How to Get a Florida Dealer License— Complete Step-by-Step FLHSMV Guide
To get a Florida dealer license, complete nine sequential steps with the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV): pick a license class, secure a compliant non-residential facility, finish the 8-hour pre-licensing course, obtain garage liability insurance, get the FLHSMV-format surety bond (HSMV 86020 for motor vehicle dealers), complete Livescan fingerprinting, submit Form HSMV 86056 with the $300 fee, pass the on-site facility inspection, and receive your dealer license. Realistic timeline is 45 to 90 days; total first-year cash outlay typically runs $2,000 to $5,000+.
Need the parent overview? See our Florida motor vehicle dealer bond page for the regulatory background, or our Florida dealer bond cost page for premium ranges by credit tier.
Quick-Reference Checklist: The Nine Steps
Use this as your master sequence. Each item links to its full detail section below. Skipping ahead — for example, paying for a bond before securing a compliant facility — is the single most common reason Florida dealer applicants double-pay or have to re-issue documents.
Choose your Florida dealer license class
Florida issues seven dealer classes under Fla.
Secure a permanent non-residential dealership location
Lease or own a permanent commercial location that meets Fla.
Complete the 8-hour FLHSMV-approved pre-licensing course
Enroll in an FLHSMV-approved 8-hour pre-licensing dealer education course.
Obtain garage liability insurance ($25K CSL + $10K PIP)
Purchase garage liability insurance with a minimum $25,000 combined single limit covering bodily injury and property damage, plus $10,000 personal injury protection.
Get your Florida dealer surety bond (Form HSMV 86020, 86019, or 86018)
Obtain the correct FLHSMV-format bond: Form HSMV 86020 for motor vehicle dealers ($25,000), HSMV 86019 for RV dealers ($10,000 or $20,000 depending on class), HSMV 86018 for mobile home dealers ($25,000 or $50,000).
Complete Livescan fingerprinting and background check
Every dealer applicant, partner, officer, and 10%+ shareholder must submit electronic fingerprints through an FLHSMV-approved Livescan vendor.
Submit Form HSMV 86056 with the $300 application fee
File Form HSMV 86056 — the Application for a License as a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Recreational Vehicle Dealer — with the $300 non-refundable application fee.
Schedule and pass the FLHSMV facility inspection
An FLHSMV regional compliance examiner visits the proposed dealership in person to verify physical compliance with §320.
Receive your dealer license and supplemental dealer plates
Once inspection passes and document review clears, FLHSMV issues your dealer license number and dealer plates.
Choose Your Florida Dealer License Class
Every downstream step — bond form, education track, insurance — depends on this single decision.
Florida does not issue a single generic dealer license. FLHSMV groups dealers into seven statutory classes under the Fla. Stat. §320.27(5) bond requirement (motor vehicles), §320.77 (mobile homes), and §320.771 (recreational vehicles). The class determines bond form, bond amount, education requirements, and whether garage liability insurance is required — distinctions verified by our NV-licensed producer Eric Drummond against FLHSMV bulletins.
VF — Franchise (New)VF
Manufacturer franchise; $25,000 bond
VI — Independent (Used)VI
Most common class; $25,000 bond
VW — WholesaleVW
Dealer-to-dealer only; $25,000 bond
VA — AuctionVA
Auction operators; $25,000 bond
SD — SalvageSD
Salvage only; $25,000 bond; no garage liability
MH — Mobile HomeMH
§320.77; $25,000 or $50,000 bond on HSMV 86018
RV — Recreational VehicleRV
§320.771; $10,000 or $20,000 bond on HSMV 86019
VI (independent used) is by far the most common starting point — especially in the Caribbean export market in Fort Lauderdale. VF requires a signed manufacturer franchise agreement. VW dealers cannot transact with the public. MH and RV are regulated under different statutes and use different bond forms (HSMV 86018 and HSMV 86019 respectively). Salvage (SD) is unique in that it is exempt from garage liability — see Step 4.
Secure a Permanent Non-Residential Dealership Location
The facility inspection is binary — pass or fail. Set up to pass before you ever request it.
Florida Statutes §320.27(3) defines exactly what a Florida motor vehicle dealer location must look like, sitting within Florida's motor vehicle dealer statute. FLHSMV will not issue a license at portable buildings, residential addresses, vacant lots without a building, or shared retail spaces without a clearly separated dealership area. Dealers serving the JAXPORT military vehicle redistribution corridor face the same site rules. Lock these requirements in before signing a lease.
