Section 11704.5.
Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 11704.5.
in effect(a)
Except as provided in subdivision (e), every person who applies for a dealer’s license pursuant to Section 11701 for the purpose of transacting sales of used vehicles on a retail or wholesale basis only shall be required to take and successfully complete a written examination prepared and administered by the department before a license may be issued. The examination shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following laws and subjects:
(1)
Division 12
(commencing with Section 24000), relating to equipment of vehicles.
(2)
Advertising.
(3)
Odometers.
(4)
Vehicle licensing and registration.
(5)
Branch locations.
(6)
Offsite sales.
(7)
Unlawful dealer activities.
(8)
Handling, completion, and disposition of departmental forms.
(b)
Prior to the first taking of an examination under subdivision (a), every applicant shall successfully complete a preliminary educational program of not less than four hours. The program shall address, but not be limited
to, all of the following topics:
(1)
Chapter 2B (commencing with Section 2981) of Title 14 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, relating to motor vehicle sales finance.
(2)
Motor vehicle financing.
(3)
Truth in lending.
(4)
Sales and use taxes.
(5)
Division 12 (commencing with Section 24000), relating to equipment of vehicles.
(6)
Advertising.
(7)
Odometers.
(8)
Vehicle licensing and registration.
(9)
Branch locations.
(10)
Offsite sales.
(11)
Unlawful dealer activities.
(12)
Air pollution control requirements.
(13)
Regulations of the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
(14)
Handling, completion, and disposition of departmental forms.
(c)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3), every dealer who is required to complete a written examination and an educational program pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) and who is thereafter issued a dealer’s license shall successfully complete, every two years after issuance of that license, an educational program of not less than four hours that offers instruction in the subjects listed
under subdivision (a) and the topics listed under subdivision (b), in order to maintain or renew that license.
(2)
A dealer is not required to complete the educational program set forth in paragraph (1) if the educational program is completed by a managerial employee employed by the dealer.
(3)
Paragraph (1) does not apply to dealers who sell vehicles on a wholesale basis only and who, in a one-year period, deal with less than 50 vehicles that are subject to registration.
(d)
Instruction described in subdivisions (b) and (c) may be provided by generally accredited educational institutions, private vocational schools, and educational programs and seminars offered by professional societies, organizations, trade associations, and other educational and technical programs that meet the requirements of this section or by
the department.
(e)
This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1)
An applicant for a new vehicle dealer’s license or any employee of that dealer.
(2)
A person who holds a valid license as an automobile dismantler, an employee of that dismantler, or an applicant for an automobile dismantler’s license.
(3)
An applicant for a motorcycle only dealer’s license or any employee of that dealer.
(4)
An applicant for a trailer only dealer’s license or any employee of that dealer.
(5)
An applicant for an all-terrain only dealer’s license or any employee of that dealer.
References
referencesCal. Civil Code - CIV § 2981.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 11701.
referencesCal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 24000.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026