South Carolina DMV Form DLA-1, Application for a Dealer or Wholesaler License, on an office desk
November 5, 2026 · Licensing

Getting Your SC Dealer License? What the 8-Hour Pre-License Class Covers (and What to Bring)

Thinking about opening a used-car lot in South Carolina? Congrats! Before the SCDMV will issue that first nonfranchise automobile dealer license, the law wants proof you finished an approved eight-hour pre-licensing course.

That's pre-license education, not continuing education. Big difference! Here's who needs the class, what you'll cover in a day, and what belongs in the application packet that goes with your certificate.

Who Needs the 8-Hour Pre-License Class?

South Carolina Code § 56-15-410 is clear: an applicant for an initial nonfranchise automobile dealer license must successfully complete at least eight hours of pre-licensing education before a license can be issued. At least one shareholder listed on the application has to meet that requirement.

The SCDMV Non-Franchise Dealers page also says the original certificate of course completion must go in with your application.

Who is generally NOT required to take it? Per SCDMV (and related code exemptions), the pre-licensing course does not apply to franchise, wholesale, recreational vehicle, motorcycle, or wholesale auction dealers; nonfranchised dealers owned and operated by a franchised dealer; nonfranchised dealers whose primary business is salvage; nonfranchised dealers whose primary business is vehicle rental; or an existing nonfranchise dealer who is only moving to a new location (per SCDMV Form DLA-1A).

Not sure which box you fall into? Call the SCDMV Business License Unit at 803-896-2611 before you enroll.

And remember: if you sell or attempt to sell more than five motor vehicles in a calendar year, South Carolina treats you as a dealer (S.C. Code § 56-15-10). Don't try to "ease into it" without a license!

What Does the 8-Hour Class Actually Cover?

Kat Messenger's Carolina Dealer Training is an SCDMV-listed provider for South Carolina dealer pre-licensing. Our SC Pre-License class is in person only, one full day, and it's built for real dealership life—not just a certificate.

Topics include:

  • How to get your dealer's license
  • What you have to do before you can sell a car
  • How you can use dealer license plates
  • Undisclosed prior damage (a dealer's worst nightmare!)
  • What the FTC and the IRS have to do with your business
  • Financing basics every new dealer needs to hear

You'll leave with a certificate of completion at day's end, a packet of course slides, an SC sample deal with current state forms, industry vendor contacts, and phone-based instructor access for Q and A after class. Lunch is on us!

Next Columbia date: Monday, November 24, 2026, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at the Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia Killian Road (1310 Roberts Branch Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29203). Currently listed at $125 SPECIAL (regularly $325). Spouse can sit in with no certificate for free, and you can bring an interpreter free—email us first!

Ready to lock in your seat? Enroll in the SC Pre-License class in Columbia!

What Goes in Your SCDMV Application Packet?

The class is Step One—not the whole race. For a first-time retail / motor vehicle dealer license, SCDMV currently asks for:

  1. SCDMV Form DLA-1 (Application for a Dealer or Wholesaler License)
  2. A diagram of the building, office, and display lot with dimensions
  3. SCDMV Form DLA-1B surety bond with Power of Attorney for $50,000 (original bond and POA; copies not accepted)
  4. Your 8-hour Pre-Licensing Course Certificate (SCDMV's retail checklist says mail the original)
  5. Garage / liability insurance certificate if you're requesting dealer demonstration plates
  6. A copy of your SCDOR retail license
  7. City/county compliance paperwork (or a letter saying none is required)
  8. Articles of Authorization if you're an LLC or corporation
  9. SCDMV Form AD-808A for each owner of 10% or more
  10. A National Criminal Report for each owner of 10% or more (DLA-1A: report cannot be more than 90 days old)

Mail the packet to the SCDMV Business License Unit in Blythewood (PO Box 1498 for standard mail; 10311 Wilson Boulevard, Building C for overnight).

Want every step in order? Use our South Carolina Dealer License Guide!

Don't Forget the Location and the Bond

Before you sign a lease, know what the law expects (S.C. Code § 56-15-330 and SCDMV Dealer Requirements):

  • A permanent, enclosed building with at least 96 square feet of floor space
  • Occupied by you, easily accessible to the public, and not a residence or temporary stand
  • A permanent sign with lettering at least six inches tall, readable from the nearest street
  • A reasonable display lot (SCDMV Form DLA-1A notes that a minimum of 2,000 square feet meets the display-area requirement)

Shared buildings have extra restrictions. SCDMV strongly recommends a courtesy pre-inspection before you commit—call 803-896-2611.

You also need that $50,000 surety bond on Form DLA-1B for a retail motor vehicle dealer (S.C. Code § 56-15-320). Make sure the business name on the bond matches your Secretary of State filing exactly!

Dealer licenses run for thirty-six months from the month of issue, and the statute sets the license fee at $150 (S.C. Code § 56-15-310). Always confirm current filing instructions on dmv.sc.gov before you mail anything.

Get Licensed the Right Way

Carolina Dealer Training has been approved in NC and SC since 2002. We don't disappear after class!

Questions? Email Jessica at jessica@carolinadealertraining.com or call 704-918-4138. We're here to help, even after class!

This article is for general information and isn't legal advice. Requirements, forms, and fees can change, so always confirm with the SCDMV Business License Unit and the current South Carolina Code of Laws before you enroll or file.

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