Texas Dealer License Training

I want to go in depth into the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Dealer retail and wholesale premises requirements so you will know exactly what the state will require whether you are getting ready to get you Texas dealer license or maybe you are already a Texas dealer by being aware of the premises requirements you will always be able to easily maintain your compliance with your dealer license.

Texas Dealer License Retail Hours

First lets go over the posting of your business hours. Hours for each day of the week must be individually listed on the posted sign.
Hours must be posted at the main entrance of the office.

A retail dealer's office shall be open at least four days per week for at least four consecutive hours per day and may not be open solely by appointment.

The retail dealer's business hours for each day of the week must be posted at the main entrance of the retail dealer's office that is accessible to the public. The owner or a bona fide employee of the retail dealer shall be at the retail dealer's licensed location during the posted business hours for the purposes of buying, selling, exchanging, or leasing vehicles. If the owner or a bona fide employee is not available to conduct business during the retail dealer's posted business hours due to special circumstances or emergencies, a separate sign must be posted indicating the date and time the retail dealer will resume operations.

Regardless of the retail dealer's business hours, the retail dealer's telephone must be answered from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays by a bona fide employee, owner, answering service, voicemail service, or answering machine. A caller must be able to speak to a natural person or leave a message during these hours.

Texas Dealer Wholesale Hours

Business hours for TX wholesale motor vehicle dealers.

A dealer that holds only a wholesale motor vehicle dealer's GDN must post its business hours at the main entrance of the wholesale motor vehicle dealer's office. A wholesale motor vehicle dealer or bona fide employee shall be at the wholesale motor vehicle dealer's licensed location at least two weekdays per week for at least two consecutive hours per day. A wholesale motor vehicle dealer may not be open solely by appointment.

Regardless of the wholesale motor vehicle dealer's business hours, the wholesale motor vehicle dealer's telephone must be answered from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays by a bona fide employee, owner, answering service, voicemail service, or answering machine. A caller must be able to speak to a natural person or leave a message during these hours.

Texas Dealer Retail Sign Requirements

Visible to the public within 100 feet of main entrance of the business office. Business Name / DBA listed on the sign must be a minimum of 6” inch lettering in height. Made of a rigid, durable, weather-resistant material (corrugated plastic, metal, wood, or a combination). Cannot be a banner or “hardened” banner (banner bolted to a base such as plywood or frame mounted to a structure

Exterior Wholesale Sign Requirements

A couple of sign requirements for wholesalers are  a little bit different from retailers Visible to the public within 100 feet of main entrance of the business officBusiness Name / DBA listed on the sign must be a minimum of 6” inch lettering in height. Effective 9/1/2024, also includes the statement “Purchasers must be Licensed Dealers” with a minimum of 3” lettering in height.

Now I would like to talk about an interior wholesale business sign If an outdoor sign is not permitted at the office building location, this must be annotated in the lease agreement within the special provisions or sign paragraph. Visible to the public within 10 feet of the main door to the dealer’s business office. Business name located only in lobby directory is not sufficient. Business Name / DBA listed on the sign must be a minimum of 2” inch lettering in height.

Effective 9/1/2024, also includes the statement “Purchasers must be Licensed Dealers” with a minimum of 1” lettering in height. Made of durable material and has lettering that cannot be changed. Permanently mounted on or beside the main door of the dealer’s business office.

Finally lets talk about shared offices spaces

 No more than 4 retail dealers or 8 wholesale dealers can be licensed in the same building. Cannot have a mix of wholesale/retail dealers licensed in the same building. A pending application cannot be approved if in conflict with the above until the existing dealer’s license has been officially closed or revoked. This includes situations where a site visit and/or the property owner or landlord has confirmed the existing dealer is no longer at the licensed location. A business owned by the same individual at the same location is not required to have a separate office or office equipment. They are required to have a separate phone number & business sign if the business names are different from one another. If the office is shared with another dealer or a business not owned by the same individual, there must be permanent (i.e., drywall, masonry, wood, cement, etc.), floor-to-ceiling walls and a hinged door separating business offices owned by different individuals as well as shared lobby/waiting areas.

I hope you have found this information helpful whether you are getting ready to apply for your dealer license or if you are a currently licensed dealer you must make sure that you are in compliance with Department of Motor Vehicles premises requirements. Once again, my name is Delus Johnson, I am the lead instructor of the Automobile Dealer Training Association and we are approved to provide your Texas Dealer Pre-License course and your Texas dealer renewal course, if you choose to select us as your dealer license training partner you can enroll in you state mandated dealer training course at Texasdealers.com once again that is texasdealers.com then click the big blue enroll now button, thank you very much and I want to wish you the very best of luck with your business.