Building & Signage Requirements
- Permanent commercial building, not portable or temporary
- Exterior sign with the dealership name visible from the street
- Posted business hours visible to the public
- Separate equipped office with desk, files, and computer
- Working telephone line listed publicly in the dealership name
Zoning & Location
- Local zoning permits motor vehicle dealership use
- Distinct inventory display area for offered vehicles
- Customer access without blocking public right-of-way
- Address matches bond, insurance, fictitious name, and lease
- One license per location — multiple lots need multiple licenses and bonds
Looking at multiple potential locations? Conditional leases that allow you to back out if FLHSMV rejects the zoning are common and worth requesting from a landlord.
Complete the 8-Hour FLHSMV Pre-Licensing Course
Hard prerequisite for VI, VW, VA, and SD. Franchise (VF) applicants take a separate 8-hour manufacturer-coordinated course.
Florida requires an 8-hour FLHSMV-approved pre-licensing dealer education course before Form HSMV 86056 will be accepted. The course is delivered online by approved providers, costs $150 to $350, and covers titling and registration procedures, sales tax collection, temporary tag rules, recordkeeping requirements, consumer protection law, odometer disclosure, and dealer ethics under §320.27.
The course is self-paced but locks modules behind comprehension checks. Most applicants finish in one or two sittings. The certificate of completion is uploaded with Form HSMV 86056 — keep a digital copy and the original.
Course Snapshot
Obtain Garage Liability Insurance ($25K CSL + $10K PIP)
Required for VI, VF, VW, and VA. Salvage (SD) is statutorily exempt.
Florida requires VI, VF, VW, and VA dealers to carry garage liability insurance with a minimum $25,000 combined single limit covering bodily injury and property damage, plus $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP). This is the dealership equivalent of commercial auto liability and covers test drives, customer vehicles in your custody, and on-lot incidents. SD dealers are exempt because salvage operations do not involve retail sale to the public.
Garage Liability vs. Your Surety Bond
These are different products and FLHSMV requires both (in non-SD classes). Confusing them is one of the most common application errors.
Protects consumers and the state from dealer misconduct (title fraud, unpaid sales tax, tag misuse, odometer violations). You repay any valid claim paid by the surety.
Protects you against third-party bodily injury and property damage from dealership operations. Standard commercial insurance with deductibles and annual premiums.
For the full breakdown of the requirement and the SD exemption, see our Florida garage liability insurance page.
Get Your Florida Dealer Surety Bond (HSMV 86020 / 86019 / 86018)
The bond form depends on your class. The bond document is what gets filed — not the application form.
Florida requires a different bond form depending on the dealer class. For motor vehicle dealers (VI, VF, VW, VA, SD), the bond is Form HSMV 86020 in the amount of $25,000. For recreational vehicle dealers (RV), the bond is Form HSMV 86019 at $10,000 or $20,000 depending on RV sub-class. For mobile home dealers (MH), the bond is Form HSMV 86018 at $25,000 or $50,000.
The bond protects consumers against title fraud, sales tax nonpayment, odometer rollback, temporary tag misuse, and other failures to comply with the §320.27 statutory framework. Premiums for the $25,000 motor vehicle bond typically run $250 (excellent credit) to $3,750 (challenged credit) per year — the bond is annual, not multi-year, and our published ranges reflect Eric Drummond's underwriting notes across recent FL submissions.
When your bond is issued, you receive an FLHSMV-format bond document executed by the surety and you (the principal). The original bond is attached to Form HSMV 86056. A common rookie mistake is submitting Form 86056 in place of Form 86020 — they are completely different documents and not interchangeable, as our Form HSMV 86020 line-by-line walkthrough details. Renewal cadence (the April 30 renewal deadline mechanics) varies by class.
Bond Fast Facts
Complete Livescan Fingerprinting and Background Check
Required for every owner, partner, officer, and 10%+ shareholder.
Florida requires electronic fingerprints through an FLHSMV-approved Livescan vendor. Results are transmitted directly to FLHSMV and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a state and federal criminal background check. Every owner, partner, officer, and any shareholder holding 10% or greater interest must submit individually.
Livescan typically costs $50 to $75 per person. Schedule fingerprinting early — receipts must be attached to Form HSMV 86056, and unprocessed prints will not satisfy the requirement. Disclose all prior criminal history on your application; undisclosed convictions surfaced by the background check are far worse than disclosed ones.
Recent felonies involving fraud, theft, or moral turpitude can disqualify an applicant or trigger a hearing. Older non-violent items with full disclosure and rehabilitation history are routinely worked through.
Who Must Be Printed
- Sole proprietor (one person)
- All partners in a partnership
- All officers of a corporation
- All managing members of an LLC
- Any shareholder owning 10% or more
- Each business location requires the principal owners
Submit Form HSMV 86056 with the $300 Fee
This is the dealer license application — not the bond. The $300 fee is non-refundable.
Form HSMV 86056 — Application for a License as a Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, or Recreational Vehicle Dealer — is the core document that ties together every piece of evidence you have gathered. You complete the form (paper or electronic depending on regional office), pay the $300 application fee, and submit with every supporting attachment.
What You Submit with Form HSMV 86056
Every document has formatting and content requirements that can trigger an FLHSMV resubmission request. For a field-by-field walkthrough of the bond form attached here, see our Form HSMV 86020 guide.
Pass the FLHSMV On-Site Facility Inspection
A compliance examiner visits in person. No remote inspections, no photos in lieu of a visit.
After document review clears, an FLHSMV regional compliance examiner schedules an on-site visit. The examiner walks the property, photographs the exterior signage, verifies posted business hours, confirms the office is equipped and separated from any showroom, tests the dealership phone line, and observes the inventory display area. The result is binary — pass and your license issues, fail and you correct the deficiency and re-inspect.
What Passes the First Time
- Permanent exterior sign installed before the inspection date
- Business hours posted on the front door or window
- Equipped office with desk, files, computer, and phone
- Dedicated dealership phone line answering with the dealer name
- Vehicle inventory present in the designated display area
- Local zoning verification letter on file for examiner reference
What Triggers a Re-Inspection
- Banner, yard sign, or paper sign instead of permanent signage
- Business hours not posted anywhere visible
- No separate office — desk in the showroom is not enough
- Cell phone instead of a dedicated dealership landline
- Residential, improperly zoned, or temporary structure
- Empty building with no operational infrastructure on inspection day
Receive Your Dealer License and Supplemental Plates
Approval is just the start. Compliance begins the day your license issues.
When FLHSMV issues your license, you receive your assigned dealer number, the license certificate, and any supplemental dealer plates you ordered. Display the license certificate inside the dealership where customers can see it, register for any required electronic title services through your regional FLHSMV office, and begin your sales tax remittance schedule with the Florida Department of Revenue.
Post Your License
Florida requires your dealer license certificate to be displayed inside the dealership at all times. Compliance examiners can return for unannounced spot checks any time during operating hours.
Build Your Recordkeeping
Florida requires you to maintain title histories, sales records, sales tax remittance, dealer tag logs, and odometer disclosures available for inspection. Set up your filing system on day one — FLHSMV audits routinely.
Calendar Your Renewal Now
VF renews Dec 31. VI/VW/VA/SD renew April 30. MH/RV renew Oct 1. Renewal fee for motor vehicle classes is $75. See our Florida renewal page.
Realistic Timeline: 45 to 90 Days from First Step to License Issuance
Total elapsed time depends mostly on how serialized vs. parallelized your steps are. A disciplined applicant who runs steps in parallel — finishing the pre-licensing course while waiting for Livescan results, getting the bond issued while securing the facility — typically lands at 45 to 60 days. Serialized applicants who do one thing at a time stretch to 90 days or more.
| Phase | Primary Activity | Run in Parallel |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | Form entity on Sunbiz, file fictitious name, secure facility lease | Get FEIN, enroll in the 8-hour pre-licensing course |
| Weeks 2-3 | Complete pre-licensing course, install permanent signage, equip office | Schedule Livescan appointments for all owners/officers |
| Weeks 3-4 | Obtain HSMV 86020 bond and garage liability insurance | Receive Livescan receipts, prepare Form HSMV 86056 draft |
| Week 4-5 | Submit Form HSMV 86056 with $300 fee and all attachments | Final facility prep, photographs, posted hours |
| Weeks 6-9 | FLHSMV document review and inspection scheduling | Respond to any document requests within 24-48 hours |
| Weeks 9-13 | On-site facility inspection, license issuance, plate distribution | Set up Department of Revenue sales tax account, train staff |
Total Cost Summary: Florida Dealer License First-Year Cash Outlay
Excluding facility lease (which varies dramatically by city and lot size), the typical first-year cash outlay for a new Florida motor vehicle dealer runs $2,000 to $5,000+ depending on credit, course provider, and how many owners need fingerprinting.
