Any person who, primarily or incidentally, wholly or part time, engages in, conducts, or carries on the public business of buying, selling, offering for sale, consigning to be sold, trading or otherwise dealing with the public in or operating as a public dealer in used or secondhand motor vehicle parts or accessories for motor vehicles, either or both; but does not rebuild, dismantle, wreck or disassemble motor vehicles or trailers as part of such business. This term shall not include a business that is licensed as a pawnshop pursuant to Chapter 371 of the Texas Finance Code.

Fees: Initial application, Annual renewal • For fee schedules, go to www.houstoncityfees.org

Process:

• Criminal background check - A criminal background check is conducted on new owners,  a sole proprietorship, or an authorized person if the applicant is a corporation or a general partnership.  The background check is conducted at a IdentoGO site. Please refer to the  FastPass Form for instructions.  After completing the background check, call the Auto Dealers Detail at 832-394-4800 between 48 to 72 hours to ensure the criminal history has been obtained.
• Application for Dealer License - Mail or present a fully completed application form.
• Attach copy of Certificate of Occupancy or Life Safety Inspection for your building
• If applicant is a corporation
  • Attach copy of Articles of Incorporation
  • Attach copy of letter of good standing from the Secretary of State
•  Attach copy of Assumed Name Certificate if applicable.
• Attach copy of Survey or Plat of property with engineer's seal.
• Attach copy of Lease Agreement for property if applicable.
• Automotive Board review - The City of Houston Automotive Board reviews the application for each new business including consideration of the findings of a criminal background check.
• Notice of an Automotive Board public hearing on the business application is published.
• Approval or Denial is decided by the Board at the hearing