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
- applications can be lodged with the Territory Business Centre or Safe NT - read the police and probity checks for licensing
- 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
- applications can be lodged with the Territory Business Centre or Safe NT - read the police and probity checks for licensing
- 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.
- annual return by a licensed motor vehicle dealer as an individual PDF (151.3 KB)
- annual return by a licensed motor vehicle dealer as an individual DOCX (72.1 KB)
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.
- annual return by a licensed motor vehicle dealer as a corporation or firm PDF (155.1 KB)
- annual return by a licensed motor vehicle dealer as a corporation or firm DOCX (71.4 KB)
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
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
- applications can be lodged with the Territory Business Centre or Safe NT - read the police and probity checks for licensing
- 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:
- individual licence or change of particulars
- company licence or change of particulars
- new motor vehicle dealer, director, partner of officer
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:
- these can be lodged with the Territory Business Centre or Safe NT - read the police and probity checks for licensing
- 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 | $564 |
Application fee for a licence by a corporation | $564 |
Granting fee for a licence - including one car yard | $324 |
Granting fee for each additional car yard | $162 |
Annual fee for a dealer who is a person - including one car yard | $324 |
Annual fee for a dealer who is a corporation - including one car yard | $324 |
Annual fee for each additional car yard | $162 |
Variation of a licence | $162 |
Replacement of licence | $77 |
Extracts from Commissioner’s register - per extract/ examination | $14 |
Extracts from Commissioner’s register - yearly subscription | $112 |
Dealers dealing register - per register | $91 |
Application for approval of manager | $77 |
Certification of manager | $28 |
Variation of Commissioner’s approval of manager | $14 |
Variation to certification | $28 |
Penalty for default | $648 |
Police history name check | $84 |
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.
When a vehicle is sold by an NT licensed motor vehicle dealer, they must complete the below forms.
Contract excluding condition that motor vehicle of standard fit for registration PDF (131.7 KB)
Contract excluding condition that motor vehicle of standard fit for registration DOCX (68.2 KB)
Dealers authorisation to sell PDF (104.5 KB)
Dealers authorisation to sell DOCX (67.3 KB)
Information and contract for the sale of second hand vehicle PDF (191.8 KB)
Information and contract for the sale of second hand vehicle DOCX (75.9 KB)
Notice to purchaser sale excluding statutory warranties PDF (131.8 KB)
Notice to purchaser sale excluding statutory warranties DOCX (68.2 KB)
Further information
If you need help completing these forms call Occupational Licensing on 1800 193 111.