Motor vehicle dealer licences

Introduction

You must have a valid motor vehicle dealer licence to run a dealership in the Northern Territory.

You can get an annual licence as an individual, partnership or corporation. Any managers working for your car yard must also apply for approval.

Licences are not transferable. If you sell your business the new owner must apply for their own licence.

Who needs a licence

You need a motor vehicle dealer licence if you buy, sell, offer for sale or exchange motor vehicles as a business.

You do not need a licence if you are a motor wrecker, finance provider, or exempt trader under the law.

You should read the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990.

Penalties

You may be fined up to 2500 penalty units or $360,000 for operating without a licence or an approved manager.

Your vehicles and sales proceeds may also be forfeited or confiscated.

For help

Contact a Territory Business Centre for help with your application.


Apply as an individual or partnership

To work as a motor vehicle dealer in the Northern Territory you must hold a valid licence.

To be eligible to apply you must be over 18 years old.

You will need to :

  • do a criminal history name check
  • give detailed personal and financial information about yourself
  • do a probity check.

If you want a manager to run your motor dealership, they must apply for approval as a manager before starting work.

You must submit your renewal application at least 28 days prior to the licence expiry.

Before you apply

With your application, you must provide:

  • a current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) business name extract, showing the proprietor of the business name
  • you need financial position and performance statements, certified by an accountant for previous financial year, and financial year in which the application is being made - for example:
    • banker’s guarantee, bank statement, a statement of financial position for each individual/director or a statement certified by an accountant of the financial performance and financial position of the corporation.
  • proof of ownership of the nominated business address, or a copy of lease of premises and a letter of consent/approval from owner to run a motor vehicle dealership
  • proof that premise is appropriately zoned for a motor vehicle dealer business - contact the Development Consent Authority for help
  • a current business plan for a motor vehicle dealer licence as an individual or partnership.

Additionally for each person associated with the application you must provide:

  • criminal history results
  • two written referee statements, stating that the individual is a fit and proper person to be a licensed motor vehicle dealer
  • current photo identification.

How to apply

You can apply online using the Licensing NT portal or choose your form below:

Motor vehicle dealer licence for individual or partnership form PDF (177.5 KB)
Motor vehicle dealer licence for individual or partnership  form DOCX (74.0 KB)

Business plan for a motor vehicle dealer licence as an individual or partnership PDF (189.8 KB)
Business plan for a motor vehicle dealer licence as an individual or partnership DOCX (75.6 KB)

Lodgement

Submit your forms to a Territory Business Centre along with the relevant application fee.

Applications must be lodged with all supporting documents. An incomplete application will cause delays with the processing and issuing of the licence.

Fees can be paid by credit card, cash, EFTPOS or cheque payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies.

For further information contact the Territory Business Centre on 1800 193 111 or email TerritoryBusinessCentre@nt.gov.au.


Apply as a corporation

To work as a motor vehicle dealer in the Northern Territory, you must hold a valid licence.

To be eligible to apply you must be at least 18 years old.

You will need to :

  • do a criminal history check
  • give detailed personal and financial information about yourself
  • do a probity check.

If you want a manager to run your motor dealership, they must apply for approval as a manager before starting work.

You must submit your renewal application at least 28 days prior to the licence expiry.

Before you apply

With your application, you must provide:

  • a current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) business name extract, showing the proprietor of the business name
  • a current ASIC business name extract listing all office bearers – e.g. directors (corporations only):
    • identify all officers if you’re a corporation or partnership - director, secretary, partners, executive officer and management or person who have control or influence over affairs
  • you need financial position and performance statements for the corporation, certified by an accountant for previous financial year, and financial year in which the application is being made - for example:
    • banker’s guarantee, bank statement, a statement of financial position for each individual/director or a statement certified by an accountant of the financial performance and financial position of the corporation
  • proof of ownership of the nominated business address, or a copy of lease of premises and a letter of consent/approval from owner to run a motor vehicle dealership
  • proof that premise is appropriately zoned for a motor vehicle dealer business - contact the Development Consent Authority for help
  • a current business plan for a motor vehicle dealer licence as a corporation.

Additionally for each person associated with the application you must provide:

  • criminal history results
  • two written referee statements, stating that the individual is a fit and proper person to be a licensed motor vehicle dealer
  • current photo identification.

How to apply

You can apply online using the Licensing NT portal or choose your form below:

Motor vehicle dealer licence for a company form PDF (190.0 KB)
Motor vehicle dealer licence for a company form  DOCX (76.4 KB)

Business plan for a motor vehicle dealer licence as a company PDF (186.2 KB)
Business plan for a motor vehicle dealer licence as a company DOCX (75.8 KB)

Lodgement

Submit your forms to a Territory Business Centre along with the relevant application fee.

Applications must be lodged with all supporting documents. An incomplete application will cause delays with the processing and issuing of the licence.

