As of August 2026: "OL 248" was never a single form — it was a family of paper checklists confirmed directly via DMV's own historical documentation: OL 248A for new-vehicle dealer applicants, and OL 248B for used dealer or dealer-wholesale-only applicants. Each listed every document required for a complete original application packet. DMV has since moved this entire process onto its Digital Experience Platform (DXP) — the concept behind OL 248 is still exactly what you need to understand, but the mechanics have genuinely changed.
For years, OL 248A/B existed as literal paper checklists. Working through a client's application meant printing the form, physically writing in the required items, and crossing each one off by hand as it was completed — fees paid, OL 29B questionnaires collected for every owner, ADM 9050 signed, Live Scan results in hand. It was tactile and it worked, but it depended entirely on the person managing the packet catching every missing piece before mailing it in, since a physical mailed packet with one missing document simply came back or sat in a processing queue.
DMV Occupational Licensing has moved to a fully electronic system. Physical mail and checks are no longer accepted for original applications, renewals, or modifications. Everything is filed online through a MyDMV account via DMV's own Digital Experience Platform, accessed at dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/occupational-licensing/login.
Instead of a static paper form, the system now generates a personalized digital checklist specific to the license type you select — you can download or print it, but the real function happens inside the portal: you upload each required document directly, and the system tracks your progress against that generated checklist as you go, rather than relying on a person manually crossing off items. Selecting the correct license type at the outset matters more than ever, since it's what determines which specific documents, bond, and photos the system will actually prompt you for.
What trips people up in the new system: treating the old paper-checklist mental model too literally — assuming you need to gather everything before starting, the way you would with a mailed packet. The digital process is closer to a guided workflow: start the application, and the portal tells you what's still outstanding as you go, rather than requiring a fully assembled packet upfront.
What happens next: once your digital application clears initial review, DMV schedules an on-site inspection through the same portal. The statutory investigation window under CVC §11704 still allows up to 120 days for DMV to investigate a complete application — going digital sped up the mechanics of submission, but it didn't shorten the legal review timeline. Confirmed fees carried over from the paper era remain the reference point: $175 non-refundable application fee, plus $70 for each branch location.
This article reflects our own professional experience managing this process for clients under both the paper and digital systems, combined with DMV's own current published guidance. It is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Confirm the current checklist and fees directly with DMV Occupational Licensing.
California Dealer Academy provides educational content for California auto dealers and does not offer legal, tax, or financial advice. DMV requirements, retention rules, and deadlines are subject to change — always confirm current requirements directly with DMV Occupational Licensing, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA for guidance specific to your dealership.
