Regulating Industry

Frequently asked questions

Salesperson License Renewal

Yes. You can save $30.00 by completing your renewal online and choosing to pay for two years.

Your licence needs to be renewed once a year. A renewal notice will be mailed to your home or mailing address one month prior to your licence expiry date. You can renew online, no more than 30 days prior to your renewal date or submit a renewal form by mail or fax. You can choose to renew for two years at a time (only available online).

All licensees are required to update their knowledge of emerging issues at least every year. Licensees needing to meet the CE requirement will be notified by email 6 weeks prior to their licence renewal.

Licensing for Salespeople

The Salesperson Licensing Regulation requires that you surrender your licence when you stop acting as a salesperson.

The VSA complies with the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) which replaced the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) in 2013.

If you are licensed in good standing with the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC), the Vehicle Sales Authority (VSA) will recognize you, once you have submitted a completed application form, paid the required fees and submit a police information check to confirm your good standing. Once your VSA licence is issued, you will have 45 days to complete your professional development requirement by completing the Salesperson Licensing Course, which focuses on BC law.

Saskatchewan currently does not license automotive salespersons so a person from Saskatchewan must comply with the same process as a British Columbian applicant.

You will need to complete a reinstatement form and may have to meet other requirements.

For example,if you are re-entering the industry and took the course before 2018 or it’s been more than 3 years since you worked, then you must retake the course, as well as any applicable Continuing Education (CE) modules.

If the student took the course after 2018, and has not done the code of conduct module, they must do the Code of Conduct module as well.

VSA reserves the right to adjust this time frame as required and with notice to the industry.

Please contact VSA Licensing with any further questions, at 604-575-7256 or licensing@mvsabc.com

Yes. If you are taking leave from work for documented medical reasons you may be eligible to delay the annual renewal of your licence. Medical leave is outlined in the Medical Leave Policy. Contact VSA Licensing at 604-575-7256 or licensing@mvsabc.com

Click here for salesperson licensing fees.
  • A Police Information Check

    A prior criminal record will be reviewed for its relevance to working as a motor vehicle salesperson and does not automatically exclude a person from receiving a Salesperson Licence. Click here for the Police Information Check Policy.

  • The eligibility to work in Canada

    An applicant must be either a Canadian citizen or have legal status to work in Canada. Non-residents of Canada must have a valid work permit for retail vehicle sales.

  • Employment by a licensed motor dealer

    Application can be made prior to employment, but a Salesperson Licence will not be issued until employment at a dealership is verified.

  • To be of legal age

    Applicants must be at least nineteen (19) years of age, the age required by the Infants Act of B.C. to execute a binding contract. Individuals may attend the certification course and submit an application before reaching the age of nineteen. However, a Salesperson Licence will not be issued until all licensing requirements are met and the applicant reaches the age of nineteen.

  • To pay the application and the annual licence fees

Your new employer must send in an Employment Authorization form. Once it is received by the VSA, you will be sent a new licence showing you are at that dealership.

Yes. You can submit a new passport-sized photo once a year. Email it to licensing@mvsabc.com if it is no larger than 200 kb and in jpeg format. Or mail it or drop it off in person to Suite 280 – 8029 199th Street, Langley, V2Y 0E2.

Dealer licensing questions

No. Each location requires a separate motor dealer licence.

Your dealership can have more than one trade name. If you need to add a trade name, change a trade name, or change the legal name of your dealership, fill out Form 3b Notice of Change – Dealer Name. If it is a new entity (for example – change from a sole proprietor or partnership to a corporation), you will need to submit a new application and apply for a new Motor Dealer Licence.

No. The motor dealer licence is not for sale. A complete new application is required when ownership is transferred. Contact the Licensing Department to obtain an application.

Anytime there is a sale that is not at the motor dealers’ registered location and there are salespeople present. An offsite sale permit request form must be submitted at least three weeks before the event. Review the offsite sale policies on page 2 of the form prior to submitting a request.

Ensure that all marketing members meet all VSA licensing requirements. This includes completing the Salesperson Licensing Course and a Salesperson Application form prior to the event. Employment Authorization forms also need to be submitted for all marketing people that will be attending at least three weeks before the event.

Salesperson licensing for dealers

You can search for your dealership by name by clicking here.

Your salesperson needs to be or get licensed. You can search for salespeople by name, city or number to see if they are licensed. Search VSA Licensees.

