The major Georgia licensing pieces
The Georgia Secretary of State’s current used motor vehicle dealer checklist includes a completed application and fee, zoning certification, surety bond, certificate of insurance, business photographs, proof of seminar completion, background check, preliminary inspection and additional identity/citizenship documentation as applicable.
Your dealer location is a licensing requirement
Georgia requires an established place of business. Office-suite operations are permitted when the facility meets Board criteria involving the business location, signage, telephone, records, business separation and access.
2026 square-footage update
Effective January 1, 2026, Georgia law generally requires each established place of business to be at least 250 square feet unless at least 500 motor vehicle sales are conducted annually at that location. Dealer-office facilities can be structured in different ways. Some use private suite space together with other space identified in the lease or facility configuration. Whether any shared or common area counts depends on the actual arrangement and the applicable authority, so the premises, lease, zoning and facility setup should be verified before you rely on the location for a dealer application.
Retail, wholesale and office-suite applicants
Operating as a wholesale or office-suite dealer does not eliminate the established-place-of-business, bond, insurance and other applicable licensing requirements.
Fingerprints come after the application is on file
The Secretary of State guide says an applicant must have an application with the Board before fingerprinting. After Board staff verifies the application is on file, the applicant receives instructions for the GAPS appointment.
A simpler way to approach the process
Start with the readiness assessment. It identifies whether you need a full launch, a completion-focused service, dealer-office placement or an existing-dealer route such as a location change or renewal/reinstatement review.
Official Georgia resources
Georgia Secretary of State Used Motor Vehicle Dealer guide
Georgia HB 551 — 2026 established-place-of-business update
Georgia Board rules