Car, van, motorcycle and boat dealer merchant category codes
New and used car and van dealers use merchant category code 5511, used only dealers 5521, motorcycle dealers 5571, motorhome dealers 5592, caravan dealers 5561 and boat dealers 5551. Vehicle sales are some of the largest card payments a business will ever take.
Merchant category codes for car, van and boat dealers
The codes businesses in this sector come across most. Your provider sets the code when your account is opened, based on what you tell them about how you trade.
| Code | Industry | More |
|---|---|---|
| 5511 | New and used car and van dealers | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 5521 | Used car dealers | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 5571 | Motorcycle dealers | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 5592 | Motorhome dealers | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 5561 | Caravan, camper and trailer dealers | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 5551 | Boat dealers | Industry guide |
| 5599 | Other vehicle, aircraft and farm equipment dealers | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 7538 | Garages and vehicle servicing | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 7531 | Body shops and accident repair | Fuel and forecourt payments |
| 7512 | Car hire | Fuel and forecourt payments |
Deposits and balances
Most vehicle sales start with a deposit to reserve the car. A payment link for the deposit means the customer can secure the vehicle from home, and the balance can follow by card, bank transfer or finance.
High value card payments
Many dealers cap card payments because of the cost on a large sale. Agreeing a rate against your real turnover and average sale value makes taking a larger amount on card a business decision rather than a fixed rule.
Workshop and parts
Servicing, repairs, parts and hire run on the same account as vehicle sales, with a card machine in the workshop and links for remote payments.
Card payments for car, van and boat dealers, opinions from our specialists
Short views from our specialists, published to start a conversation. Agree or disagree, tell them on LinkedIn.
Capping card payments on cars at a few thousand pounds is a habit, not a strategy. Ask what a lost sale costs before you decide what a card payment costs.
From the buyer side, being able to put a large deposit on a card is reassuring. It is protection the customer values, and it makes the dealer look confident.
What to check in a card payments setup for car, van and boat dealers
Three questions worth asking any provider, and the eCom Pay answer.
Deposits by link
Vehicles reserved remotely.
Rates set against your real numbers
Agreed against turnover and average sale value.
Showroom and workshop together
One account for sales, servicing and parts.
Questions about merchant category codes for car, van and boat dealers
What is the MCC for a car dealer?
New and used car and van dealers use 5511. Dealers selling only used vehicles use 5521.
What MCC does a garage use?
Garages and vehicle servicing use 7538, body shops use 7531 and tyre shops use 5532.
Can a car dealer take a vehicle deposit by link?
Yes. Send a secure payment link and the customer pays the deposit from their phone.
More industry guides
Card payments for car, van and boat dealers, set up properly
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