| Line Item | Typical Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 8-hour pre-licensing course | $150 – $350 | One-time (per applicant) |
| $25,000 surety bond premium | $250 – $3,750 | Annual (credit-dependent) |
| Garage liability insurance | $1,200 – $3,500 | Annual (waived for SD) |
| Application fee (Form 86056) | $300 | Non-refundable, initial |
| Livescan fingerprinting | $50 – $75 per person | One-time per applicant |
| Sunbiz entity filing | $125 (LLC) | One-time |
| Fictitious name registration | $50 | If using a DBA |
| Facility setup (signage, office) | Highly variable | One-time |
| Total typical first-year | $2,000 – $5,000+ | Excludes lease & signage build |
After You Are Licensed: Renewal Expectations
Florida dealer license renewal dates vary by class — and they vary substantially. This is the single most under-discussed quirk of Florida dealer licensing. Missing your class's specific renewal deadline can result in late fees, lapse, or having to re-license from scratch.
VF — Franchise
Renewal due December 31 annually. Renewal fee $75 for motor vehicle classes. Bond stays continuous; insurance must remain in force.
VI / VW / VA / SD
Renewal due April 30 annually. Renewal fee $75. Bond carrier should issue your continuation certificate well in advance.
MH and RV
Renewal due October 1 annually. Bond filed on different form (HSMV 86018 or 86019) — confirm continuation matches your original.
Why Florida Dealer License Applications Get Denied
Denials rarely come from catastrophic problems. They almost always come from small inconsistencies and shortcuts that compound across documents. Here are the most frequent issues we see from underwriting thousands of Florida dealer bonds.
Form 86056 submitted in place of Form 86020 (or vice versa)
The application (86056) and the bond (86020) are different documents from different parties — you complete the application, the surety issues the bond. Submitting one in place of the other is one of the top three Florida-specific rejection causes.
Facility fails inspection on first visit
Banner instead of permanent sign, no posted business hours, no separate office, residential or improper commercial zoning. Re-inspection typically adds 2-4 weeks to your timeline.
Missing 8-hour pre-licensing course certificate
FLHSMV will not advance the application without the certificate of completion. The course must be done before, not promised after, submission.
Garage liability missing in a non-SD class
VI, VF, VW, and VA applicants sometimes assume the SD exemption applies to them. It does not. $25K CSL + $10K PIP is required for all non-SD motor vehicle classes.
Name mismatches across documents
Bond issued to "ABC Motors LLC," insurance certificate to "ABC Motors," fictitious name registration to "ABC Motors Inc." FLHSMV requires identical legal names on every document.
Undisclosed criminal history
Livescan and FDLE will find any prior conviction. Undisclosed items discovered by FLHSMV are treated far more harshly than disclosed ones. Always disclose.
Renewal date confusion on the first cycle
Many first-year dealers miss their class-specific renewal (VF=Dec 31, VI/VW/VA/SD=Apr 30, MH/RV=Oct 1), let the license lapse, then have to reapply from scratch with a new bond and inspection.
Wrong bond form for the class
Submitting HSMV 86020 (motor vehicle) when you applied for an RV class (HSMV 86019) or MH class (HSMV 86018). The bond form is class-specific and must match Form 86056.
Go Deeper on Each Step
This page is the start-to-finish overview. For deep dives on specific portions of the process, use these companion pages.
Form HSMV 86020 Bond Guide
Field-by-field walkthrough of the Florida motor vehicle dealer bond form
8-Hour Pre-Licensing Course Details
FLHSMV-approved providers, content, and how the certificate is filed
Garage Liability Insurance Explained
The $25K CSL / $10K PIP requirement and the SD exemption
Renewing Your Florida Dealer License
Class-specific renewal dates, bond continuation, and the $75 MV renewal fee
Florida Dealer Licensing: Common Questions
Process questions from applicants going through the FLHSMV application in 2026.
How long does it take to get a Florida dealer license from start to finish?
