Apply for a motor dealer broker licence
You must have a current licence to work as a motor dealer (broker). To get a licence, you will need to submit an application for an individual's licence.
Authorised activities
The motor dealer (broker) licence allows you to represent a client who is buying or selling a used vehicle.
You may not:
- buy or sell used motor vehicles unless you are also a licensed motor dealer
- auction vehicles or other goods unless you hold an chattel auctioneer licence.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a motor dealer licence, you must be 18 or older.
Suitability
You are not suitable for a licence if you:
- are an insolvent under administration
- are currently disqualified from holding a licence or registration certificate
- have been convicted of a serious offence within the past 5 years
- are subject to a court-issued control order because of involvement in serious criminal activity.
We also consider if you:
- have a criminal history
- have been an executive officer of a corporation, which was previously licensed, that has gone insolvent
- were the subject of a successful claim fund action
- have had your licence or registration certification cancelled or suspended
- have been previously disqualified from holding a licence or registration certificate
- are disqualified from being a company director
- have previously been an insolvent under administration
- are incapable of satisfactorily doing the job of a licensee
- are unsuitable because of your character or the character of your business associates
- are allowed to work in Australia.
Serious offences
A serious offence is anything punishable by 3 or more years in prison. These include:
- violent offences (including threats to use violence)
- fraud and dishonesty
- drug trafficking
- extortion
- arson
- unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse
- offences of a sexual nature
- new offences under Queensland’s Criminal Code of
- recruiting a person to become participant in criminal organisation
- consorting
- an offence committed with a serious organised crime circumstance of aggravation applicable to a prescribed list of offences within the meaning of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992.
Receivership or liquidation
If you have ever been an executive officer of a corporation, which previously held a licence, that has gone into receivership or liquidation, you must also tell us:
- what circumstances caused it to happen
- whether you took all reasonable to avoid these circumstances
- what assets you had available to distribute
- how much money (if any) you paid in dividends
- whether you broke any laws relating to these circumstances
- whether you are disqualified from being a company director or other officer.
You must also include a report from the receiver or liquidator that gives us:
- a detailed list of your creditors
- the amount of money you still owe to each creditor.
Places of business
You may have multiple places of business, but you must register all of your business addresses when you apply for your licence. The person in charge at each place of business must have a current individual licence.
An individual cannot be in charge of more than 1 place at any given time, unless the places of business are on adjacent blocks of land (not separated by a public road).
Find out more about places of business.
Non-citizens
If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you need to:
- give us a certified copy of your passport
- have a visa that allows you to work in Australia.
Lodgement
When you lodge the form, you will need to attach formal identification. These documents must be original or certified copies.
Your identification must be a certified copy of any of the following 3 documents:
- Birth certificate or extract
- Citizenship certificate
- Passport
You will need to pay the required fees when you lodge your application.
You will also need to attach your proof of qualifications.
Criminal history check
To confirm your suitability, we will submit your application for a criminal history check. This will be thorough and may be time consuming.
If you were born in New Zealand or have a New Zealand passport, you need to get a copy of your criminal history or a letter indicating you have no criminal history from New Zealand. For more information, visit the New Zealand Ministry of Justice website.
You don’t have to pay any fees to get a New Zealand criminal history check. We can only accept original documents dated within one month of the date you send them to us. Please note it takes 20 working days to process a request for a New Zealand criminal history check.
Processing time
The processing time is 4–6 weeks. This can take longer if your application is not complete. This might be because of:
- missing information
- unpaid fees.
We will contact you if you submitted an incomplete application. You will need to complete it before we can proceed. Otherwise, we may withdraw your application.
Refunds
Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a partial refund if:
- you withdraw your application
- we refuse your application.
You may also get a refund on the fees for your criminal history check if it hasn't been started yet.
Training
You do not need any training to get this licence.