Apply for this licence
Contact your council if you want to register as a second hand dealer in Scotland.
You’ll usually need to register if you sell or trade the following goods:
- second hand motor vehicles, vehicle parts or accessories
- jewellery
- furniture and domestic appliances
- antiques
- clocks and watches
- televisions, radios, video or DVD recorders and musical instruments
- bicycles
- DVDs, CDs and computer games
Restrictions
You might have to keep a record of any second hand goods you deal, depending on the council. This can include:
- date
- quantity
- description of goods
- name and address of the buyer or seller
You could be fined if you’re required to keep records and you don’t.
Exceptions
You don’t need a second hand dealer’s licence if you’re:
- a pawnbroker
- a wholesale dealer buying exclusively from licensed second hand dealers
- a charity registered in Scotland
- dealing in second hand goods as part of another unrelated business
- a business supplying goods through a credit agreement (eg ‘hire purchase’)
Fines and penalties
You could be fined up to £2,500 for dealing second hand goods without a licence.