Guide
How to start a dealership in Canada
A plain-language overview of the steps to open a used-car dealership in Canada, from registering the business to provincial licensing to the software that runs your first day on the lot.
Overview
What this guide covers
Starting a used-car dealership in Canada means getting the business set up, meeting your province's dealer licensing rules, and putting the right tools in place before the first car lands. Dealer licensing is regulated provincially, not federally, so your exact requirements depend on where you operate. This guide is a general starting point rather than legal advice, and you should always confirm the specifics with the regulator in your province.
In this guide
The topics that matter
Register your business
Choosing a structure, registering the name, and handling the basic tax and business setup before you sell a single vehicle.
Know your provincial regulator
Dealer licensing is provincial. In Ontario it is OMVIC; other provinces have their own regulators, such as AMVIC in Alberta, the VSA in British Columbia, and the SAAQ in Quebec.
Dealer licensing and bonding basics
The general shape of what a dealer licence involves, from education to bonding, and why you confirm the current rules with your regulator.
Setting up your lot and inventory
Getting your first vehicles into one system so acquisition, reconditioning, photos, and publishing are tracked from day one.
Read morePricing your first vehicles
Listing at the right number early, grounded by Carco Technologies, so you are competitive without leaving money on the table.
Read moreChoosing your dealership software
How to pick the CRM and DMS that will run the business, so you are not rebuilding your stack a year in.
Read moreKeep exploring
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FAQ
How to start a dealership in Canada questions
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