Starting Your New Dealership

What You Need To Know About Starting Your New Dealership

Motor Vehicle Inventory Tax Statement (VIT) and Inventory Declaration (Declaration):

Within 30 days of the active date of your license, (not when you open for business or start selling vehicles), notify both the county tax office and appraisal district where the dealership is located that you are a new dealer and request to setup an account.

• VIT: A VIT reports information on vehicles sold in the previous month. File these at both the county tax office and appraisal district. Regardless if no sales are made, you must still file the form reporting zero sales. If filed late, penalties may be assessed. (Most often due on the 10th day of each month, check with your county for details.)
• Declaration: A Declaration reports the total number of sales made during previous year. File these at both the county tax office and appraisal district. Regardless if no sales are made, you must still file the form reporting zero sales. If filed late, penalties may be assessed. (Due between January 1 - February 1 of each year.

Financing Sales:

If you intend to provide in-house or third party motor vehicle financing sales, contact the Office of Consumer Credit Commission at 512-936-7600, toll free at (800) 538-1579 or at www.occc.state.tx.us to obtain the required sales finance license.

Vehicle Sales to Retail Purchasers:

Once a vehicle is sold, you have 20 business days for cash sales and 3rd party financed sales (or 45 calendar days for in-house financed sales) to file the appropriate paperwork with the county tax office. This process includes transferring title of the vehicle to the retail purchaser, paying vehicle registration fees [registering the vehicle on behalf of the customer], and paying sales taxes. If you need help with this process, contact the TxDMV Customer Service at (888) 368-4689, or your local county tax office.

Minimum Vehicles Sales:

You must remain regularly and actively engaged in business by selling or assigning at least 5 vehicles in a calendar year or the license may be revoked or canceled.

eTAG:

Once licensed, you should receive two separate emails providing you with a user name and password to access the eTAG System.

This mandatory program allows you to issue temporary registration tags for every motor vehicle, motorcycle, motor scooter, travel trailer and trailer/semitrailer you sell.

• If you have problems with the eTAG System, call (512) 465-4010.
• If you have any questions regarding the creation of an eTAG account or rules for their use, please call (888) 368-4689 or email DealerLicense@txdmv.gov

Changing License Information:

You are required to ensure the information on your license record is current. Common changes are:

• Contact information changes, such as mailing address, phone number, or email
• Moving: adding or closing locations
• Business changes, such as ownership, management, business name or DBA changes

Log on and choose either “Amend a License” or “Change General License Info” to update your information directly within the eLICENSING system.

Cancel License:

If you close your business, you must log on to eLICENSING and choose "Close a License." Do not assume the license will close after it expires. All plates, temporary tags, stickers, and plate receipts must be returned to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of license closure.

Feedback

We are always trying to improve and appreciate your feedback. If you have a suggestion, a complaint or even a compliment, email us at MVDLicensing@TxDMV.gov.

Please make sure to make use of the TxDMV.gov website for dealer updates, rule changes, publications: such as the dealer manual, licensing forms, and schedule of dealer training seminars, and links to the Texas Occupations Code, Texas Transportation Code, and Chapter 215 – Motor Vehicle Distribution Rules.