Todd Bryant is a graduate of Germantown Academy and the University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration Honors College.
He has been President of Bryant Surety Bonds, Inc., an A+ rated Business with the Better Business Bureau, since 2007. Licensed as a producer with the Department of Insurance, he has been published in the National Association of Surety Bond Producers newsletter and on numerous authoritative publications such as The Washington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Azcentral.com and many more.
It seems unlikely, as one of the requirements for a dealership’s location is: “No other dealer operating at that location”. It must also not house a secondary business. Additionally, your dealership must have a clearly visible sign that matches the name on your license, and part of the application process involves submitting photos of your established business place, including exterior images showing the advertising sign.
That said, there may be exceptions to these rules. I recommend reaching out to [email protected] for more details and clarification.
Only if you’re applying for a used car dealer license in Indiana and have not been previously licensed, you must complete the Dealer Training Course provided by the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association. You can take the course at iiadaeducationalcourses.com, and upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate that must be submitted to the Division.
Question….I would like to start a used car dealership soon and I do not want to buy or rent another property. I do, however, own 4.77 acres with highway road frontage. The property is deeded on two parcels. My house sits on 1 acre and the 3.77 acres is separate but has a couple of barns on it (it also has the vast majority of road frontage excluding my driveway). Can I obtain a separate mailing address for the 3.77 acres, place a building, and sales lot on that acreage and still be in compliance with the state requirements? My logic says I should, but, the state, with their infinite wisdom, may not agree.
Hi there — this is a great question, and you’re thinking about the right things early on.
In Indiana, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires dealers to have an “established place of business” that meets specific standards, including a permanent office structure, display area, signage, and proper zoning approval. Even if you own the land, what matters most is whether the exact parcel used for the dealership is properly zoned and approved for motor vehicle sales and can pass BMV inspection.
In cases like yours (separate parcels with existing structures and road frontage), it may be possible to set up a compliant dealership location on part of your property, but it will depend heavily on local zoning approval and whether that specific site meets all Indiana dealer licensing requirements during inspection.
Because zoning and land-use approvals are handled locally, it’s best to first confirm with your city or county planning/zoning office. After that, you should verify the setup requirements directly with the Indiana BMV Dealer Services Division before investing in any construction or changes.
You can find official information here: https://www.in.gov/sos/dealer/license-applications/dealer-new-or-used/ and contact [email protected] with further questions.
Looking to get started ASAp!
That’s great to hear! Wishing you the best of luck. If you need any assistance along the way, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to help!
Can I use a existing dealer address and lot to get my dealer license?
It seems unlikely, as one of the requirements for a dealership’s location is: “No other dealer operating at that location”. It must also not house a secondary business. Additionally, your dealership must have a clearly visible sign that matches the name on your license, and part of the application process involves submitting photos of your established business place, including exterior images showing the advertising sign.
That said, there may be exceptions to these rules. I recommend reaching out to [email protected] for more details and clarification.
Is a class and test required? I have read some that are and some that aren’t. If so where can I find a class?
Only if you’re applying for a used car dealer license in Indiana and have not been previously licensed, you must complete the Dealer Training Course provided by the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association. You can take the course at iiadaeducationalcourses.com, and upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate that must be submitted to the Division.
For ongoing training opportunities, visit: Indiana Dealer Training.
If you need further clarification, I recommend reaching out to [email protected] or [email protected].
Question….I would like to start a used car dealership soon and I do not want to buy or rent another property. I do, however, own 4.77 acres with highway road frontage. The property is deeded on two parcels. My house sits on 1 acre and the 3.77 acres is separate but has a couple of barns on it (it also has the vast majority of road frontage excluding my driveway). Can I obtain a separate mailing address for the 3.77 acres, place a building, and sales lot on that acreage and still be in compliance with the state requirements? My logic says I should, but, the state, with their infinite wisdom, may not agree.
Hi there — this is a great question, and you’re thinking about the right things early on.
In Indiana, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires dealers to have an “established place of business” that meets specific standards, including a permanent office structure, display area, signage, and proper zoning approval. Even if you own the land, what matters most is whether the exact parcel used for the dealership is properly zoned and approved for motor vehicle sales and can pass BMV inspection.
In cases like yours (separate parcels with existing structures and road frontage), it may be possible to set up a compliant dealership location on part of your property, but it will depend heavily on local zoning approval and whether that specific site meets all Indiana dealer licensing requirements during inspection.
Because zoning and land-use approvals are handled locally, it’s best to first confirm with your city or county planning/zoning office. After that, you should verify the setup requirements directly with the Indiana BMV Dealer Services Division before investing in any construction or changes.
You can find official information here: https://www.in.gov/sos/dealer/license-applications/dealer-new-or-used/ and contact [email protected] with further questions.