Administering the Laws and Regulations to the Motor Vehicle Dealers of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Our decision to change the Search Active Dealers was to provide increased security on our website and a more user friendly way for dealers and consumers to search through dealerships in the Commonwealth.

 Follow the instruction guide here to learn how to use the new Search Active Dealers tool.  

There are instances when you may encounter a pdf file from our website or other websites that may not open. You may encounter this error message below, due to how fillable forms are created and published in pdf.

If this happens, it is best to download the pdf using the download link in the top right corner of your browser window.

Once you have downloaded the pdf, you will then right click and open in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, which is common on most devices.

If the pdf is not rendered you may have to click the button that is visible at the top of the pdf “Enable All Features”. This will turn on the editable fields that were not permitted. 

If this does not correct the error message, then you may have to contact the website owner to correct the issue.

To protect sensitive information, please ensure emails and attachments sent to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB) are encrypted.

General encryption best practices

• Use an email method that supports end‑to‑end content encryption (e.g., S/MIME) for messages containing personal, financial, or other confidential data.
• Ensure transport encryption (TLS) is enabled from your mail system to recipients; prefer modern protocol versions and valid certificates.
• Verify recipients before sending; do not place sensitive details in the email subject line.
• Include an up‑to‑date digital certificate or key as required by your organization (for S/MIME), and keep private keys secured.
• Protect sensitive attachments (e.g., password‑protect or encrypt files) and share passwords via a separate channel.
• Log and retain proof of delivery when policy requires (e.g., signed receipts), and remove sensitive data from drafts and trash.

Compliance Note

Depending on your operations, applicable regulations may require reasonable safeguards for customer or health information.

For example, auto dealers that extend credit or arrange financing are subject to the FTC’s Safeguards Rule under the Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act (GLBA); encryption is among the technical safeguards recognized in current guidance. Organizations handling protected health information must comply with the HIPAA Security Rule’s standards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic PHI.

Please consult your legal or compliance advisor to determine obligations specific to your dealership.

Thank you for helping safeguard confidential information when communicating with MVDB.