Apply for a corporate chattel auctioneer licence
Your company must have a current chattel auctioneer licence to hold auctions of:
- cars or other motor vehicles
- livestock or agricultural equipment
- art or collectibles
- any other items except real estate.
This licence also allows a business to sell the chattel in other ways during the auction period.
You can operate under your corporation's name or a registered business name.
If you partner with another company, the other company must also have a corporate licence.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a corporate chattel auctioneer licence, the person in charge of each place of business must have an individual chattel auctioneer licence.
The director of the company must also be licensed if they want to work as a chattel auctioneer.
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Apply for a corporate chattel auctioneer licence
Read more about applying online.
Suitability
Your company is not suitable to hold a corporate chattel auctioneer licence if you or any of your directors or executive officers:
- have been convicted of a serious offence within the past 5 years
- are an insolvent under administration (applies to directors or executive officers only)
- are currently disqualified from holding a licence are subject to a relevant control order.
Serious offences
A serious offence is anything punishable by 3 or more years in prison, including:
- violent offences (including threats to use violence)
- fraud and dishonesty
- drug trafficking
- extortion
- arson
- unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse
- offences of a sexual nature
- offences under Queensland's Criminal Code of
- recruiting a person to participate in a criminal organisation
- consorting
- an offence committed with a serious organised crime circumstance of aggravation applicable to a prescribed list of offences within the meaning of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992.
Directors and executive officers
We consider if you and your directors or executive officers:
- have been placed in receivership or liquidation
- are subject to a relevant control order
- have a criminal history
- were an executive officer of a previously-licensed corporation that is insolvent
- were the subject of a successful claim fund action
- have had a licence or registration cancelled or suspended or have been disqualified from holding one
- are disqualified from being a company director
- were an insolvent under administration
- are unsuitable because of their (or their business associates') character
- are allowed to work in Australia.
Receivership or liquidation
You must tell us if any director or executive officer was a director or executive officer of a corporation that was previously licensed and went into receivership or liquidation.
You must also tell us:
- the circumstances that caused it to happen
- whether they took all reasonable steps to avoid the receivership or liquidation
- the assets they had available to distribute
- how much money (if any) they paid in dividends
- whether they broke any laws relating to these circumstances
- whether they are now disqualified from being a company director or other officer.
You must also include a report from the receiver or liquidator that gives us:
- a detailed list of the director or executive officer's creditors
- the amount of money they still owe to each creditor.
Lodgement
When you lodge the form, you will need to attach certified identification for anyone named on your form, including your director, executive officer and all business partners or associates.
The identification must be a certified copy of 1 of the following documents:
- birth certificate or extract
- driver licence
- passport
- citizenship certificate.
Places of business
You may have multiple places of business. You must register all of your business addresses when you apply for a licence. The person in charge of each place of business must have a current individual chattel auctioneer licence.
Find out more about places of business.
Criminal history check
Your application will be subject to a criminal history check. This will be thorough and can be time consuming. Each person named in your application will be checked.
If you were born in New Zealand or have a New Zealand passport, you'll need to provide a copy of your criminal history or a letter showing you have no criminal history in New Zealand.
A New Zealand criminal history check is free. It can take 20 working days to process.
We can only accept original documents dated within 1 month of the date you send them to us.
For more information visit the New Zealand Ministry of Justice website.
Processing time
The processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. It can take longer if your application isn't complete because of missing information or unpaid fees.
We'll contact you if you've submitted an incomplete application. If you don't lodge the outstanding information we might withdraw your application and you'll need to reapply.
Refunds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be entitled to a partial refund if you withdraw your application or we refuse it.
You might also get a refund on the fee for a criminal history check if it hasn't been started.
Other ways to apply
Complete the paper application for a corporate chattel auctioneer licence and attach your supporting documentation.
You can lodge the form:
In person—visit one of our locations
By post
Industry Licensing Unit
Office of Fair Trading
GPO Box 3111
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Note: we can't accept applications over the phone or by email.
Training
You don’t need any training for this licence.
More information
- Read more about managing your chattel auctioneer agency or business.
- Find out how to renew or restore your property licence.