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

How to Become a Licensed Salesperson in Virginia

Access the requirements and application steps for becoming a licensed motor vehicle salesperson in Virginia, including training standards, documentation needs, and compliance obligations established by the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board.

Becoming a Licensed Salesperson in Virginia?

Becoming a licensed Salesperson in Virginia requires the following:

  • The applicant must be a non-contracted employee of an active Dealership
  • Passing the Salesperson Qualification Examination administered by the DMV
  • Completion of a criminal background check with one of our current screening partners
  • Submission of a fully completed, signed MVDB-61, Salesperson Application. 
  • Payment of all required nonrefundable fees
  • Approval of the application received by the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board

NOTE: Salesperson licenses are tied to the Dealership they are issued to. Applicants will need to work with their respective Dealerships to complete portions of this process where applicable.

Remember: To sell motor vehicles on behalf of a dealership in Virginia, you must complete the following steps and receive approval from the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board before you are recognized as a Salesperson.

Listed below are step-by-step instructions on how to complete the process

Step One: Salesperson Qualification Examination

Your first step will be to complete the MVDB-57 and bring it to any DMV Customer Service Center along with the required examination fee. After completing the exam, you will receive a receipt indicating whether you passed or failed.

  • If you pass, you will be directed to apply for a Salesperson license under the Dealership you work for.
  • If you fail, you may retake the exam as many times as needed, but you must pay the exam fee for each attempt.

The Motor Vehicle Dealer Board has two materials to assist in preparation for the exam:

NOTE: Passing the Qualification Exam only qualifies you to apply for a salesperson license and is not a license itself.

Step Two: Applying for a Salesperson License & Criminal Background Checks

Congratulations on passing the qualification exam!

The next step is to fill out the MVDB-61.

  • Our MVDB-61 is the latest Salesperson Application we offer. Every applicable section on this form will need to be completed by the applicant before submission; failure to fully complete this form will result in a delay in processing your application and possible denial of an incomplete application submitted to our offices.

Before submitting the form, confirm that the dealership you plan to work for has conducted a criminal background check on the applicant using one of our approved vendors.

If you answered YES to any questions in section 3, you must include the following with your application:

  1. A copy of the conviction record(s)
  2. The probation officer’s name (if applicable)
  3. Court dates and jurisdictions

NOTE: Failure to disclose required information or any attempt to conceal said information will result in your application being delayed or denied.

For more information about the MVDB’s criminal history guidelines, click here.

Once you have completed and signed the application, submit the form to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board along with the applicable, nonrefundable Application Fees based on your selection. The current, nonrefundable Salesperson Application Fees are $50 for 1 year of licensure and $100 for 2 years.

Step Three: Application Review and Processing

The Motor Vehicle Dealer Board will review and verify your application. If your application is completed along with the applicable, nonrefundable fees attached, it will be reviewed and processed within 10 days of receipt by the Agency. Your Dealer Operator can track this by visiting our Tracking page for more information. Once approval is granted, the salesperson license will be mailed directly to the Dealership listed in the completed application.

IT IS UNLAWFUL AND A BREACH OF MVDB CODE SECTION § 46.2- 1508 TO OPERATE AS A MOTOR VEHICLE SALESPERSON WITHOUT A LICENSE.

UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED A PHYSICAL LICENSE FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER BOARD, YOU ARE CONSIDERED UNLICENSED.

ANYONE FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE PROVIDED CODE SECTION BELOW WILL BE SUBJECT TO FINES AND/OR FURTHER ACTIONS.

§ 46.2-1508. Licenses required; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business in the Commonwealth as a motor vehicle dealer or salesperson without first obtaining a license as provided in this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business in the Commonwealth as a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, distributor branch, or factory or distributor representative without first obtaining a license from the Department. Every person licensed as a manufactured home dealer under Chapter 4.2 (§ 36-85.16 et seq.) of Title 36 shall obtain a certificate of dealer registration as provided in this chapter. Every person licensed as a watercraft dealer under Chapter 8 (§ 29.1-800 et seq.) of Title 29.1 and who offers for sale watercraft trailers shall obtain a certificate of dealer registration as provided in this chapter but shall not be required to obtain a dealer license unless he also sells other types of trailers. Any nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, after having obtained a nonprofit organization certificate as provided in this chapter, may consign donated motor vehicles to licensed Virginia motor vehicle dealers. Any person licensed in another state as a motor vehicle dealer may sell motor vehicles at wholesale auctions in the Commonwealth after having obtained a certificate of dealer registration as provided in this chapter. The offering or granting of a motor vehicle dealer franchise in the Commonwealth shall constitute engaging in business in the Commonwealth for purposes of this section, and no new motor vehicle may be sold or offered for sale in the Commonwealth unless the franchisor of motor vehicle dealer franchises for that line-make in the Commonwealth, whether such franchisor is a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, distributor branch, or otherwise, is licensed under this chapter. In the event a license issued to a franchisor of motor vehicle dealer franchises is suspended, revoked, or not renewed, nothing in this section shall prevent the sale of any new motor vehicle of such franchisor’s line-make manufactured in or brought into the Commonwealth for sale prior to the suspension, revocation or expiration of the license.

Violation of any provision of this subsection shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor.