You searched for the Louisiana used car commission because you want to sell cars legally, or you need to reach the people who license dealers. The agency is the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission, usually shortened to LUMVC. This page explains what it requires, what it costs and how to contact it, in plain language.
Only want to buy a few cars, not run a dealership? You can skip the license entirely: see cars you can bid on this week with no dealer license, delivered nationwide.
The short answer: The Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission (LUMVC) licenses used car dealers. You need its license if you sell five or more used vehicles in any 12 months. A used dealer license costs $400 for two years and needs a $50,000 surety bond, garage liability insurance of at least $55,000, a zoned location with a permanent sign and a free seminar. Processing takes about 14 business days.
Updated November 8, 2026. Checked against the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission’s Initial Dealer Packet (Rev. 9/25), Fee Schedule, Licensing FAQs, Educational Seminar and Dealer Plates pages. Sources are at the bottom.
Key takeaways
- Right agency: used car dealers are licensed by the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission (LUMVC), not the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission, which handles new car franchise dealers.
- The trigger: selling five or more used vehicles in any 12-month period requires a dealer license. Selling online counts too.
- The cost: $400 for a two-year used dealer license, $25 per salesperson per year, plus a $50,000 bond and garage liability insurance.
- Paper only: the commission says you cannot apply for an initial license online.
- Timing matters right now: new applications received after December 1 do not take effect until after January 1.
What is the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission?
The LUMVC is the state agency that licenses and regulates the used vehicle industry in Louisiana. The Legislature created it in 1984. It has ten members appointed by the Governor: five used vehicle dealers, three consumer representatives, one dismantler and parts recycler, and one auction representative. It runs on licensing fees, auction transfer fees and fines, not state general funds.
Its rules come from Title 32, Chapter 4-C of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 32:781 to 808). The commission licenses used car dealers, rent-to-own and daily rental dealers, used parts dealers, dismantlers, crushers, catalytic converter dealers, auction dealers and their salespeople. It says it oversees more than 6,000 licensees.
Louisiana used car commission phone number and contact details
| How to reach LUMVC | Details |
|---|---|
| Main phone | (225) 925-3870 |
| Toll free | 800-256-2977 |
| Fax | (225) 925-3869 |
| General email | info@lumvc.louisiana.gov |
| Licensing questions | licensing@lumvc.la.gov |
| Office | Baton Rouge, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Check a dealer’s license | LUMVC online license lookup (linked in Sources) |
Selling new cars from a franchise such as Ford or Toyota? That is a different agency. The LUMVC FAQ sends new car dealers to the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission at (504) 838-5207. Mixing the two up is a common mistake.
How many cars can you sell in Louisiana without a dealer license?
Four. The LUMVC FAQ says you need a used motor vehicle dealer’s license if you sell five or more used vehicles in any twelve-month period. The commission also says a license is required whether you sell on an open lot, as a broker from an office, or on the internet. For examples and edge cases, see our guide to how many cars you can sell in Louisiana in one year.
Someone may offer to let you sell under their license for a fee. Read why renting a dealer license is illegal before you agree to anything.
What are the Louisiana dealer license requirements?
The LUMVC Initial Dealer Packet lists everything a used dealer must send. Your business name must match on every document: the application, bond, insurance, sign and phone listing.
| Requirement | What LUMVC asks for |
|---|---|
| Established place of business | Owned or leased, regularly occupied, where cars are displayed and records are kept |
| Zoning Verification Form | Completed by your local zoning authority |
| Business sign | Permanent, exact trade name, visible from the street, at least 16 square feet (4 by 4 feet) |
| Business phone | Listed with directory assistance (411) under the business name; landline or cell |
| Surety bond | $50,000, on the LUMVC form or its exact language, in force for the whole license period |
| Garage liability insurance | Minimum limits of $55,000, ACORD certificate listing all insured salespeople, LUMVC as certificate holder |
| Salesperson | At least one per dealership, each with a salesperson application |
| Educational seminar | Owner, salesperson, general manager, office manager or title clerk must attend |
| Business entity | Corporations, LLCs, LPs and LLPs must register with the Louisiana Secretary of State |
| Email address | Required; all correspondence is sent by email |
Can you run it from home? The commission says it depends on your local zoning, so call your city or parish planning and zoning office first. You also cannot open while your application is pending. The LUMVC says you may not legally operate a used dealership without a license.
How much does a Louisiana used car dealer license cost?
| Fee | Amount | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Used dealer license | $400 | 2 years |
| Additional location (same ownership) | $200 | 2 years |
| Salesperson license | $25 | 1 year |
| Criminal background check | $50 per applicant with a non-traffic conviction in the past 10 years | One time |
| Late renewal after December 31 | $100 | Per renewal |
| Educational seminar | Free | One time |
| Dealer inventory plate | $15 per plate | Yearly |
The bond and insurance are the bigger costs, and you buy them from private companies, not the commission. Get quotes before you sign a lease. Payment to LUMVC is by cash, check, money order or cashier’s check made out to La Used Motor Vehicle Commission. One note: the older LUMVC fee schedule lists the background check at $35, while the 2025 packet says $50. Confirm with the commission before you send it.
How to get a used car dealer license from the LUMVC, step by step
- 1. Secure a location: lease or buy a place that fits the established place of business rules and get the Zoning Verification Form signed by your local zoning office.
- 2. Form your business: if you use a corporation or LLC, register it with the Louisiana Secretary of State so the name matches everywhere.
