to see your dealers license records, you must be able to produce these records at any time. Your place of business must contain a working telephone that is registered in your dealership name. The State of Arkansas wants to make sure your customers are able to contact you at any time. Cell phones and cordless phones that reach from another building do not qualify. Remember, you must check your local zoning ordinances to make sure an automotive business is allowed at the location you have chosen for your Arkansas Dealer License.

You must have a display lot for your vehicles

You must have a display lot with room for multiple motor vehicles. This lot must be for the exclusive use of your business. You must make sure that any neighboring business's customer's vehicles are not parked on your lot. Any vehicles located on your lot must be for sale and the lot must have an unobstructed view from the nearest public street. All of the vehicles you hold for resale must be located on this lot. You are not allowed to sell or "curb" your vehicles at any location that is not listed on your Arkansas Dealers License.

You need a permanent business sign

You will need a permanent business sign. This sign can be on the exterior of the business building or erected on the display area. The sign must contain the name of your dealership and your hours of operation. The State of Arkansas wants to make sure your customers know your hours of operation so they can contact you when necessary. The sign requirement must be met before you are granted and Arkansas Dealer License.

Obtain dealer a garage insurance policy for your vehicle inventory

Before you get your Arkansas Dealer License, you must obtain a dealer garage insurance policy. A dealer garage insurance policy covers you when you drive your demo's, it covers your customers when they are test driving your vehicles, and it covers you if someone falls and breaks a leg on your lot. You must have a dealer garage policy in effect before you obtain an Arkansas Dealers License.  Dealer garage insurance can also be very expensive. You can easily spend $200.00 per month for a bare bones liability policy and several thousand dollars a month for large comprehensive policies. Always get multiple quotes on dealer insurance because the cost varies greatly from agent to agent for the same coverage. One agent may charge $4,500 a year, while another agent may charge $1,500 for the exact same policy. Also, never let the sticker shock of dealer garage insurance quotes keep you from obtaining your Arkansas Dealers License. As you become established, one good vehicle sale in January can pay your entire annual insurance premium. For a free quote on your dealer garage insurance policy, please go to the Dealer Garage Insurance page.

Provide a dealer surety bond in the amount of $25,000

When you apply for your Arkansas Dealers License, you will be required to provide a dealer surety bond in the amount of $25,000. The official name of the bond is "Used Motor Vehicle Dealer, Wholesaler, or Auto Auction" bond and the obligee must be the "Arkansas State Police"

The bond price is based on your credit score. We can send your bond quote to over 30 bond carriers to get the best price for your dealer surety bond.

Just click here for your Free Arkansas Dealer Surety Bond Quote.


A dealer surety bond  protects customers against dealer fraud. If a dealer is dishonest, and sells vehicles with mechanical problems without disclosing them, the dealer will have many unhappy customers. The more unhappy customers a dealer has, there is a very good chance the dealer can have their dealer license revoked. If the dealer is bankrupt and goes out of business after having their license revoked, customers can gain a financial settlement from the dealer bond. Don't worry, if you operate your Arkansas car dealership with the highest ethical standards, you should never have a claim against your dealer surety bond. Dealer bonds are priced according to your credit scores. If you have good credit, you should be able to obtain a dealer surety bond for about $175.00 a year. If you credit is less than perfect, you may see much higher prices for your dealer surety bond. To get a free quote on your Arkansas dealer surety bond, please click here for a free visit the Dealer Surety Bond quote.

Mail Arkansas Dealer License Application Packet to Arkansas Department of Revenue

When you have completed the steps above you will need to call the Arkansas Department of Revenue to make sure you are including all the necessary documents in your Arkansas Dealer License Application packet. Always call them before mailing your dealer packet so you can also find out the exact licensing fees to obtain your Arkansas Dealers License. The dealer license fees depend on the month of the year, along with the number of dealer license plates you request. Your check will need to be made out for the correct amount or your dealer license approval could be delayed by 4-6 weeks.