If they are not licensed, they can submit a Salesperson Application form or go online to apply. They will need to complete the mandatory Salesperson Licensing Course. Once an application is submitted, a Conditional Licence will be issued for a period of 45 days. You will be in violation of the Motor Dealer Act if a new employee is selling vehicles before they receive a Conditional Licence.

You need to send in an Employment Authorization form to the Licensing Department. Once it is received, your salesperson will be sent a new permit (licence) for selling at your dealership.

Having a criminal record does not exempt anyone from applying for a licence. Refer to the Salesperson Application package for more information.

They will need to complete a reinstatement form. Please contact VSA Licensing for more information.

Completing the mandatory Salesperson Licensing Course only provides a certificate, not a licence. To receive a licence, a completed salesperson application needs to be submitted.

Every salesperson needs to renew their licence annually. You confirm their status online by searching your dealership name here: Search VSA Licensees. You will be in violation of the Motor Dealer Act if an employee is selling vehicles and they do not have a valid Salesperson Licence.

Every person who in anyway participates in soliciting, negotiating or arranging for the sale or lease of a motor vehicle to a consumer. This includes all salespeople, dealer principals, general managers, sales managers, internet sales staff and the staff of business and lease offices. This also includes anyone who is bird-dogging or you may be paying to direct business to your dealership.

The VSA complies with the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) which replaced the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) in 2013.

If a salesperson is licensed in good standing with the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC), the salesperson must submit a completed application form, pay the required fees, and submit to a criminal record and background check to confirm their good standing. Once their VSA licence is issued, they will have 45 days to complete their professional development requirement by completing the Salesperson Licensing Course, which focuses on BC law.

Saskatchewan currently does not license automotive salespeople, so a person from Saskatchewan must comply with the same process as a British Columbian applicant.

Consignment Sales

A dealer who wishes to conduct consignment sales, must apply to the VSA for consignment privileges. Any application is then thoroughly reviewed by both the licensing and compliance departments before the registrar decides whether to authorize a dealer to conduct consignment sales.
 
Consignment means any arrangement in which a vehicle is given to a dealer:

  • to allow the dealer to sell the vehicle for the owner
  • under a conditional sale agreement for the purpose of resale by the dealer, or
  • to allow the dealer to display it for sale
What is different about consignment selling?

Consignment sales require a unique relationship of trust between the consumer and the dealer, with great potential for loss to the consumer. In order to reduce this risk, the Motor Dealer Act and the Motor Dealer Consignment Sales Regulation provide specific legal requirements for the conduct of consignment sales. They also give the Registrar the authority to determine whether a dealer will be authorized to conduct consignment sales.

No. Every new dealer licence includes a condition prohibiting the dealer from conducting consignment sales.

A dealer who wishes to conduct consignment sales must apply to the VSA for consignment privileges. Any application is then thoroughly reviewed by both the Licensing and Compliance departments before the Registrar decides whether to authorize a dealer to conduct consignment sales. The VSA uses additional reviews, inspections and reporting requirements to monitor the compliance of dealers, and to assess potential risks to the public, before and after granting the right to sell on consignment.

Read our consignment policy here Licensing Policies and Procedures.

A dealer who wishes to conduct consignment sales must have separate trust accounts in place, must have an approved consignment agreement and may be required to post a larger Letter of Credit.

Consignment dealers can be found using the online dealer search. Search VSA Licensees.

Offsite Sales and Special Events

A motor dealer licence is valid only at the designated location on the motor dealer licence certificate. However, a licensed dealer may apply to the VSA for permission to participate in a limited number of offsite sale events such as consumer shows, exhibitions or special sales. A dealer is required to receive a permit from the VSA prior to attending the event.

Permits issued for events can be found using the online search. Look under the Offsite Sales Events tab. A dealer not on the list participating in an offsite event is doing so without the authorization of the Registrar of Motor Dealers, contrary to the requirements of the Motor Dealer Act and Motor Dealer Act Regulations.

Offsite Sale Permit Request Form

The host dealer is responsible for all individuals participating in special sales events as well as all activities and representations made as a part of the event. When an independent company or marketing group assists in hosting special sales events:

  • All participating individuals must have completed all the requirements to hold a valid VSA salesperson licence prior to submission of the Employment Authorization form
  • For each individual who is not already a fully licensed representative of the dealership, the host dealer must submit an Employment Authorization form at least three weeks prior to the start of the event. Sections A, B, C and D of the form must be completed in full and signed by the dealer
  • All advertising and promotional materials must comply with the VSA Advertising Guidelines

Still have a question?

Contact VSA Licensing at  licensing@mvsabc.com