If you’re a licensed dealer in California with vehicles up for sale, special plates can be acquired to help do business. Eligible individuals include the sole owner, general partner or manager of a limited liability company who are actively engaged in running the dealership’s operations. Alternatively, the Dealer may designate their General Manager, Business Manager or Sales Manager as eligible if other criteria aren’t met. It also can be used by drivers if a GM, business manager or sales manager is in the vehicle and needs to use the vehicle for business purposes.
In California, a vehicle with dealer plates may be operated by an individual who is affiliated with the dealership and is engaged in activities related to its business. This can include:
Employees of the dealership who are authorized to operate the vehicle for business purposes.
Customers of the dealership who are test driving a vehicle prior to purchase.
Transporters or other individuals who are moving the vehicle between locations for the dealership.
It’s important to note that there may be certain restrictions on when and where a dealer-plated vehicle can be driven. For example, some cities or counties may have regulations in place regarding use of dealer plates on public roads. Additionally, if a customer is test driving a vehicle, they may need to provide proof of insurance before operating the car on public roads.
