Applications for motor vehicle dealers
Anyone in the business of buying or selling vehicles in Western Australia must be licensed as a dealer under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973.
Dealing in motor vehicles means:
- carrying on any class or description of business of buying or selling vehicles
- acting as an agent for other people in relation to buying or selling motor vehicles, (including selling by auction)
- acting as a financier or operating a car rental business.
This includes businesses which buy vehicles for wrecking, financing, auctioning or hiring.
You must hold a motor vehicle dealer’s licence to buy or sell the following vehicles:
- passenger vehicles
- commercial vehicles
- motorcycles/scooters
- caravans/camper trailers
- trucks/utes
- campervans
- four wheel drive vehicles
Dealer Licence Categories
Dealers can be issued a license endorsed with one or more of the following categories
| Category of licence | Description of business | |
|---|---|---|
| Category A | Vehicle sales | Buying, selling and auctioning vehicles |
| Category B | Vehicle wrecker (dismantler) | Buying any vehicles for the purpose of dismantling them and selling off the parts |
| Category C | Vehicle broker/agent | Acting as an agent to facilitate the selling or purchase of any vehicles on behalf of members of the public |
| Category D | Vehicle hire and sales | Hiring out vehicles, buying vehicles for hiring out, and selling and auctioning any vehicles that have been hired out by the dealer |
| Category E (commenced from 1 March 2023) | Consignment sales | Selling (including by auction) vehicles under consignment agreements Find out more about consignment selling |
| Combination | Any combination of A, B, C, D and E, as nominated by the dealer | The business subject of the nominated categories. |
Motor vehicle dealer premises
Show moreThe Motor Vehicle Dealers Act requires each applicant for a dealer's licence operate from premises suitable for the type of business for which the licence is sought.
The Commissioner for Consumer Protection also maintains records of these premises to assist it with decisions, such as whether the dealer may operate from one or more premises, (e.g. where the premises are adjacent but have separate titles) and to identify the boundaries of those premises.
With each application for a licence, the following information must be submitted about the premises from which the dealer intends to trade:
- Details of any proposed activity other than vehicle sales to be conducted at the premises, eg repairs; and
- Payment of the relevant fee.
You must submit all the above information, even if the premises are currently registered (licensed) in the name of another vehicle dealer.
You must apply to register the premises at least one month before you intend to start trading.
Please note that, while the Commissioner for Consumer Protection may authorise a dealer to carry on business from a particular premises, it remains the responsibility of the dealer to liaise with their local government authority to ensure those premises are zoned appropriately.
Adjoining premises
Where a dealership has two premises which physically adjoin, the dealership may request for the authorised premises and the registers be amalgamated.
This has the potential to apply to premises that have two different street frontages and street names, but which are physically joined at the rear or along the side of the properties.
Approval will not be granted where the dealership premises are separated by:
- a cross street; or
- another business.
Co-locating your dealership with another - sharing premise
If two dealerships are considering co-locating premises with a separate entity, the following requirements must be met:
- There must be a clear and visible demarcation between the dealerships.
- Signage must be of equal or nearly equal size and visible from the same vantage points.
- Where offices are co-located in the same building, signage to the front must indicate both entities and trading names.
- There must be separate phone lines.
However, where two dealers, operating with identical principals/directors and/or partners, are co-located to operate separate hire and sales businesses, demarcation is not required if individual vehicles are identified as 'hire' or 'sale'.
Changes to premises/temporary premises
Dealers who wish to acquire additional premises, change premises or carry on business from temporary premises, must apply to the Commissioner before they start to operate from those premises.
- Addition or changes (moving from one premises to another) of premises
Requires an application and payment of the prescribed fee. Special occasion permit
Requires an application to carry on business at temporary premises in connection with a special occasion or event (e.g. Perth Royal Show) and payment of the prescribed fee.The Commissioner may attach conditions to a Special Occasion Permit and a permit may also be required under the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987.
Note: The Commissioner can attach conditions or restrictions to any premises approval.
Consumer Protection licence and registration search
Show moreThe online licence search can help you find a licensed motor vehicle dealer.
How to use the online licence search
Search by number: You can check if a licence number is still valid. Type the number into the field on the opening screen.
Search by type of licence: You can look for licensed people in your neighbourhood. Click on ‘Type’. Start typing in the licence type in the box eg. debt collector. Then type in either a name or location.
Mutual Recognition
Show moreIf you are registered or licensed as a motor vehicle dealer elsewhere in Australia or New Zealand, and want to be registered in Western Australia,, you may be able to apply for mutual recognition to get a WA licence or automatic mutual recognition to have your licence recognised in WA.