Back to Top


First I want to show you some contact information for Arkansas Dealers, Arkansas dealers are regulated by the Arkansas State Police Dealer Section
Arkansas State Police
Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Section
P.O. Bo 2100
MD 552M
Phoeni, AZ 85001

Dealer Licensing Information
501-618-8600
www.asp.arkansas.gov
info@asp.arkansas.gov

I want you go in depth in the 6 Steps to an Arkansas Dealers License

Step 1-Complete Application
The first thing you need to do to obtain an Arkansas dealers license is to complete an Arkansas dealer license application in it’s entirety.
If you make mistakes on the application it will be returned, so you want to spend some time and ensure there are not mistakes on the application.
A separate application must be submitted for each type of license, entity change, change location or name change, branch or subsequent dealer license.
If there is a change in business entity, after you become a licensed dealer, a new application must be submitted with all applicable paperwork, including a new bond and a new dealer license number will be assigned.
You can download your application at the www.asp.arkansas.gov, lets take a look at an Arkansas dealers license application:


Step 2 Dealer Surety Bond
You must obtain a $25,000 dealers surety bond in order to obtain an Arkansas dealers license. The bond must be a surety bond eecuted by an insurance or bonding company authorized to do business in Arkansas,
You can obtain a dealer surety bond form a bonding company or possibly your insurance agent
A bond ensures that you will operate your Arkansas Dealership with the highest level of ethical standards
Step 3-Insurance
You must obtain $75,000 insurance policy on your vehicles before the State of Arkansas will issue you a dealers license. Insurance is different than the bond we just spoke of. Insurance covers your vehicle inventory. You will pay the highest rates when you first obtain your Arkansas Dealers license, but you should see a reduction in your policy pricing once you have 3 years of dealership eperience under your belt. Check with your insurance agent about this insurance and make sure your coverage covers vehicles while they are being tet driven.
.
Step 4-Building & Lot
You must have a building for your Arkansas dealers license. Your business building must be a permanent enclosed building owned or leased by you, your lease can never end before you dealers license epires. with sufficient space to display two or more vehicles of a kind of vehicle you will be selling. The established place of business must be devoted mainly to the operation of your dealership
A dealer may use a trailer as you building but state law requires you to remove the wheels.
A wholesale motor vehicle dealer may operate from a location zoned for residential use.
Whether you are a retail dealer or a wholesale dealer you must meet local zoning requirements. You can contact the city hall or county court house’s planning a zoning division to ensure the location you want to use as your dealership meets all local zoning requirements for an Arkansas Dealers license. Applicants should contact their local city or county office to ensure compliance with local zoning ordinances.

Step 5 Business Sign & Photos
You must have a sign that is legible for 300 feet during daylight hours. The sign must be permanently erected on the ground or permanently attached to your business building. The sign must indicate that the business of a motor vehicle dealer or automotive recycler is conducted at or from the premises. I want to repeat that: The sign must indicate that the business of a motor vehicle dealer or automotive recycler is conducted at or from the premises. banners will not be accepted
A wholesale motor vehicle dealer or broker must erect a permanent sign (no size requirement) at the entrance of the place of business. The sign must state the business name and indicate that the business of a wholesale motor vehicle dealer or broker is conducted at or from the premises
You must also enclose photographs of your building including photos of the business, sign, display lot, all 4 sides of building, posted address & hours, office area,

Step 6 Telephone
You must have a telephone in your business building that is registered in the dealership name. The phone must be answered in the dealership name as well. This is a requirement in order to obtain an Arkansas Dealers license.

Once you obtain your Arkansas dealers license you must display the license prominently, you are going to work hard to obtain your Arkansas dealers license, you are going to be proud when you obtain your Arkansas dealers license, Arkansas law requires that you display your dealers license prominently when it is granted, don’t shuve it in some desk drawer, or lock in in a vault, frame your official Arkansas dealers license and display it on the wall, all Arkansas dealers licenses must be displayed prominently

Once again here is some valuble contact information if you are obtaining an Arkansas dealers license for the first time or if you currently have an Arkansas dealers license:
Arkansas State Police
Attn: Used Motor Vehicles
#1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 7220


Dealer Licensing Information
501-618-8600
www.asp.arkansas.gov 
info@asp.arkansas.gov

Good Luck In Obtaining Your Arkansas Dealer License!


Many Arkansas residents that have an Arkansas Dealers License earn over $319,000 per year. Find easy Arkansas Dealer License profit tips in the Dealer Training Manual

To find out how to get an Arkansas Dealer License, you can call the Arkansas Division of Finance and Administration Office of Motor Vehicles at 501-682-4692.

You may also follow these step by step instructions to obtain your Arkansas Dealer License

Good Luck In Obtaining Your Arkansas Dealer License!

Order Dealer Manual

Download the entire 132 page 2020 ADTA Dealer Training, Profit, and Compliance Manual today for only $19.95

Dealer Training Manual

DOWNLOAD NOW

 

We are here to help you obtain a Dealer's License and maintain your Dealership Compliance!

Dealer License  

Delus Johnson-Lead Instructor
Automobile Dealer Training Association