A garage register is a running record a motor-vehicle dealer keeps of each vehicle it acquires and disposes of, with identifying details and the other party in each transaction. Some jurisdictions require one for licensed dealers. Dealer Garage builds the register from inventory and deals, so there is no separate book to maintain.
What it usually records
- A description of the vehicle: year, make, model, VIN.
- Date acquired and who it was acquired from.
- Date sold or disposed of and who it went to.
- Odometer readings and price details where required.
Why it exists
A register gives regulators and police a trail for each vehicle that passes through a dealer, which helps with consumer complaints, stolen vehicles and odometer fraud. For the dealer it is also a way to prove what happened with a car years later.
Paper, spreadsheet or software
| Method | Strength | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Bound book | Simple and familiar | Gaps and illegible entries |
| Spreadsheet | Searchable | Easy to forget or overwrite |
| Dealer software | Filled as you buy and sell | Depends on keeping inventory up to date |
Dealer Garage
The garage register in Dealer Garage fills as you add vehicles and complete deals, and can be filtered and exported to CSV. It is part of the Basic plan.
Questions an inspector might ask
- Where did this vehicle come from, and when?
- Who bought it, and when?
- What mileage was recorded each time?
- Do the register and the deal file agree?
A register that answers those without hunting through boxes is doing its job.
Questions people ask
Do all dealers need one?
It depends on where you are licensed. Check your regulator.
What is the difference between a register and inventory?
Inventory is what you have now; the register is the permanent history of what came and went.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state, province and territory and change over time; confirm what applies to you with your regulator or a qualified adviser.
Try Dealer Garage
Dealer Garage is installable dealer management software for independent used-car dealers in the US and Canada: inventory, leads, deals, dealer paperwork, Facebook Marketplace posting and email campaigns, with records stored on the dealership's own computer..