Dealers · licensing · Missouri
How to get a dealer license in Missouri.
What it takes to get a used car dealer license in Missouri, with a link to the official page for every fact.
Checked October 10, 2026 against the official pages linked below. Licensing agency: Missouri Department of Revenue, Dealer Licensing Section.
The requirements
| Licensing agency | Missouri Department of Revenue, Dealer Licensing Section · source |
|---|---|
| Surety bond (used dealer) | $50,000 (surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit) · source |
| Pre-licensing education | Required — DOR-approved dealer educational seminar within 12 months before applying (hours not stated); exemptions for some applicants · source |
| Place of business | Permanent enclosed building owned/leased and occupied; reachable at reasonable times with working phone; exterior sign with letters >= 6 in; off-street display lot for multiple vehicles; Highway Patrol location certification · source |
| License fee | $150 per year (prorated by month of application); plates $50 first plate · source |
Steps
- Start with the licensing agency, Missouri Department of Revenue, Dealer Licensing Section: read its dealer page and get the current application.
- Complete the pre-licensing education: DOR-approved dealer educational seminar within 12 months before applying (hours not stated); exemptions for some applicants.
- Set up your place of business: Permanent enclosed building owned/leased and occupied; reachable at reasonable times with working phone; exterior sign with letters >= 6 in; off-street display lot for multiple vehicles; Highway Patrol location certification.
- Buy a surety bond: $50,000 (surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit).
- Submit the application with the fee: $150 per year (prorated by month of application); plates $50 first plate.
Built from the facts above. Insurance, background checks and zoning rules may also apply; the agency's page has the full list.
Planning to finance your own deals?
In-house financing can need its own license in some states. This summary has no note on one for Missouri; ask the state's financial regulator before you write your first contract.
This is a summary, not legal advice. The agency's own page governs. All states