Alert
New Year, New Address: the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will change its website and email addresses on Jan. 5, 2026, to dmv.sc.gov. Learn more at the link below.
New SCDMV websiteNon-Franchise Dealers Pre-Licensing Course
If you're applying for a retail dealer license and are not a franchise dealer, you must attend an eight-hour pre-licensing course before you're issued a dealer license. The original certificate of course completion must be submitted with your application.
This requirement does not apply to the following dealers:
- Franchise
- Wholesale
- Recreational vehicle
- Motorcycle
- Wholesale auction
- Non-franchised dealers owned and operated by franchised dealers
- Non-franchised dealers whose primary business is salvage
- Non-franchised dealers whose primary business objective and majority of business activity is the rental of motor vehicles
There are three providers that teach this course:
Carolina Independent Automobile Dealer Association (CIADA)
Phone: 704-455-2117
Better Dealer Training
Phone: 704-473-5258
Carolina Dealer Training
Phone: 704-918-4138