Dealer Forms in California

We've provided the basic forms you'll need to start and run your dealership. View the forms with Adobe Reader software.

Initial Applications

There are different applications for selling new cars, or exclusively used cars. Salespeople must also apply for their own licenses:

New Dealer Application Checklist (Form OL 248A)
New Dealer Application Forms packet (Form OL 248N)
Used Dealer Application Checklist Form OL 248B)
Used Dealer Application Forms packet (Form OL 248U)
Application for Salespersons (Form OL 16S)

Renewals

A number of forms are required to renew your dealership license. They include:

Renewal Application (Form OL 45) (to renew a dealer license).
Application for Salespersons License (Form OL 16S) (to renew a salesperson license).

Additional Dealership Forms

Here are links to other frequently used forms.

Basic Forms

Basic forms that an automobile dealer will use frequently include the salesperson licensing (OL 16S) forms and other dealer forms, including:

Corporate Officer and/or Director Change (Form OL 15)
Application for Temporary Branch Location (Form OL 73)
Report or Replace Lost, Stolen, or Surrendered Occupational License Special Plates (Form OL 247)

Changing the Dealership

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has prepared a page with links to all of the information and forms you will need in order to make changes in your dealership such as a new franchise, additional plates, and other dealership changes. For example:

Certificate of Proposed Franchise (Form OL 124)
Application for Occupational License Special Plates, Stickers, Registration Cards, and Duplicate License (Form OL 22)

Vehicle Salespeople

Check out these helpful links to the forms required by the California DMV of vehicle salespeople. Salespeople are required to submit to a background investigation, file an application for a salesperson's license (Form OL 16S), and renew their license. Also, when a salesperson changes dealerships, he or she must notify the DMV by requesting a corrected license. Some forms:

Application for Salespersons License (OL 16S)
Application for a Duplicate or Corrected Vehicle Salesperson License (Form OL 18)

Where to Submit Forms

In most cases, you'll submit business-related forms to a DMV inspector office and not to the DMV. Inspectors are in charge of dealer licensing. Double-check the instructions on any form you fill out to make sure you're sending it to the right place.

Motor Vehicle Forms

When someone buys a car―new or used―from a dealership in California, the dealer typically takes care of all the title and registration paperwork. Here are the forms you might need:

Application for Title or Registration (Form REG 343)
Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title (Form REG 227)
Bill of Sale (Form REG 135)
Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release (Form REG 166)
Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (Form REG 138)
Vehicle Emission System Statement (Smog) (Form REG 139)

The DMV also has more specialized forms that dealers use when buying or selling a vehicle. Registration and title forms are submitted to the regular DMV offices.

Forms

REG 227: Application For Duplicate or Paperless Title; Complete this form to request a duplicate CA title OR paperless title, which you can use while transferring ownership of a vehicle.

REG 343: Application for Title or Registration; Use this form to apply for a title and register your vehicle when you buy a vehicle or move to the state.

REG 138: Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability; Notifies the CA DMV that you have transferred or sold your vehicle so you are not held liable for what occurs with or in the vehicle while the buyer is registering the car in their name.

REG 135: Bill of Sale; Bill of sale serves as receipt and proof of purchase for private vehicle transactions in California.

REG 139: Vehicle Emission System Statement (SMOG); Give this completed form to the buyer if your car passed a smog inspection in CA before you decided to sell it.