Fees can be paid by credit card, cash, EFTPOS or cheque payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies.

For further information contact the Territory Business Centre on 1800 193 111 or email TerritoryBusinessCentre@nt.gov.au.


Keep your licence current

To keep your motor vehicle dealer licence current, you must pay an annual fee and submit an annual statement by 31 October each year.

For individuals

To submit your annual statement and pay the fee, go to Licensing NT Online or follow the steps below.

Step 1. Fill in the annual return by a licensed motor vehicle dealer as an individual.

Step 2. Pay the fee.
Step 3. Submit your form to the Territory Business Centre in person or by mail.

For corporations and firms

To submit your annual statement and pay the fee, go to Licensing NT Online or follow the steps below.

Step 1. Fill in the annual return by a licensed motor vehicle dealer as a corporation or firm.

Step 2. Pay the fee.
Step 3. Submit your form to the Territory Business Centre in person or by mail.


Change a motor vehicle dealer licence

If you hold a current motor vehicle dealer licence in the Northern Territory (NT), you must notify Occupational Licensing if any of the following changes:

  • your address details
  • principal place of business
  • other places of business
  • contact details
  • director/partner/officer.

Before you apply

Read below to find out what you need to provide with your application.

Change of place of business, address or contact details

  • either: 
    • a current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) company extract (in the case of a company)
    • business name extract, showing the proprietor of the business name (in case of a partnership or individual) and
  • proof of ownership of the nominated business address, or a copy of the lease of premises and a letter of consent/approval from the owner to run a motor vehicle dealership
  • proof that the premise is appropriately zoned for a motor vehicle dealer business,  contact the Development Consent Authority for help.

Change director or partner of officer

  • current criminal history results 
  • two written referee statements stating you are a fit and proper person
  • current photo ID as per application requirements
  • a current Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
    • business name extract  in case of a partnership or
    • company extract  in case of a company.

How to apply

You can apply online using the Licensing NT portal or choose your form below:

Lodgement

Submit your forms to a Territory Business Centre along with the relevant application fee.

Applications must be lodged with all supporting documents. An incomplete application will cause delays in processing and issuing the licence.

Fees can be paid by credit card, cash, EFTPOS or cheque payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies.

For further information contact the Territory Business Centre on 1800 193 111 or email TerritoryBusinessCentre@nt.gov.au.


Apply for approval as a manager

If you are a motor vehicle dealer, it is your responsibility to appoint a manager.

You must get approval for each manager you recruit, and for each car yard you operate.

Proposed manager

To be eligible to apply, the manager of your car yard must be:

  • at least 18 years old
  • likely to be a fair and honest business manager
  • free of criminal records or charges for fraud, dishonesty or physical violence within the last decade.

The must also not be bankrupt or have salary assigned to creditors.

Before you apply

You must prepare and submit the following documents for the person in the application:

  • criminal history results:
  • two written referee statements, stating that the individual is a fit and proper person to manage a licensed motor vehicle dealer
  • current photo identification.

How to apply

You can apply online using the Licensing NT portal or choose use form below:

Approval to manage a licensed motor vehicle dealer form PDF (167.1 KB)
Approval to manage a licensed motor vehicle dealer form DOCX (72.0 KB)

Lodgement

Submit your forms to a Territory Business Centre along with the relevant application fee.

Applications must be lodged with all supporting documents. An incomplete application will cause delays with the processing and issuing of the licence.

Fees can be paid by credit card, cash, EFTPOS or cheque payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies.

For further information contact the Territory Business Centre on 1800 193 111 or email TerritoryBusinessCentre@nt.gov.au.


Fees

Application fees are not refundable.

You can pay by credit card or EFTPOS at a Territory Business Centre, or post cheques payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies.

Licence fees are exempt from GST.

You must pay an additional granting fee for each additional car yard that you run.

Description​Fee ​
Application fee for a licence by a person​$540
Application fee for a licence by a corporation​$540
Granting fee for a licence - including one car yard​$310
Granting fee for each additional car yard​$155
Annual fee for a dealer who is a person - including one car yard​$310
Annual fee for a dealer who is a corporation - including one car yard​$310
Annual fee for each additional car yard$155
Variation of a licence​$155
Replacement of licence​$74
Extracts from Commissioner’s register - per extract​/ examination$13
Extracts from Commissioner’s register - yearly subscription​$108
Dealers dealing register - per register​$87
Application for approval of manager​$74
Certification of manager​$27
Variation of Commissioner’s approval of manager​$13
Variation to certification​$27
Penalty for default​$621
​Police history name check​$81

Licensed motor vehicle dealer forms

Vehicles sold by motor vehicle dealers that are not registered in the Northern Territory (NT) must meet an approved standard. This is a condition of the sale.

Read more about registration in the Motor Vehicles Act 1949.

Further information

If you need help completing these forms call Occupational Licensing on 1800 193 111.