Texas used car & BHPH dealer playbook.
Everything you need to get licensed and stay compliant in Texas, organized in the exact order you will do it: city zoning and Certificate of Occupancy, your TxDMV General Distinguishing Number (GDN), the OCCC motor vehicle sales finance license, Vehicle Inventory Tax (VIT/SIT), and after-the-sale deadlines.
How to start a used car dealership in Texas
Start a used car dealership in Texas in 13 steps: city approval, the 6-hour course, a $50,000 bond and a $700 GDN application. Costs and timing included.
Start with the 13-step Texas roadmap →Dealer license (GDN) & local city approvals
Who needs a license, city zoning and Certificate of Occupancy, bond, course, and eLICENSING.
Before TxDMV says yes: the city and county approvals a Texas car lot needs
A Texas GDN application needs a certificate of occupancy or other city proof. Zoning, fees and offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth.
How to get a Texas dealer license (GDN), step by step
How to get a Texas dealer license (GDN): premises rule, 6-hour course, $50,000 bond, $700 eLICENSING application, fingerprints and TxDMV review, in order.
What is a GDN? The Texas dealer license in plain English
A GDN is the Texas dealer license from TxDMV. You generally need one unless you sell under five same-type vehicles a year owned and registered to you.
In-house financing (BHPH) & OCCC compliance
The OCCC Motor Vehicle Sales Finance license, add-on rate caps, doc fees, and annual renewal.
Financing your own sales in Texas: the OCCC license, rate limits and tax on payments
Texas dealers who finance their own sales need an OCCC license and a Comptroller permit. Add-on rate caps run $7.50 to $15 per $100 a year by model year.
Texas OCCC license renewal: November 1 to December 31
Texas OCCC license renewal runs November 1 to December 31 in NMLS. Assessment up to $460 per location, due Dec 1; reinstating by Feb 28 adds a $1,000 fee.
After the sale, inventory tax (VIT) & inspections
Metal plates at sale, 20-day title deadlines, monthly Form 50-246 VIT filings, and agency audits.
After the sale in Texas: plates, titles, taxes and records, deadline by deadline
After a Texas sale: a fixed $10 plate fee, title within 30 days (45 if you finance) with 20 business days as your working deadline, records for 48 months.
Texas dealer year-end checklist
Texas dealer deadlines to February 28, 2027: OCCC renewal by Dec 31, inventory tax statements by the 10th, the annual declaration by Feb 1, and more.
Texas Vehicle Inventory Tax (VIT), explained for dealers
Texas VIT (also called SIT): file Form 50-246 with your prepayment by the 10th each month and Form 50-244 by February 1. Late statements cost $500 a month.
Who can inspect a Texas dealership, and what each one looks at
TxDMV, the OCCC, the Comptroller, county offices, the Attorney General and your city can inspect a Texas dealer. TxDMV wants records in 15 days.
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Run your Texas dealership in LeftLane.
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