- 3. Put up the sign and phone: a permanent 4 by 4 foot sign in the trade name and a working business number listed with 411.
- 4. Buy the bond and insurance: a $50,000 surety bond on the LUMVC form and a garage liability certificate with at least $55,000 limits.
- 5. Register for the seminar: send the Educational Seminar Registration Form. You must attend within 60 days of your license being issued.
- 6. Mail the full packet: dealer application, salesperson application, bond, insurance certificate, zoning form, a photo of the sign, phone details and fees. Incomplete packets get a sendback letter.
- 7. Pass the inspection: the commission says a physical inspection happens before any license is issued.
- 8. Get your license and plates: processing takes about 14 business days from when a complete packet and fees arrive. Then you can order dealer plates.
What is the LUMVC educational seminar?
Louisiana law (R.S. 32:791(B)(3)(b)(i)) requires new license applicants to attend a four-hour educational seminar. One person per business attends: the owner, general manager, office manager, title clerk or another responsible representative. The commission currently runs it online through Microsoft Teams, and the fee schedule lists it as free.
You can sign up before you are licensed, but you must attend within 60 days after your license is issued. Missing that window is a violation that can lead to a hearing, fines or revocation. The next session listed on the LUMVC site is December 1, 2026.
When does a Louisiana dealer license expire?
Dealer licenses run two years and expire December 31. Your cycle depends on your district. Salesperson licenses last one year and expire every December 31.
- Districts 1, 2 and 3: current licenses run January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026, so they must renew by December 31, 2026.
- Districts 4 and 5: current licenses run January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027. Their salesperson licenses still expire December 31, 2026.
- New applicants: applications received after December 1 do not take effect until after January 1.
Dealer plates and title processing in Louisiana
The LUMVC sells dealer inventory plates once you hold a license. You can buy up to three plates per dealer license, plus one more for each licensed and insured salesperson, at $15 per plate. Plates go only on cars you are offering for sale, demonstrating or maintaining. Any other use is prohibited.
The commission licenses you, but it does not issue titles. Title and registration work goes through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. If you buy inventory from out of state, our guide to buying a car at auction and transferring the title covers what paperwork to expect.
Do you need a dealer license to buy at auction in Louisiana?
For dealer auctions, yes. The LUMVC FAQ says that to get into the auction to buy a few cars, you must hold a dealer license or be affiliated with one, such as a salesperson. That is why many people think they need a license just to buy.
Public auctions are different. You can buy a car at auction without a dealer license on sites open to everyone. For local options, see our list of car auctions in Louisiana, and compare Manheim and Remarket Space if you already hold a license.
Once licensed, how you source inventory decides your margin. Our guide to profiting from wholesale cars covers buying right, and our vehicle history report guide shows what to check before you bid.
How Louisiana compares with neighboring states
Licensing out of state, or near a state line? Each state has its own agency and rules. See how to get a dealer license in Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas. This guide is also available in Spanish.
Buying inventory, or just one car? Use Remarket Space
Remarket Space is an online car auction open to the public. You do not need a dealer license, a broker or a membership fee to bid, so it works before your LUMVC license arrives and after. Every listing has an inspection report, a free Carfax and an HD virtual test drive, and it shows your out-the-door total with a delivery quote. Cars come from the Twin Cities area and the St. Louis area and are delivered nationwide, including to Louisiana. Licensed dealers can pay by ACH. Browse cars under $5,000 or St. Louis-area cars, and check the buyer fees up front.
See cars up for auction now, or read how it works first.
Frequently asked questions
The LUMVC licenses and regulates the used vehicle industry in Louisiana. That includes used car dealers, rental and rent-to-own dealers, used parts dealers, dismantlers, crushers, auction dealers and their salespeople. It also takes consumer complaints against licensees.
The Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission’s main number is (225) 925-3870 and its toll-free number is 800-256-2977. The office in Baton Rouge is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Licensing questions can go to licensing@lumvc.la.gov.
The LUMVC charges $400 for a used dealer license that lasts two years, plus $25 per salesperson each year. You also need a $50,000 surety bond and garage liability insurance with at least $55,000 limits, which you buy from private companies.
Up to four. The LUMVC says you need a used motor vehicle dealer license if you sell five or more used vehicles in any twelve-month period, whether you sell from a lot, an office or online.
The LUMVC says processing takes about 14 business days after it receives a complete application, all required documents and fees. A physical inspection happens before the license is issued. Applications received after December 1 do not take effect until after January 1.
Not for an initial license. The LUMVC Initial Dealer Packet says you cannot apply for initial licenses online. You submit the paper packet with payment by cash, check, money order or cashier’s check. Renewals have their own process on the commission’s site.
No. The LUMVC licenses used vehicle dealers. New car franchise dealers are licensed by the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission, a separate agency. The LUMVC FAQ lists the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission’s number as (504) 838-5207.
Sources
- Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission: home page
- LUMVC: Initial Dealer Packet, Rev. 9/25 (PDF)
- LUMVC: Fee Schedule (PDF)
- LUMVC: Licensing FAQs
- LUMVC: Forms and Requirements
- LUMVC: Educational Seminar
- LUMVC: Dealer Plates
- LUMVC: Laws, Rules and Regulations
- LUMVC: License Lookup
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
General information, not legal or tax advice. Remarket Space does not issue or broker Louisiana dealer licenses and is not affiliated with the LUMVC. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the commission before you apply.
