Get a second-hand dealing or pawnbroking licence

You must have a valid licence to be a second-hand dealer or pawnbroker in Queensland.

You can apply for either licence as:

  • an individual
  • a partnership
  • any other type of corporate entity.

You can also apply for a combined licence as a second-hand dealer and pawnbroker.

Application for a second-hand dealer or pawnbroker licence

Authorised activities

Second-hand dealer licence

A second-hand dealer licence lets you trade in second-hand goods by:

  • acquiring them
  • selling them
  • disposing of them
  • giving exchanges on them.

This might or might not be on commission.

Pawnbroker licence

A pawnbroker licence allows you to:

  • take security of an item (known as a pawn or pledge) from a person
  • lend them a sum of money for profit in return.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a second-hand dealer or pawnbroker licence, you must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • have at least 1 place of business in Queensland.

You must not:

  • be insolvent or under administration
  • be an externally administered body corporate
  • have been convicted of a disqualifying offence in the last 5 years.

Disqualifying offences

A disqualifying offence is any offence involving fraud or dishonesty punishable by 3 or more months in prison, or any offence against a provision of the Criminal Code mentioned in Schedule 1 of the Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003. Some of these offences include (but are not limited to):

  • offences that relate to administering justice or public authority
  • stealing and stealing with violence
  • fraud and fraudulent practices
  • extortion
  • receiving stolen property
  • forgery and like offences
  • personation
  • conspiracy
  • rape, assault, sexual assault or indecent assault
  • a serious organised crime circumstance of aggravation.

Your associates

If you have associates, they must satisfy the above criteria too. An associate is a person who:

  • represents the licensee in the business
  • is regularly in charge of the business.

Lodgement

You may only submit your form:

  • in person
  • by mail.

Find our contact details

Identification

When you lodge the form, you will need to attach formal identification.

It must be 1 of the following 4 documents:

  • Birth certificate or extract
  • Citizenship certificate
  • Passport
  • Driver's licence

These will need to be:

  • original copies if you submit in person
  • certified copies if you submit by mail.

You can get a certified copy from:

  • a justice of the peace (JP)
  • a commissioner of declarations (C.dec)
  • a notary public.

Other details

You must also identify:

  • all the places of business you will operate (as a second-hand dealer or pawnbroker)
  • the name and address of each of your associates.

Fees

You will need to pay the required fees when you lodge your application.

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.

Processing time

The processing time is 4–6 weeks. This can take longer if you have not supplied us with the all the information we need or you have not paid the correct fees.

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, but only if we have not completed the check.

Training requirements

There are no training requirements for these licences.