Realistic end-to-end timeline is 45 to 90 days from the day you start gathering documents to the day FLHSMV issues your license. The schedule typically runs: 1-2 weeks to complete the 8-hour pre-licensing course, 1-3 days to obtain the bond and garage liability insurance, 1-2 weeks for Livescan fingerprinting results, 3-5 weeks for FLHSMV document review after Form 86056 is submitted, and another 2-4 weeks to schedule and pass the in-person facility inspection. Bottlenecks are almost always the facility inspection, the pre-licensing course, and resubmissions caused by name mismatches.
What is the total cost to get a Florida dealer license?
Plan for $2,000 to $5,000 in hard out-of-pocket cost the first year, excluding facility lease and ongoing insurance premiums. Typical components: $300 non-refundable application fee, $150 to $350 for the FLHSMV-approved 8-hour pre-licensing course, $50 to $75 per person for Livescan fingerprinting, $250 to $3,750 for the surety bond premium (credit-dependent on the $25,000 bond), $1,200 to $3,500 annually for garage liability insurance, and variable facility setup costs for signage, office equipment, and zoning verification.
Which Florida dealer class do I need?
Independent (VI) is the most common class for retail used vehicle dealers. Choose VF if you hold a manufacturer franchise agreement to sell new vehicles. VW is wholesale only — dealer-to-dealer, no retail. VA is for auction operators. SD is salvage. MH is mobile home dealers regulated under §320.77. RV is recreational vehicle dealers under §320.771. Bond amount and statutory requirements differ by class, so picking the wrong one means re-doing your bond, insurance, and education.
Do I need to form an LLC or corporation before applying for a Florida dealer license?
Sole proprietorships and partnerships are permitted under §320.27, but most dealers form a Florida LLC for liability protection. If you form an entity, file with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) before submitting Form HSMV 86056. The entity name on your bond (HSMV 86020), insurance certificate, fictitious name registration, and application must match exactly. Name mismatches between documents are the most common cause of FLHSMV resubmission requests.
Is Form HSMV 86020 the same as Form HSMV 86056?
No. They are different documents that get confused constantly. Form HSMV 86020 is the Florida motor vehicle dealer surety bond — issued by your bonding company in the $25,000 amount and attached to your application. Form HSMV 86056 is the dealer license application itself, completed by you and filed with the $300 fee. Submitting one in place of the other is a frequent rejection cause. For a field-by-field walkthrough of the bond form, see our guide at buysuretybonds.com/auto-dealer-bonds/florida/form-hsmv-86020-guide/.
Do I have to take the 8-hour pre-licensing course before applying?
Yes for VI, VW, VA, and SD applicants — the 8-hour FLHSMV-approved pre-licensing course must be completed before Form HSMV 86056 is submitted. VF (franchise) applicants complete a separate 8-hour manufacturer-coordinated course. The certificate of completion is uploaded with your application. For details on FLHSMV-approved providers and what the course covers, see our dealer education course page at buysuretybonds.com/auto-dealer-bonds/florida/dealer-education-course/.
Do salvage dealers (SD) need garage liability insurance in Florida?
No. Salvage motor vehicle dealers (SD) are statutorily exempt from the garage liability insurance requirement under §320.27 because SD operations do not include retail sales to the public. VI, VF, VW, and VA classes all must carry $25,000 combined single limit garage liability plus $10,000 PIP. This is a frequent point of confusion — applicants in non-SD classes sometimes assume the exemption applies to them and submit applications without the required insurance.
What are the most common reasons Florida dealer license applications get denied?
The top causes we see: facility inspection failures (no permanent exterior signage, business hours not posted, no separate office, residential or improperly zoned location), name mismatches between the bond, insurance, fictitious name registration, and entity filing, missing or expired 8-hour pre-licensing course certificate, submitting Form 86056 (application) where Form 86020 (bond) was required or vice versa, missing garage liability insurance in non-SD classes, and undisclosed criminal history surfaced by the Livescan background check. Renewal date confusion (VF=Dec 31, VI/VW/VA/SD=April 30, MH/RV=Oct 1) also causes issues on first renewal.
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov) and verified before publication. BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-certified, A-minimum rated surety carriers serving all 50 states.
Bond First. The Rest Falls into Place.
The $25,000 HSMV 86020 bond is the document Form 86056 attaches to. Get it issued today on the correct FLHSMV form, attach it to your application package, and run every other step of your Florida dealer license process in parallel.