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A wholesaler is a person or company that buys vehicles from dealers and auctions, and sells the vehicles to other licensed businesses. As of April 1, 2018, a person or company that sells vehicles to dealers and other wholesalers must be licensed by the VSA. A wholesaler that is not licensed but buys from or sells to dealers and at auctions is breaking the law.
A wholesaler that advertises or sells to the public, must be licensed as a dealer by the VSA. As a dealer, they must advertise accurately and make all the required disclosures when selling vehicles. This includes providing a true savings if they make claims that their “wholesale price” is less than you would pay elsewhere. A wholesaler that advertises or sells to the public and is not licensed as a dealer, is also breaking the law.
A consumer who purchases a vehicle from a wholesaler does not have the same consumer protections as when buying from a licensed dealer. A licensed dealer has a VSA dealer number and operates from a fixed location with signage and an office for records.
Wholesalers will sometimes call themselves brokers, but if they own the vehicles they are selling, they are acting as a wholesaler or a dealer. There is nothing in BC law to stop a licensed dealer from using the words wholesaler or broker in their name if they meet the requirements of the law.
If you are interested in becoming a licensed wholesaler, please contact VSA Licensing at 604-575-7253 or licensing@mvsabc.com for more information and/or to
obtain an application. The VSA will determine what is required for your wholesaler licence.
A wholesaler is a person or company that buys vehicles from dealers and auctions, and sells the vehicles to other licensed businesses. As of April 1, 2018, a person or company that sells vehicles to dealers and other wholesalers must be licensed by the VSA. A wholesaler that is not licensed but buys from or sells to dealers and at auctions is breaking the law.
A wholesaler that advertises or sells to the public, must be licensed as a dealer by the VSA. As a dealer, they must advertise accurately and make all the required disclosures when selling vehicles. This includes providing a true savings if they make claims that their “wholesale price” is less than you would pay elsewhere. A wholesaler that advertises or sells to the public and is not licensed as a dealer, is also breaking the law.
A consumer who purchases a vehicle from a wholesaler does not have the same consumer protections as when buying from a licensed dealer. A licensed dealer has a VSA dealer number and operates from a fixed location with signage and an office for records.
Wholesalers will sometimes call themselves brokers, but if they own the vehicles they are selling, they are acting as a wholesaler or a dealer. There is nothing in BC law to stop a licensed dealer from using the words wholesaler or broker in their name if they meet the requirements of the law.
Fees are based on the type of vehicles sold and the number of vehicles sold or the number of demonstration licence plates (or D-plates) issued by ICBC. Application fees and annual contributions to the Motor Dealer Customer Compensation Fund also apply. See the Wholesaler Licence Fee Schedule here.
See the general requirements for wholesalers here.
Contact VSA Licensing at licensing@mvsabc.com.